Port Angeles Education Foundation awards $70K in grants

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Education Foundation has awarded SPICE grants totaling $70,830 to educators throughout the Port Angeles School District.

SPICE grants, or Supporting Projects of Innovation, Creativity and Excellence, are available to staff members across the Port Angeles School District and may not be used for existing programs, mandated programs or staff salaries.

“Since 1991, PAEF has been supporting teachers who want to encourage learning through creative projects,” said Michelle Turner, the foundation’s grant committee chair. “This is the most we’ve ever awarded, and we’re excited that all Port Angeles public school students will benefit, whether in the classroom or outdoors, individually or in groups, in local, regional or national settings.”

Grants were awarded to:

• Tanner Zahrt, all schools, Youth Day at the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts, $3,000.

• Carmen Watson-Charles, all schools, Teamwork, leadership and indigenous studies through the Canoe Journey, $960 Trudy Kindler Native American Studies Grant.

• Raena Young, Dry Creek, Franklin, Jefferson elementary schools, Turning the Wheel residency and student performance, $5,405.

• Jason Gapper, fifth-graders at Dry Creek Elementary School, Dungeness River Nature Center field trip, $500.

• Kathryn Hartman, Ridge and fifth-graders at Dry Creek Elementary School, Pacific Science Center field trip, $2,700.

• Stephanie Farrier, fourth- through sixth-graders at Dry Creek Elementary School, project based learning in Social Studies, $2,000.

• Shannon Marie Prescott, sixth-graders at Dry Creek Elementary School, Learning to be Leaders, $1,000.

• Rebecca Lee, kindergarteners through sixth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, enhancing cultural awareness through Chinese Lion Dance performance, $1,600.

• Sarah Schaefermeyer, kindergarteners through sixth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, Pilates classes for balance, strength and fitness, $1,000.

• Lara Hernandez, first- through sixth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, Young Writers Conference, $350.

• Kathryn Plakinger, fourth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, Washington State History Museum field trip, $1,701.

• Jennifer Mills, kindergarteners at Franklin Elementary School, Seattle Children’s Theater field trip, $1,650, partially funded by Rich Boyd Grant for the Arts.

• Krista Winn, kindergarteners though sixth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, Gaga Ball pit purchase and installation, $7,140.

• Mary Krzysiak, sixth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, Seattle Museum of Flight field trip, $1,150.

• George Kheriaty, third- through fifth-graders at Franklin Elementary School, rocket science building and launch, $1,100 Joe Glatz Rocket Man Grant.

• Brooke Hendry, fifth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, Makah Museum & Cultural Center field trip, $655, Trudy Kindler Native American Studies Grant.

• Brooke Hendry, fifth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, Dungeness River Nature Center field trip, $360.

• Claire Jones, second-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, STEAM activities building problem solving and social skills, $904.

• Melissa Holcomb, third-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, Student Treasures published books, $681.

• Raena Young, fourth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, Port Angeles Heritage tour and Feiro Marine Life Center, $475.

• Raena Young, fourth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, swimming lessons, $1,288, Patti Reifenstahl Memorial Grant.

• Raena Young, fourth-graders at Jefferson Elementary School, Farm to School Project, $2,175.

• Erika Kuch, third-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, Seattle Children’s Theater field trip, $1,750.

• Patricia Hopkins, first-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, local artist Mary Truly interweaves reading, writing, art and tribal learning, $496, Trudy Kindler Native American Studies Grant.

• Katie Hacker, kindergarteners and first-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, Point Defiance Zoo field trip, $3,425.

• Kelly Sanders, sixth-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, Moby Max program to improve math, reading and writing skills, $945.

• Meghan Adolphsen, sixth-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, Port Angeles heritage tour and Klallam Museum, $907 Trudy Kindler Native American Studies Grant.

• Rylee Horton, seventh-graders at Stevens Middle School, classroom library books, $1,341.

• Angela Tamas, all students at Lincoln High School, group social activities building school culture and relationships, $3,700.

• Birgit Andrich, ninth- through 12th-graders at Port Angeles High School, food supplies for intervention room, $491.

• Jeff Lunt, ninth- through 12th-graders at Port Angeles High School, supplement classroom emergency kits, $3,000.

• Stacey Sanders, ninth-graders at Port Angeles High School, books for free reading and discussion, $800.

• Stacey Sanders, civics/political science students at Port Angeles High School, trip to state capitol in Olympia, $1,500.

• Adam Logan, ninth-graders at Port Angeles High School, local field work to enhance science curriculum, $450.

• Barry Landry, ninth- through 12th-graders at Port Angeles High School, projects for communications technologies regional, state and national competitions, $3,560.

• Kimberley O’Keefe, ninth- through 12th-graders at Port Angeles High School, books and activities to promote increased library usage, $3,000.

• Shannon Hamblin, 10th-graders at Port Angeles High School, electrophoresis chambers for DNA analysis, $3,072.

• Allison Evans, International Culture Club at Port Angeles High School, shared culture through cooking and events, $1,800.

• Daniel Shyles, Science Club at Port Angeles High School, events and lectures in the Seattle area, $2,000.

• Charity Brock, ninth- through 12th-graders at Port Angeles High School, wellness corner in the counseling office with free hygiene products, $800.

In addition to the SPICE grants, the foundation also awarded grants to organizations which share its mission to provide educational programs to students in Port Angeles public schools:

• AmeriCorps, in support of tutors and mentors throughout the Port Angeles School District, $10,000.

• Peninsula Performs! A program that connects arts professionals directly to students and educators in the classroom, $11,000, from Dorothy Field.

• Port Angeles High School Associated Student Body, to help all students participate in extra-curricular activities, $6,500.

• Lutheran Community Services Back-to-School Fair, for school supplies, $1,000.

• Clallam Resilience, to create kits for distribution to families participating in Resilience Month, $1,000.

• Port Angeles Citizens for Education, to communicate information regarding school bond and levy issues, $5,000.

• Caring for Kids, winter clothing and toys for students, $750.

For more information or to donate to the foundation, visit www.pa-ef.org.

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