For more than 15 years, the Wayzata Education Fund has been providing grants for innovative curricular ideas in the classroom across the district.
2020
The 12 projects receiving 2020-2021 funding from the Wayzata Education Fund include:
- Paws on Books, a book lending program through which each outgoing second grader will receive six books to bring home for the summer to reduce summer reading slide at Greenwood Elementary, thanks to teacher Ginny Adams
- Upgraded, easy-to-use, polar heart rate monitors for middle school students during physical education to encourage healthy habits at West Middle School, thanks to teacher Michael Brindise
- 3D printers for fourth grade students and beyond, in order to refine their creativity and engineering skills at North Woods Elementary, thanks to teacher Lisa Carlson.
- A decal printer that allows for interdisciplinary collaboration between ceramics and graphic design, allowing students to create one-of-a-kind art products at Wayzata High School, thanks to teacher Emma Carroll.
- CoSpaces that allow students to create virtual reality spaces with merge cubes for sixth grade students at all middle schools, thanks to teachers Robyn Chrast and Steve Newman.
- Sun lamps in Austism Spectrum Disorder classrooms to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder for students at Wayzata High School, thanks to teachers Renee Heiland and Nicole Delorme.
- Google Expeditions virtual reality equipment and content, allowing for global virtual field trips and the creation of virtual tours of their own, for students at North Woods Elementary and Sunset Hill Elementary, thanks to teacher Kareena Kraemer.
- A coffee cart program for special education students to learn social, math, reading, and employment skills by selling coffee at West Middle School, thanks to teacher Lindsay Nyhof
- A 3D printer for use in Wayzata High School robotics and manufacturing classes to help them design and create robots to tackle specific challenges, thanks to teacher Ken Pashina.
- A digital table saw readout for wood and metal manufacturing classes within tech education at Wayzata High School, thanks to teacher Kyle Swenson.
- A mobile Spanish library, so students always have access to a variety of literature in Spanish at Wayzata High School, thanks to teacher Alyssa Warne.
- iPads to support special education students in regulating their emotions at Gleason Lake, thanks to teacher Allison Westplate.
2019
The 11 projects receiving 2019-2020 funding from the Wayzata Education Fund are:
- An author visit to all elementary schools by Hena Khan, a Pakastani-American Muslim author who shares about her culture through her age appropriate writing, thanks to Julie Kirchner and the elementary school media specialist team.
- iMacs and virtual reality for use in coding, movie making, and photo editing, to enhance experiences for the Central Middle School Alternative Learning Program, thanks to teacher Chad Bartels
- An outdoor learning center to apply science skills and concepts outside the classroom for all students at Meadow Ridge Elementary, thanks to teacher Brian Etling
- Building materials to encourage creativity, imagination, and teamwork through math at Oakwood Elementary, thanks to teacher Jean Gentile.
- Dash robots to encourage STEM experiences for Vision 21 students at all 9 elementary schools, thanks to teacher Angela Henry.
- Increased robotics and coding opportunities for all students at Sunset Hill and Plymouth Creek Elementaries via the use of Dash Robots, thanks to teacher Michele Hull.
- An enhancement of all science classes’ technology at West Middle School via Cernier LabQuest, which provides technology that connects data collection to the students’ iPads, thanks to teacher Scott MacLachlan.
- The development of enrichment challenges for all classrooms at Birchview Elementary through STEM supplies, thanks to enrichment specialist Danielle Miller
- Access to cubelet technology for all Sunset Hill students, by building off of the technology classroom skills and allowing further development and exploration in the general classroom, thanks to teacher Robert Olson.
- A vacuum former for the high school’s engineering courses, allowing for the design and creation of prototypes and molds, forming plastic into permanent objects, thanks to teacher Kenneth Pashina.
- Introduction to augmented reality for all middle school students via Merge Cubes in West, Central, and East Middle School media centers, thanks to technology integration specialist Belinda Stutzman.
2018
- A new physical education program, Wayzata Elementary Fitness Initiative Training (WE FIT), that will impact all 7,000 elementary students in the district, thanks to physical education teacher Sheila Schultz
WE FIT in action! Thanks to Wayzata Foundation grant for All Elem Ss in Wayzata to have a traveling fitness center! Ss are loving it and using GIFs and Tech to enhance PE and fitness! pic.twitter.com/YyIiuuZVyR
— Sheila Schultz (@GLPhyEd) October 23, 2018
- A tower garden for the new Compass class, The Ecology of Foods and Nutrition Education at Wayzata High School, thanks to teachers Scott Tordeur, Anne Swanson, and Miriam Lejonvarn
- A CNC router for the advanced woodworking class at Wayzata High School, thanks to teacher Kyle Swenson
- Coding and robotics challenges for 2nd graders in all district elementary schools, encouraging a lifelong interest in STEM, thanks to Vision 21 teacher Chip Brofford
- A screen printing light exposure unit for graphic design and ceramics classes at Wayzata High School, to provide real world application of their designs, thanks to graphic design teacher Lea Anne Jasper
- A new chamber style band program that connects East Middle School band students with senior citizens in the community, teaching music, stage presence, public speaking and how to engage with an audience, thanks to band teacher Sue Kim
- A collection of Big Books for shared reading in kindergarten and first grade at Birchview Elementary School, thanks to literacy coach Ann Carlson and and teacher Jeremy Willenbring
- A book binding machine to be shared with several elementary schools in order to improve the longevity of our media center resources, thanks to media specialists Chris Schiemann and Elizabeth Robertson
- Mathematical lab kits to incorporate physical experimentation, simulation, and modeling in the Differential Equations and Linear Algebra advanced math class at Wayzata High School, thanks to math teacher Bill Skerbitz
- Providing new social coping tools through We Thinkers to students at Birchview Elementary, thanks to the school’s first grade team of Renee Wenberg, Maura Freier, Daeaun Messer, and Mai Huynh.
2017
- Full-size fossil specimens for Wayzata High School’s new Evolution class and Biology classes, thanks to science teacher Toni Leland
- Aeroponic tower garden for 2nd graders at Meadow Ridge Elementary School, thanks to teacher Samantha Exsted
- Recumbent bike for Autism Spectrum Disorder Program at Wayzata High School, helping students cope with anxiety, stress and sensory overload, thanks to Renee Heiland and Nicole Delorme
- New books for the district-wide Volunteer Literacy Program, which helps struggling readers in grades 2-5 in all eight elementary schools, thanks to Charlene Barghini and Colleen Wier in the District Volunteer Office
- 3D printer for Wayzata High School’s Art Department and 3D Design classes, thanks to art teacher Dawn Duwenhoegger
- Google Expeditions virtual reality technology for 4th and 5th graders at Gleason Lake and Oakwood Elementary Schools, thanks to principals Mary McKasy and Sarabeth deNeui
- Anatomical human skull collection to enhance the anthropology unit in Wayzata High School’s Forensic Science class, thanks to science teacher Amy Campbell
- Resources to augment student research capabilities in 7th grade Life Science Bioblitz/Outdoor Research at East Middle School, thanks to teachers Jessi Herrscher and Kristi Byrlev
- Ukuleles for the 5th grade music program at Meadow Ridge and Kimberly Lane Elementary Schools, thanks to Meadow Ridge music teacher Katie Baker
- Augmentative alternative communication devices to help give a “voice” to non-verbal and limited-verbal students throughout all Wayzata schools, thanks to speech-language pathologist Olga Campbell and assistive technology and occupational therapist Carole Ries
- Ozobots to provide early exposure to coding for students in the Vision 21/Young Scholars program in grades 1-5 at Sunset Hill, Kimberly Lane, Gleason Lake and Oakwood Elementary Schools, thanks to Vision 21 teacher Angela Henry
- An East-meets-West collaborative workshop and curriculum for all high school and 8th grade Orchestra students, featuring world-class Indian composer and performer Chitrvina N. Ravikiran, thanks to orchestra teacher Mark Gitch
2016
- 3D printers at all three Wayzata Middle Schools, thanks to Nancy Neal
- An incubator at Central Middle School, thanks to Jessie Starken
- Mindfulness group sessions and instruction at Wayzata High School, thanks to Becky Halvorson
- A digital microscope at Wayzata High School, thanks to Amanda Laden
- Sphero robotic balls at Kimberly Lane Elementary and Gleason Lake Elementary, thanks to Debbie Mossefin
- Mathematical literature though storytelling, allowing a springboard for higher level, critical thinking surrounding mathematical topics at Gleason Lake Elementary, thanks to Emily Lewis
- iPads and laptops for school homework clubs, an intervention to help close the resource gaps in the community at Gleason Lake Elementary, Sunset Hill and Oakwood elementary schools, thanks to Sue Strom
- Expanded e-book licenses for all elementary schools in order to capitalize on the use of technology with engaging and motivating e-books, thanks to Rebecca Whitlock
- Classroom libraries to create a culture of reading at Wayzata High School, thanks to Mark Ferry and LaToya Scott
- Select Choirs access to authentic composition experience and real-world techniques for writing music at Central Middle School, thanks to Chris Larson
2015
- Collaborative mobile makerspace carts at Greenwood Elementary that provides creative time and space for all ages, thanks to Brad Gustafson
- Mathematical literature though storytelling, allowing a springboard for higher level, critical thinking surrounding mathematical topics at Gleason Lake Elementary, thanks to Emily Lewis
- iPads and laptops for school homework clubs, an intervention to help close the resource gaps in the community at Gleason Lake Elementary, Sunset Hill and Oakwood elementary schools, thanks to Sue Strom
- Expanded e-book licenses for all elementary schools in order to capitalize on the use of technology with engaging and motivating e-books, thanks to Rebecca Whitlock
- Classroom libraries to create a culture of reading at Wayzata High School, thanks to Mark Ferry and LaToya Scott
- Select Choirs access to authentic composition experience and real-world techniques for writing music at Central Middle School, thanks to Chris Larson
2014
- Expansion kits for Lego Robotics for the Engineering & Technology departments at all three middle schools
- Augmented Reality World Book Talk, offering an innovative and interactive book talk project using apps and technology to engage students in reading at Greenwood Elementary
- Polar heart rate monitors allowing PE instructors at all three middle schools to provide differentiated instruction strategies based on individual student fitness needs
- Teacher educationTotal Physical Response program to help facilitate all levels of Spanish learning available at all elementary schools
2013
- S.T.E.M. simple machines materials to teach engineering principles to students in Vision 21 program at Birchview Elementary
- Development of 10 self-directed online learning modules accessible to students 24/7 that supplement and extend the classroom curriculum in grades 3-5 at Greenwood Elementary
- Ukuleles for music instruction, expanding and enhancing music education for fifth grade students at Sunset Hill Elementary
- e-books for all three middle school libraries to support the district-wide My Way for Student Learning initiative
- Equipment for use in five classes involved in teaching video and graphics production, and broadcast journalism at Wayzata High School
2012
- iPads for use by students in the Middle School Alternative program, increasing alternative academic achievement through individualized educational programming
- iPads to facilitate accurate feedback to teachers from peer coaches
2011
- Funding for a pilot program to train staff in specific sensory strategies for classroom use to enhance school performance for students of all learning styles
- A summer reading program to help struggling readers in 1st- 4th grades at Plymouth Creek Elementary
- Funds to purchase 15 e-Readers, digital grade level novels, and audio books at West Middle School
- iPads and customized applications to be used at Oakwood Elementary School’s special education program
2010
- Accelerated Summer Math Program at Wayzata High School
2009
- No grants were given in 2009.
2008
- Support the needs of students in the WPS elementary and middle schools
2007
- Document Based Questions AP- based program for all Wayzata High School U.S. History classes
- Elm Creek water and soil testing and research materials for students in Wayzata High School’s AP Environmental Science, Environmental Science, and Wildlife Biology classes
- U.S. history and geography book collection upgrade at middle school media centers
- Elementary media centers book collection upgrade
- Funds for the elementary literacy project, which offers community and school partnership to provide one-on-one reading assistance to elementary students
- A ropes challenge course that is a S.T.E.M.- based collaborative approach to physical education curriculum by utilizing biomechanical and physics concepts in P.E. class lessons at Wayzata High School