The Camden Junior Welfare League (CJWL) recently awarded six Spring Classroom Enrichment Grants. A total of $2,060 was awarded for classroom projects or programs throughout the Kershaw County School District.
“As in previous classroom enrichment grant processes, our Honor Committee evaluated applications based on quality of the project and the number of students who would benefit from the grant,” CJWL President Angie Young said. “We’re excited that the grant awards in this cycle alone will impact more than 700 Kershaw County students.”
This is the second school year the League has offered these grants to district educators, after seeing a remarkable response during the 2017-18 school year. Grants are intended to support student enrichment in math, language and writing, arts, life skills, and special education for students with disabilities. Applications are evaluated through a blind review, with the identities of applicants being withheld from members of the review committee during the grant process.
The CJWL awarded grant support to the following applicants:
• Jennifer Atkinson, Lugoff Elementary School, Toy Story STEAM Mania -- Supporting a Toy Story themed room transformation/STEAM activity for 2nd Grade students, who will participate in activities fostering teamwork, problem-solving skills and reading/math skills. Supplies purchased will be reused in a future “escape room” class activity and in future school years.
• Camden Police Department Officer Karen DeVors, Camden Elementary School, D.A.R.E Program -- Supporting the 10-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. D.A.R.E. curriculum focuses on life skills for students, including responsible decision making, relationship and communication skills, and handling responsibilities and challenges.
• Meredith Floyd, Pine Tree Hill Elementary School, Hands-On Equations -- Supporting a program designed to provide students in 3rd Grade, when they begin learning how to solve for the unknown, a whole brain approach to solving equations. This program involves recreating equations using hands-on manipulatives and learning tricks to help solve complex equations.
• Diana Kingsbury, Pine Tree Hill Elementary School, FOSS Science Kits -- Supporting the replenishment of existing Full Option Science System (FOSS) science kits for 4th and 5th Grade students, providing a way to explore science standards through inquiry-based investigation and hands-on experiments.
• Sara Ponds, Lugoff-Elgin Middle School, Keyboards -- Supporting the purchase of four 61-key standard electronic piano keyboard sets, allowing the music instruction of 48 additional students per school year.
• Tonya Seay, Lugoff Elementary School, Readers Are Leaders -- Supporting the purchase of selected books that are academically appropriate for students, fostering a love for reading while providing life lessons and role models from diverse backgrounds. These books will support an academically challenging curriculum for many years.
