2024-25 Grant Recipients

McPherson Education Foundation Grant Recipients 2024-2025

At a Glance:

Grants Total $23,020

4 Student Scholarships @ $1,000 Each $4,000

Final Total of Funds Allocated $27,020

 

Total Number of Grants Funded: 12

Elementary Grants: 6

MMS/MHS Grants: 6

 

Author Visit *SY 2025-2026* by Katie Eveland and Alyssa Weiner (All Buildings)

These grant funds would be used to schedule an author visit for the 2025-2026 school year within the elementary and/or secondary schools. Author visits often need to be scheduled as far in advance as possible.  The funds would cover the costs for the author to come speak to students within the district, as well as their travel expenses.

Grant Total: $5,000

 

Technology Center for Creative Curriculum by Aspen Rank (LES)

In order to enhance the learning experiences for our pre-k students and to further follow our curriculum with fidelity, we are proposing a technology grant for our classrooms. This particular project would provide two iPads per pre-k classroom at Lincoln Elementary as well as the protective cases, bluetooth headphones, and a gift card for appropriate learning applications for students. Our curriculum supports and encourages the use of a technology center for our students, however because our classrooms have not had updated computers or new iPads in over 8 years, we believe that adding these two iPads to our two classrooms will truly benefit them and create more opportunities for experience and success.

Grant Total: $1,690

 

MHS Band Material Update by Kyle Unruh (MHS)

Students in the band department at McPherson Public Schools strive to grow as individuals, musicians, and responsible citizens through their collective pursuit of musical excellence. One of the most visible and involved facets of the band program is the MHS Bullpup Marching Band. For many years, as program costs have grown and outpaced school budgets, the band has only been able to keep up with the most fundamental financial needs, such as the annual cost of designing and implementing a marching show (costs like music, drumline, drill, and color guard design fees; festival and travel costs). Meanwhile, the equipment, materials, and fundamental tools we use to teach and support a large marching band have been neglected. Essentials like sound equipment, visual materials, and infrastructure for equipment and transport have all been used past their lifespan and are in serious need of update and replacement. This proposal would take a serious step toward addressing these ongoing needs.

Grant Total: $5,300

 

McPherson Alternative Center Student Advancement by Danielle Horn 

McPherson Alternative Center provides an alternative learning setting for students who are or have experienced obstacles that may limit or hinder their ability to succeed in a regular academic setting. We hope to improve our environment and assist our students in areas they have shown desire or lack of support. With the help of this grant, we can provide various educational tools, strengthen our social-emotional environment, and rally behind an opportunistic approach to students who may already feel at a loss with their needs, future, and goals.

Grant Total: $1,000

 

Enhancing Esports Opportunities for All by Ryan Rank (MHS)

While the world of competitive esports is relatively new to most in the general public, it has grown tremendously over the past few years and the benefits have become to far outweigh anything we expected. In fact, engaging in competitive gaming helps develop critical skills such as teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking, all of which are valuable in both academic and career settings. As the new and current esports coach, I have found that there are some needs within our program that could truly benefit our students and create them an opportunity for success, scholarship, and community. There are 1000s of scholarships out there and we are hoping that with this grant we will be able to provide students their best chance at getting them. We hope to provide the students with some gaming headsets, gaming mice, games and other console accessories. We also need to provide the students with the games that are included in the esports competition (Smash Brothers, Mario Cart, etc.). 

Grant Total: $1,690

 

Washington Elementary Care Closet by Megan Maltbie (WES)

The purpose of establishing the Washington Elementary Care Closet will be to help the children and families at WES have immediate access to basic necessities when they are in need of help. The WES Care Closet will be a free resource for students and their families experiencing hardships including food insecurity, lack of weather-appropriate clothing and basic hygiene supplies. Items will include personal care and hygiene items like deodorant and shampoo, extra clothes including jackets and cold weather items, and non-perishable healthy snacks and boxed dinners for a night’s meal. It is a project that aims to increase the number of children in our school who have access to the resources necessary to feel safe, supported and ready to learn. I intend to use the grant funds to get this project started at Washington by purchasing the physical space I will use as the Care Closet, some initial start up supplies to stock it with, and to pay for outreach to promote community support.

Grant Total: $500

 

Rack Performance Software by Jace Pavlovich (MHS)

Rack Performance is a web based program for health and human performance. We have used this software for 14 years but now have no funding for it. We are able to track students' health and performance records dating from their 6th grade year until they graduate as seniors. We are able to use this data for MTSS and other state programs to further advance opportunities that we can provide our students. This software also aids in classroom management procedures by giving verbal and nonverbal cues to students while in the classroom. We currently have 64 kids enrolled in each class period and we have 7 periods. As you can imagine, classroom management with as many students as we have is difficult without this aid. 

Grant Total: $1,500

 

Pathway to Sensory Regulation by Linda Herring

Funds would be used to purchase sensory pathways and materials to facilitate students' sensory regulation, a prerequisite for academic, social and emotional success. According to The Children's Health Council & the “Unveiling the Research-Based Benefits of Sensory Movement Pathways for Children” in Spaces4Learning magazine, sensory and movement activities stimulate brain activity, increase attention, assist problem solving, focus & information retention. Sensory integration helps students process environmental information & repetitive movements reduce anxiety, allowing students to release stress energy. Sensory pathways are interactive, giving students a break from boredom, improving motor skills & increasing brain development with activities involving cross lateral movements. The activities can build peer relationships during group activities. Instead of twirling/running in the hall or eloping, students can use structured sensory input to self-regulate & reduce missed class time.

Grant Total: $1,300

 

Partner Reading and the Power of Books by Katie Eveland (RES)

The purpose of this project is to purchase books needed for our Title 1 reading program and library at Roosevelt Elementary. The books in this proposal are high interest favorites of our students by award winning author Mo Willems and other series favorites. At RES, we strive to create a culture of readers that love books. As the reading intervention specialist, I support students in making growth towards grade level benchmarks and state reading standards. These books help provide practice in meeting these benchmarks. This grant could provide two copies of each book for students to partner read, build fluency, confidence and grow as readers during reading intervention times. We would also be able to give a new set of badly needed Elephant and Piggy books to our RES library for library checkout. 

Grant Total: $520

 

Orff Level 1 Training by Susanne Anderson (EES)

The proposed project aims to support the professional development of music educators by enabling them to enroll in and complete an Orff Level 1 course. This course will offer both college credit and professional development points, aligning with best practices in music education. By focusing on the Orff approach, known for its emphasis on creativity, movement, and the use of simple musical instruments, this project seeks to enhance the musical literacy and musicality of students. The Orff approach, developed by Carl Orff, is a dynamic method of teaching music that integrates music, movement, drama, and speech. By engaging educators in this immersive training, the project seeks to foster a more vibrant and effective music teaching environment.

Grant Total: $950

 

Gaming Concepts and Esports Curriculum at MHS and MMS by Sam Reed (MHS and MMS)

The Gaming Concepts program at USD 418 is seeking funding to help purchase curriculum to continue an elective class. This returning elective class is called Gaming Concepts and will focus on exploring life skills through scholastic gaming. If approved, grant funds will be used to help purchase the curriculum needed to teach the class. This class is currently in its third year, and has become very popular at MMS and MHS. Gaming Concepts provides students with new opportunities to connect their interests with their learning. By using video games as a metaphor for life, students will participate in daily lessons that prepare them for their future. Additionally, the curriculum that would be purchased with this grant would help continue the development of a competitive esports team at MMS and MHS. This team would compete against other schools in Kansas in different video game competitions and be a new extracurricular activity for middle school and high school students.

Grant Total: $3,000

 

Chemistry Classroom Liquid Nitrogen Dewar by Christine Pianalto (MHS)

I am seeking to purchase a tank for transport and storage of liquid nitrogen for the MHS chemistry classrooms. We utilize liquid nitrogen every year to complete demonstrations and experiments in our gas laws unit. Cryogenic material like liquid nitrogen has a very low temperature, and can thus be helpful for demonstrating how pressure and volume relate to temperature changes. I have had to borrow a liquid nitrogen tank every year to successfully complete these lessons, but would prefer to have one purchased for the classroom. This grant is only needed to purchase the tank itself – our lab supplies budget can cover the cost of the liquid nitrogen each year.

Grant Total: $570