Mattoon C.U.S.D. #2 Receives Mattoon Foundation for Academic Excellence Community Grants Totaling $24,000 through the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation.
Pictured above is De Dalby (Grant Recipient), Lori Westra (Grant Recipient), Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Representative Kristen Bertrand , and Kris Maleske Mattoon C.U.S.D. #2 Community Service Director.
The two $10,000 grant winners were Vinnie Walk (MHS) and Lori Westra (Riddle Elementary). These grant-fund projects connect classrooms and students to the local community.
(Pictured above is Vinnie Walk- grant recipient)
(Pictured above L to R: Jordan Coleman (RES social worker), Casey Harley (RES counselor), Blair Dosch (ROE #11 Attendance Specialist), Lori Westra (RES school nurse and grant recipient), Teresa Metzger (ROE #11 Homeless Liaison), Emily Hayden (YMCA Community Partner), Laura Bollan (SBL Healthy Kids Director and Community Partner).
The four $1,000 Quick Start grant winners were Jacob Fryman (MMS), Ashley Wishard (MMS), De Dalby (MHS), and Rachael McCoy (Williams Elementary). These mini-grants promote family engagement with schools for improved student learning and healthy development.
Our District is extremely grateful for these grants. Below is a list of what the grant money will go towards.
Vinnie Walk at MHS: The $10,000 grant will go to help pay for all of the Green & Gold Day activities and activities associated with Futures Day at Mattoon High School.
De Dalby at MHS: The $1,000 grant money will go towards College and Career night to help with food and signage.
Jacob Fryman at MMS: The $1,000 grant money will go to the Industrial Art class at MMS to make lantern kits for families to assemble and paint to their liking. The class also plans to cut out door signs for families to decorate as they wish with supplies our students will be packing for disbursement. (paint, vinyl decal, etc.).
Ashley Wishard at MMS: The $1,000 grant money will help with purchasing books & supplies for game nights at the school.
Lori Westra at Riddle Elementary: -The $10,000 grant will help in getting the new Healthy Families Program off the ground.
Rachael McCoy at Williams Elementary: The $1,000 grant money will be used for a book study using the book, Strengths Based Parenting. Parents (from her classroom) will be invited to read the book together with other parents. They will follow a reading plan and have periodic discussions about the chapters being read. Parents will then be invited in for a night of celebrating their strengths and everything they have learned. The hope is that through this book study and discussion, families will see how they can put their strengths into action to help out and volunteer at Williams Elementary. With the book, parents will receive a code to take the Gallup "StrengthsFinder" as well as an additional code for other children in their home to take it as well. She hopes that through this opportunity parents will see ways to "turn up" their strengths and talents to effectively work and communicate with others in their home in addition to how they can use those same talents to benefit our "school community.