Grants

If Cape Coral High School Kids can do it, so can you!!

 Ask yourself...  What is the problem or

need?  ...more reading practice needed?...need more parent support?...students need enriched learning

experiences?

Explain why this project is needed and how it will impact student learning.

 

How do I get started?

  

Example:This grant will allow us to keep environmental education alive in our school. Funding for field trips and presenters has been squeezed to the point that we can no longer pay for any additional field trips, other than the eight provided by Environmental Education Department. This may sound like a lot, but for a school our size, what it boils down to is this:

Our eight science teachers each have seven classes of students. Each teacher will be able to take one class of 20 to 25 students on an environmental trip.

Each teacher will not have field trip opportunities for the other six classes. As our county has grown so have the number of schools, yet the staff at Environmental Education remains the same.

Class size reduction has enabled us to increase student learning, but drains our budget. We need to encourage our children’s’ love of the environment and the field trips and presenters will allow us to do that.

 ...materials?

...substitute teachers?  ...field trips? ...technology? ...outside support - presenters?

What can I do to meet this need? What do I need? Don’t be afraid to dream a little!

Give a detailed explanation of your project including how it will be implemented.

This project will integrate reading, writing, social studies, science/math, and environmental education in the study of Florida, its history, and its wildlife. The project will be directed by the Science Teacher/Environmental Education Representative at Challenger Middle School, who will schedule presenters, plan curriculum with other teachers, and set up the field trips.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: .

We want to send our Sixth graders to the Randell Research Center on Pineland. This will give the students an opportunity to study Florida history, and time travel all the way to the Calusa natives. This field trip is very accessible for our central Cape Coral location and makes good use of the three hour field trip schedule that we are permitted from transportation. They will have two presentations prior to their trip to enhance their learning. One will be from Charles O’Connor, Environmental Education Teacher and the other will be from Pineland Staff. These presentations will teach the students about Florida’s history, prior to their field trip.

Seventh graders will also view a presentation about Florida animals and their adaptations from Heather Benson at 6 Mile Cypress Slough. Five of our allotted field trips are earmarked for the wet walk in the slough. This grant will give us the opportunity to enhance learning by bringing Heather Benson to our school to give her presentation on Night Visitors or Animal Adaptations to all of the 7th grade students. Her programs are aligned with Sunshine State Standards and at $1 per student, one of the best buys in education.

Eighth graders will take part in two opportunities to take a Saturday trip to Powell Creek Preserve. The Environmental Club Students will sponsor these trips and plan the lessons and the work. They will train the students in the use of handheld GPS units to locate the gopher tortoise burrows. They will take part in a continuing effort to restore Powell Creek Preserve, a conservation 20/20 parcel, seven miles from our school, purchased by the county in 2002. Conservation 20/20 Staff members, Peter DeWitt and Laura Wewerka, will present PowerPoint lesson to all 8th graders in invasive plants and the gopher tortoise. They will put their new knowledge into use as they remove invasive plants, plant seedlings donated by the forestry department, use handheld GPS units to map gopher tortoise burrows, and continue to remove trash.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION, cont.

PROJECT EVALUATION:

How will you evaluate the success of your project?

...Pre and post tests? ...Surveys?….increased parental involvement?….decrease in referrals?

Quantitative goals and measurements are required!

6th graders will be able to show mastery of accomplishment in pre and post tests given by the Social Studies teachers. In order for the project to be successful 95% of the sixth graders will score an 80% or better on a teacher created test. The test will be based on the curriculum used by the Randell Staff in their presentations and during the field trip.

7th graders will be given a pretest on energy in a system as it relates to a wetland. 100% of the students will improve their scores after the trip to the slough and/or the presentation by Heather Benson. They will also learn about animal adaptations and will be able to understand ways in which we impact the systems in our environment and the importance of working to protect them.

8th graders will set learning goals, create contests to encourage students to remove the largest invasive (air potato), learn to use GPS units, and to use the data collected to create maps of the area. Their trip to the Preserve will be an authentic assessment. A teacher created test using the information presented by the Lee County Staff aligned with the Sunshine State Standards will be given to all 8th graders.

Environmental Club Members will contact our local partners, call and ask for donations of plants for our school garden, track volunteer hours, and set standards for projects for each of the other groups. They will spend one Saturdays on environmental outings to Powell Creek Preserve. They will work on a PowerPoint to present to the other classes and the school in a final celebration of all of their work.

Examples

...Donations of time? ...Donations of materials? ...Sharing resources? ...Sharing knowledge?

 How can I involve parents and the community?

Brian Murphy will offer expert help and advice if needed.

Staff from the 6 Mile Cypress Slough will meet with teachers and will provide pre and post activities before the trips.

A group of PTO volunteers will accompany the trips.

BUSINESS/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP:

1. Go to the Foundation for Lee County Website and download the application.

Look for the Foundation’s “Help in Writing the Grant” workshop

www.leeschoolfoundation.org – for other grants

Questions? (239) 337-0433

Getting Ready to Write- Foundation!

Pay attention to details! (They really want what they ask for.)

Typed (No handwritten applications!) No smaller than size 11 font When is the deadline? Leave time to make correct # of copies and

get your Principal’s Signature No reference to school on pages 2 and 3. Cute title

2. READ ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS

Class demographics

Catalogs

Business partner information

Resources and Fees

Team members names and addresses

School information

3. Collect information you will need to include in your grant proposal.

Write clearly, concisely, jargon-free, and use good grammar.

Have someone else read over your grant. (I usually have someone other than a teacher read mine.)

Succinct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You’re Ready! Writing the Grant...

1. Your bookkeeper will receive the $$. Check with your bookkeeper on the methods at your school for using purchase orders.

2. DO NOT BUY THE SUPPLIES AND EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED.

3. PURCHASE ORDERS MUST BE ISSUED BEFORE THE MONEY IS SPENT.

4. NO FOOD, unless you receive a Sweet Bay nutrition grant, specifically for nutritious foods.

When you get your Foundation Mini-Grant...

1. Save all of your paperwork. (It will help you write the next grant.)

2. Keep a folder with all related receipts, assessments, etc. (This will help you fill out the required follow up documentation easily.)

3. Submit your required evaluation report and expense report by the due date.

4. Take photos and keep a few samples of student work.

This was prepared with notes from a presentation created by Diane Elswick, NBCT

When you get your Mini-Grant...Continued……

Environmental Grants

State, local, and regional grants are easier to get than national ones

“Did not get these”

Project Learning Tree Florida – Ag Ding Darling Target Field trip Grants CHNEP!! Lowes NWF

Michael Jordan's Tiger Woods NIE Toyota Tapestry Bill and Melinda Gates

Due Date – September 3rd 2008, into our grant dept. 2 weeks prior to due date.

Will pay for: Transportation, Teacher pay, Supplies, ??Subs??

$250 micro grants any time

CHNEP Nature Festival – Good to attend and present

Easy to get in the past but must be able to make a difference in our local community.

no rainforests etc.

Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program – Public Outreach Grants - $3000.00

Lee County Council of Service Learning teachers meets on the first Thursday of every month at Challenger Middle School from 4:30 to 5:30.

OLD INFO Due to our grant department May 2, 2008 New projects up to $7,500

Service Learning Grants

Handout of Florida Learn and Serve website with my contact information.

Packet includes:◦ Governor’s letter◦ 2 page description of service projects◦ Learn and Serve America Makes a Difference◦ Lesson plan to use with students◦ Sample lesson and worksheet for students

Service Learning Grants

http://www.leeschools.net/dept/gpd/

J.F. "Jeff" McCullers, Director, LCSD Grant Dept. E-Mail: JeffFM@leeschools.netTelephone: 239.337.8115Facsimile: 239.337.8594

JoAnn Moody, Secretary to Grant DirectorE-Mail: JoannMO@leeschools.net

Terri Kinsey, Coordinator, Grants DevelopmentE-Mail: TerriMK@leeschools.net

Other opportunities

Sheryl Terepka, Challenger Middle School◦ Sheryltt@leeschools.net

Steve Wilkie, South Fort Myers H.S.◦ Stevejw@leeschools.net

Melissa Kramer, North Fort Myers H.S.◦ Melissaak@leeschools.net

Contact Us!

Foundation:◦ No classroom sets◦ No supplies that schools should supply◦ Cute, catchy title◦ Food only from Sweet Bay – no hot dogs◦ $750 individual, $2000 team – encouraging

groups especially – in 2008◦ Include needy students

Things to remember:

Service Learning:◦ No reward trips or gifts◦ No field trips for fun◦ No expensive items that can be borrowed◦ Expensive items must be needed & dedicated to

service projects◦ No butterfly gardens◦ Teacher planning – ok

Things to remember:

Overall:◦ Local and regional grants are far easier to get

than national◦ It takes $$ to get $$◦ Keep the grantor’s purpose in the forefront◦ No infrastructure changes◦ Collect letters of support◦ Ask teachers who received the grants before◦ Ask the grantors, what are they funding?◦ Needy students – ESE, special needs, free and

reduced lunch, etc.

More things to remember:

Sheryl can help with service grants You can pay yourself for administering some

grants You can pay teachers and yourself for

planning In-kind – when businesses offer services for

free or offer reduced rates to you and your students – be creative

Collect letters of support

Even More things to remember:

Collect newspaper clippings Try and get the grantor’s name out there Create stationary with grantor's logos (with

permission) Be timely with end of grant report

Dissemination is Key

United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICEBig Cypress National Preserve33100 Tamiami Trail EOchopee, Florida 34141-1000  April 30, 2007  To Whom It May Concern: For the past two years I have been corresponding with Sheryl Terepka at J. Colin English Elementary School

in North Ft Myers, FL and have learned of the wonderful Learn and Serve Project she and her students are working on at the Powell Creek Preserve in Lee County. I recently had the opportunity to attend a program about this project presented by her students at the League of Environmental Educators in Florida Conference in March. The presentation was excellent and the student’s knowledge and enthusiasm about the project and the South Florida was extremely impressive

 Through this hands-on experience the students gain knowledge of habitat restoration, exotic/invasive plant species, use of native plant species, water and soil quality, human impacts, affects on wildlife, resource management and much more. They will also learn research techniques, collaboration and project organization. This responsibility will give them a sense of pride and ownership in their community and will increase their awareness and promote stewardship of their Southwest Florida environment.

 Efforts by teachers like Mrs. Terepka and projects like this will encourage students to make informed decisions about this area in the future.

  Sincerely,

 Lisa M. Andrews

Outreach/Education SpecialistBig Cypress National Preserve

 

Letter of Support

Why to write grants – We get to do things like this:

Lee County Homeless CoalitionSilent Auction, “Doors Without Homes”

Challenger Middle School