There were plenty of smiles and surprises across the Raymore-Peculiar School District as the Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation visited schools and district buildings to award grants to teachers and staff members!
The Foundation awarded more than $27,000 in grants to support innovative ideas, enhance learning opportunities and provide additional resources for students and staff throughout the district.
Teachers and staff members submitted grant applications outlining their ideas, projects and needs. The Foundation then helped bring those ideas to life by surprising recipients with funding to support their work in Ray-Pec schools.
From classroom resources to creative learning opportunities, these grants will make a difference for students and staff across the district.
Congratulations to this year's grant recipients!
Here is a look at the teachers and staff members who received grants and the projects their funding will support:
Nancy O'keefe (EMS): Hummingbird Flock
Andrew Reeves (RPHS): Panther Battalion Raider Leadership & Team Training Initiative
Leeann Grace, Kenzie Holbrook, Lauren Middaugh (Bridle Ridge): Bringing Stories to Life with Tonies
Lena Quinlin (SMS): DELTA Makerspace Tools
Jennifer Milligan, Kelly Testerman, Cheryl Collins (Timber Creek) Outside the Box Readers
Catherine Frend (RPHS): MVA Hydroponics Project
Heather Poland, Kelly Testerma, Janet Bader, Christina Weaver, Jordan Comeau, Ashlea Franks, Kat Pogatshnik (Elmentary): Ray-Pec Elementary Battle of the Books Program
Anne Schupp (Stonegate): Mallets for Instruments and Tinkling Cords for Movement
Leanna Sisson (EMS): Operation Get Ahead of The Problem: The Tragic Story of Chronically Broken Equipment
Kristine Anderson, Vanessa Kjenaas, Ellie Retter (Timber Creek): Building Birdhouses
Emily Long, Tatyana Chernioglo, Kimberly Ernster: Sensory Exploration
Katie Fernandez and Cassie Brooks (Success Academy): Experiences Without Boundaries
Jeff Rives (SMS): Pictures Worth a 1,000 Words
Kaitlin Massart, Lexi Easton, Kalysa McGuire: Properties of Matter Up Close
Laura Columbatto (NGC): Outdoor Classroom Furniture
Kimberly Mallinson (RPHS): Moving Minds, Building Independence
Kristin Mason, Brianna Pennington, Nate Stewart (Raymore): Hands-On Learning
Cassie Passeau (Shull): Sensory and Self Regulation Calming Corner
Katie Huff (LEAD): Spill the Beans
Kimberly Rice, Kassy Mills, Sherri Goodwin, Jenee Schroeder (Bridle Ridge): Exploring Our World
Amy Hellums (RPHS): Combined Schools Art Show
Amanda Carver (Bridle Ridge): Indoor Soil-based and Hydroponic Growing Stations
Melanie Taylor (EMS): Empowering Readers Through Choice: The Truman Readers Collection
Wendy Huffman (Stonegate): Instilling a Love of Literacy
Laura Moots (Bridle Ridge): Indoor Growing Stations
Keri Collison, 3rd & 4th Grade Teachers: Manipulatives to Support Conceptual Understanding in Math
Laura Columbatto, Kayla Gerit, Laura Gibson (RPNGC): Magnetic Filing Systems
Wendy Huffman (Stonegate): Sensory "YES" Walls
The Raymore-Peculiar School District is grateful to the Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation for its continued investment in our teachers, staff and students. Through the generosity of the Foundation and the creativity and dedication of our staff, these grants will help create meaningful opportunities for students throughout the district.
Thank you to the Foundation for making these surprises possible and congratulations to all of this year's grant recipients!
To see more into Grant-A-Palooza, check out the highlight video!