Grants We Have Awarded

Development and Enrichment Grants

Podcasting in the Classroom — Sheri Muehleman
The grant will purchase equipment to allow students to demonstrate their learning by creating podcasts.

Training the Ear for Musical Excellence —Beth Stribling
The grant will purchase a Harmony Director to help MMS band students improve their skills.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award
Augmented Reality Sandbox — Lindsay Koebbe

The teacher will purchase equipment to replicate scanning technology for 4th grade science classes, providing hands-on activities, cooperative learning, and unlimited fun while developing social-emotional skills to supplement academic learning.

Mini-Grants for 2023-2024

Murray Elementary School

“Communication Station using ESGI”- Kara Brown

All  parents want to see their child make progress.  With one click teachers can quickly show parents just how far their child has come and provide them with resources in English and Spanish to continue growth.  ESGI is a program allowing teachers access to tests and assessments to quickly gather performance data and to plan lessons based on needs.

“Exploring with STEM: Fairy Tale Edition”- Kara Brown 

Students design, engineer, explore cause and effect, and experiment with gravity and force while retelling fairy tale stories.  They combine literacy, science, creative thinking, math, and problem solving skills–all while working with a peer on a fun task. 

“Flower to Fruit:  Little Learners Exploring Plant Life and Pollinators”- Lisa Halter and Georgena Taylor

Plant life takes center stage as students explore how fruit trees grow in a raised bed garden.  Preschoolers will plant flowers native to the region to help attract pollinators as they learn about plant and insect life cycles and how they contribute to food production.

“Making Model Magic Moments and Memories”- Stoya Hastings

Elementary students will experience Model Magic to create a flexible three-dimensional form or a “miniature sculpture.”  Since students usually work with two-dimensional art work, this allows them the opportunity to explore art in a new tactile way 

“SEL Stations: Providing a Small Space for BIG Feelings”- Chelsee Ryan and Shannon Harrell

Currently, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is being prioritized in our elementary classrooms in order for students to become well-rounded, happy, and healthy young people. Stations in the classrooms, supplied with tools and resources, will give students a place to go and safely regulate their emotions and process their feelings.  Teachers will teach, model, and practice self-regulation skills with students to ensure that SEL Stations are used appropriately.

“Building a Community of Readers”- Elizabeth Forrester

A classroom library that encompasses many genres and reading levels will support the interests of readers and diversify the options for reading.  In the reading community, the students will set goals, explore different genres, reflect on what they have read, and discuss and share with the community.

“Edible Science”- Elizabeth Forrester

MES has maintained an amazing kitchen garden over the past couple of years.  This grant supports the purchase of plants and supplies needed for students to learn about “edible” gardening.  They will plant seeds, watch them grow, and be able to eat the “fruits of their labor.”

Murray Middle School

“Passport to Knowledge”- Sheri Muehleman

Funding for this grant will allow PBS’s Passport to be used by many students.  This platform allows students to access content at any time in many areas.  It is an amazing resource to supplement classroom instruction-especially in science.  Students have reported that they enjoy the topics, unusual facts, and career-related information.

“Math Geniuses”- Lindsay Koebbe

Students will watch math lessons (Generation Genius) that reinforce math learning targets.  Students will encounter different teaching styles as they watch standards-based videos, Included are quiz games and simple DIY activities.  The teacher plans to share this program with other teachers and hopes to have it incorporated into the general curriculum.

“Morning Makers”- Lindsay Koebbe

Each morning before the start of class, students will engage in learning by completing building challenges with Strawbees straws and connectors.  These Strawbees are durable and will  last for several years.  The students will be exposed to more academic standards as RGWY also meet sensory needs.  Activities will promote teamwork and acceptance of others.

“Recorders and MORE!!!”- Beth Stribling

In elementary school, students have the opportunity to learn to play the ukulele.  Having some ukuleles available at the middle school allows students to accompany their melodies with recorders.  Using the ukuleles and the recorders togethe, adds the element of harmony, thereby broadening the musical ear.  Learning to play the ukulele gives the foundation to becoming life-long musicians-through playing a band instrument or applying their knowledge to the guitar.

“Bring the Mountain to Mohammed”- Beth Stribling

This Proven Excellence Grant allows for music educators to spend a day working with 7th and 8th grade band students at the annual “Get to Know Ya” Day Camp.  This music educator serves as an incredible mentor and example for the students.  It is also a valuable experience for students who cannot financially afford private lessons.  The Band Boosters will supplement these funds to guarantee that all instrumental groups have instruction.

“Bringing the Past to Life”- Michael Koebbe

Eighth grade social studies students see the past come to life by seeing the teacher role-play historical figures while wearing costumes from the time period.  All that is needed is the right hat for the teacher to portray Seth Manley, his ancestor, who was one of the minutemen at the Battle of Lexington during the American Revolution.

“Murray Tiger STLP”- Mechelle Morgan and Sheri Muehleman

The Student Technology Leadership Team (STLP) program promotes problem solving and project-based learning while empowering students to find solutions to school and community problems using technology.  In the past, STLP teams from MMS have been successful in competition at the state level.  

“Grant us the Power to Grow”- Jennifer Barnhill-McCormick and Brittany Forgey

In collaboration with the high school FFA, students with complex needs will learn to grow plants in the classroom and in the greenhouse.  They will be able to apply their classroom knowledge to a “real-world” situation.

“Fielder’s Living Library”- Krista Fielder

 A library should shift and change with the needs of the ever-evolving students who access it. The Living Library project will strive to provide our 21st Century thinkers with relevant literature for their perspectives as both learners and citizens.

“New Tiger, New Gear”- Shelley Stubblefield

Students new to Murray Middle School will be welcomed to the school by being given a new Murray Tiger shirt.  All students at the school  are encouraged to wear black and gold each Friday; making sure our new students feel included will instill Tiger Pride in them. 

“Fact or Fiction?  Kids Love Non-Fiction Books”- Ashley Cox and Hannah Stark

Engaging non-fiction text is one way to add relevance and rigor to the reading curriculum; it is the cornerstone of the reading program.  Scholastic Storyworks will be used as anchor texts for informational units of study for fourth grade readers.

“Reviving the Teacher Read Aloud”- Ashley Cox and Hannah Stark

Bringing the joy of reading to the students includes developing a rigorous curriculum using culturally diverse literature in the classroom.  A set of culturally diverse books will be used for students to progress from “learning to READ, to reading to LEARN.”

“3D Pens for Geometry”- Tamsyn Vertrees and Beth Myers

Students will use 3D pens to create 3D figures, to create the surface area of objects, to compare surface area to volume, and to construct geometric figures to scale.   The pens can be used for several years.

Murray High School

“Food, Flowers, and Fun: Murray High School Gardening Club”- Drew Thompson

Students take responsibility for that which they help create!  As a service organization, the MHS Gardening Club works to enrich and beautify the physical space of MHS’s campus through growing and maintaining indoor plants and small-scale outdoor gardens to be enjoyed by all students, faculty, and staff.

“Pay Yourself First Bank Project”- Amy McDowell

Students will “upcycle” items to create their own functional banks in order to remind themselves of the importance of saving, eventually seeing the benefits of saving a little each day by paying yourself first.  This activity will be part of a unit of study about finance.

“More to the Story”- Michael Robinson

The “More to the Story” grant provides books about controversial topics impacting our society today.  Students will have access to the texts for writing research papers.  The students will assist with what to purchase by making a list of issues they would like to address.

“Sounds Like Learning”- Michael Robinson

To encourage creative expression in the classroom, the Sounds Like Learning grant will allow the purchase of needles for the record player and additional records for the library.  A vinyl record library provides unusual forms of music, artwork, and creative writing for students to enjoy and discuss together.  Music is also a means for students to calm down and to cope with stress.

“Music on the Move”- Tim Zeiss

The good news-”The band has grown significantly.”  The bad news-”The current equipment and set up does not accommodate instructing the students effectively.”  The solution is a TV on a rolling cart connected to a computer.  The director can stay in front of the class for instruction.  

Development and Enrichment Grants

Indoor Vertical Farming for All — Brittany Forgey
Students will learn about sustainable, vertical farming and food production by using a Garden Tower to grow crops.

Harmony Director and the band — Tim Zeiss
The grant will purchase a Yamaha Harmony Director, which helps music students build habits of good intonation.

Forensic Library Update — Michael Robinson
Funds will add books, memoirs, novels, poetry, and plays to the speech library of material used for enjoyment or competition.

New Fiction, New Faces — Shauna Burkeen
The grant will add books for groups of the student population who are underserved by the current collection.

Fourth Grade ELA RTI Program — Ashley Cox
Funds will supplement purchase of an adaptive learning program which also received the Schmidt Technology Award.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award

Fourth  Grade ELA RTI Program — Ashley Cox
Funds will help purchase an adaptive blended learning program that accelerates the development of literacy skills. 

Keeslar-Soltani Award

Dylan McCallon

Mini Grants

Murray Elementary School

Blossom and Learn Tiger Garden — Melissa Durham
Through a partnership with MSU School of Agriculture, MISD FFA and Kids’ Company, students will be taught the importance of sustainability and pollination by working in a garden they help plant and maintain.

“Look, Mom! I Can Read!” — Jay Stark
As they are learning to read, Kindergarteners need a wide variety of “just-right” books so they can practice. Having a classroom library with leveled, high-interest books, Kindergarteners can read while building fluency and confidence.

“Find Your Rhythm!” — Hunter Carter
Students need to explore and learn about new sounds and instruments from around the world.
Adding a diversity of instruments to the classroom will enhance a student’s musical experience and growth. “All students will be able to play these percussion instruments throughout the year. I know they will love them.” HC

“Numberblocks” to the Rescue — Nancy Newsome
Children will learn how numbers really work as they build their own Numberblocks from 1-10 and from 11-20 by connecting them with classic mathlink cubes. Students will be able to follow the Numberblock characters on Youtube videos to enhance their learning.

Building Numbers and Fine Motor in Kindergarten — Nancy Newsome
The materials purchased with the grant will reinforce beginning math skills-counting, comparing, adding and subtracting. In addition, the students will build fine motor skills by snapping, writing, using pincer grips and manipulating objects as they stack and drag while completing the math tasks.

Sanitizer+Students=More Learning — Beth Wood
The addition of a Touchland Smart Dispenser to the library will allow students to efficiently sanitize their hands before and after selecting library materials. Less time will be spent on manipulating the bottled hand sanitizer dispensers, thus increasing the amount of time devoted to learning in the library.

Flexible Seating While Increasing Communication Skills — Erica Shepard
Having flexible seating options within the speech therapy room allows students to control their physical environment and to find their “personal” best way to learn, allowing for more meaningful engagement. The increased focus will lead to improved communication skills to utilize with peers and teachers.

Basketball…Success for ALL! — Shauna Traylor
Students love BASKETBALL! However students at the elementary school struggle not being able to shoot the ball into the basket. Many become defeated time and time again. This grant will provide two portable five-foot basketball goals for younger students to use.

Food-Tag Frenzy — Shauna Traylor
With the responsibility of teaching health content and in an effort to incorporate both health and physical activity into a lesson, the PE program will use this game to teach nutrition while being physically active.

Everyday Speech — Billie Martin, Erica Shepard, Geneva Karanja
The Everyday Speech program uses games, videos, and activities that help children learn regulation strategies when dealing with their emotions. The program helps students vocalize and express feelings. It is appropriate for use in the special, collaborative and general education settings.

Farm to Fork to Food: Growing Healthy Food and Active Minds — Kandace Hutson, Chelsea Ryan and Matlene Perry
Students, again this year, will plant, grow, and harvest fruits and vegetables in raised beds while learning important knowledge and skills in life science. This grant will provide for a new bed that will allow access to children with different or limited physical abilities.

Murray Middle School

Passport to Knowledge — Sheri Muehleman
Funding for this grant will allow PBS’s Passport to be utilized by many students. This platform allows students to access content at any time in many areas. It is an amazing resource to supplement classroom instruction.

Super Cymatics — Lindsay Koebbe
Chladni plates and an electromagnetic driver will be used to enhance student learning about energy and waves. Using these will allow the teacher to introduce the field of Cymatics (the study of visible sound and vibration) to students in a hands-on interactive way.

Flexible Seating for School Library — Kalyn Harris
The availability of flexible, inclusive seating in the library will give students a more workable and practical space to collaborate as teams. A more accessible workspace gives students a reason to visit the library more often.

Recorders and MORE!!! — Beth Stribling
Building on the experience of learning to play the ukulele in elementary school, having some ukuleles available at the middle school will allow students to accompany their melodies with the recorder. This will add the element of harmony, thereby broadening their musical ear.

Bring the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
This Proven Excellence Grant allows for music educators to spend a day working with 7th and 8th grade band students at the annual “Get to Know Ya” Day Camp. This music educator serves as an incredible mentor and example for the students. It is also a valuable experience for students who cannot financially afford private lessons. In addition to these funds, the Band Boosters provide money to guarantee that all instrumental groups have instruction.

Academic Team Buzzers — Michael Koebbe
The academic teams at Murray Middle School will utilize new buzzers during season practices and matches. Working buzzers are vital for conducting academic team challenges. The current buzzers are worn-out and need to be replaced.

Murray Tiger STLP — Mechelle Morgan and Sheri Muehleman
The Student Technology Leadership Team (STLP) program promotes problem solving and project-based learning while empowering students to find solutions to school and community problems using technology. In the past, STLP teams from MMS have been successful at the state level. This grant covers the cost of supplies and travel.

Murray High School

Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) Class Library — Faith Haley
FVR is a proven method for language acquisition as it exposes students to comprehensible language in context. This builds vocabulary and grammatical skills allowing students to work under low pressure and at their own pace. Many novels include cultural elements. These books are written in Spanish FOR Spanish students.

Academic Buzz — Adam Pitman and Wesley Bolin
A wireless buzzer set will provide a portable, adaptable alternative to the academic teams current wired system. In addition to being used for academic team practices and matches, the buzzers will be used to review content in the English and World History Classes–often in Jeopardy-style games.

Go Green! A Greenhouse for Life! — Brittany Forgey
The NEW Murray Independent Agriculture and FFA Greenhouse provides opportunities for students to experience real world learning beyond the classroom. The project supports student based hands-on learning, research and growth. Having the greenhouse will benefit students from all schools. This grant will provide funding for some needed items to equip the greenhouse.

Artist Birthday Party End of Year Project — Emily Chipman
As an end of the year project, all MHS art students will create a box and table setting to match their artist’s style. The grant will allow for purchase of the boxes; each box will showcase artists from throughout history including today. There will be CAKE!

Creative Collaboration Year 5 — Emily Chipman
This collaboration between third graders and high school art students has been successful for the past four years. Third graders design a creature and high school art students make them come to life as a sewing project. This project develops problem solving and hand sewing skills while promoting meaningful interactions between older and younger students.

New Fiction, New Faces — Shauna Burkeen
While updating the high school library by analyzing the current book collection, it became apparent that there are several groups of students who are not being served by the selection of books currently available. Giving students access to books they want to read and not just have to read will encourage them to become life-long readers. Activities will be planned to encourage students to get excited about reading.

Sounds Like Learning — Michael Robinson
To encourage creative expression in the classroom, the Sounds Like Learning grant will allow for the purchase of a record player and the start of a music library. A vinyl record library will provide unique forms of music, artwork and creative writing for students to enjoy and discuss together. Music is also a means for students to calm down and to cope with stress.

Development and Enrichment Grants
2021-22 [Grants are posted when awarded throughout the year.]

Chromebook Accessibility — Mandy Brogan
The grant will pay for headphones and computer mice to help fifth grade students hear better and perform multiple manipulations on computers.

Advanced PE Initiative — Tyler Franklin
A grant will supplement funds for the project winning the Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2021-22.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2021-2022

Advanced PE Initiative — Tyler Franklin
The project will bring technology to the physical education weight room to better prepare students for practice and competition.

Mini-grants for 2021-2022

Murray Elementary School

The Right Book Can Make a Difference — Kara Brown
The grant will purchase books by multicultural authors and illustrators to bring diversity into the classroom library.

“Bee Botting” Coders in 1st Grades — Kriss Buss
First grade students will engage in coding and team-building activities to complete projects to increase their knowledge in Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering.

Drumming around the World!! — Hunter Carter
Students will have tubano drums with which to make music, learn basic techniques of drumming around the world, and enhance fine motor skills.

Sensory Solutions — Shannon Harrell
Purchased materials will provide a multi-sensory approach to both stimulate and relax elementary school children as they need.

Farm, to Fork, to Food — Candace Huston
Students will plant, grow, and harvest fruits and vegetables in raised beds near the cafeteria, while learning important knowledge and skills in life sciences.

Every Day Speech — Billie Martin, Geneva Karanja, and Shannon Herrell
The program will use videos, activities, and games to teach and help social/emotional learners self regulate their emotions.

Nuts and Bolts of Building Early Numerancy — Nancy Newsome
The grant will purchase materials to provide a multi-sensory system to develop and build basic math skills of kindergarten students.

Snap, Build, Read — Nancy Newsome
Purchased materials will provide a multi-sensory approach to enhance foundational reading skills, linking fine motor development to basic reading skills.

Growing All Year — Jacqueline Robinson
The grant will purchase materials to facilitate a year-long plant growing project which will allow students to research, investigate, observe, illustrate, record, and analyze data about various plants.

Phonological Awareness “PH”un — Hannah Stark and Five Other Kindergarten Teachers
The grant will purchase a program to teach phonological awareness and build reading skills.
All In! It’s Cornhole Time — Shauna Traylor
The grant will purchase seven sets of boards and toss bags for a game to teach teamwork, sportsmanship, hand-eye coordination.

Let’s Bowl! — Shauna Traylor
The grant will purchase equipment for six bowling lanes to accommodate larger PE classes in learning a lifetime activity and its required skills.

How Are Ordinary People Changing the World? — Beth Wood
The grant will purchase for the library a set of 23 high-interest biographies of diverse role models thatwill appeal to all ages.

Murray Middle School

Reflex Math Program — Keri Hicks
Students increase their math fact fluency through an online program that provides coaching, assessment, and practice and allows them to work at their own individual pace through a series of exciting, fast-paced games.

Stream Table — Lindsay Koebbe
The grant will cover most of the cost of equipment which will allow 4th grade students to observe and measure in a few hours geological processes relating to weathering and erosion that take place over several years.

Bringing History to Life — Michael Koebbe
The teacher will purchase and wear costumes to help students make stronger connections to their past when he introduces them to historical figures.

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
The grant will help pay to bring gifted teachers and musicians to participate in a clinic with 7th and 8th grade band students.

Enriching the Band Experience: Digitally — Beth Stribling
The grant will purchase an additional iPad to help students record individual and group performances and more easily learn to compose and play instruments and thus extend their own abilities.

Murray High School

Outdoor Art Classroom — Emily Chipman
The grant will purchase four picnic tables for students to paint and then use to make art outside.

Creature Collaboration — Emily Chipman
The grant will purchase material for a collaborative project in which MHS art students will make creatures imagined by MES third grade students.

Development and Enrichment Grants 2020-21

Challenger Space Center — Michael Koebbe
The grant paid part of costs for a virtual visit by all fifth grade students to the space center in Paducah.

Advanced PE Initiative — Tyler Franklin
A grant will supplement funds for the project winning the Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2021-22.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award 2020-21

An Apple A Day Will Help Me to Play —Beth Stribling
Ipads will be purchased to help students record and compose music and improve personal performances.

Mini-grants 2020-21

Murray Elementary School

Kindness is Contagious — Sherri Bazzell
The grant will purchase materials with which students will learn a variety of ways to show acts of kindness to others.

Real World Retail for Kinders — Hannah Stark
The elementary school curriculum at the Kindergarten level includes lessons on economics and consumerism. Purchase of a Childcraft Market Stand will help allow them to simulate actual retail situations such as a restaurant, an ice cream shop, a travel agency and many others.

Exploring Engineering — Hannah Stark
The grant will purchase hands-on equipment to help Kindergarten students explore and learn concepts such as force and motion as they establish a base for learning engineering concepts throughout the curriculum in later years.

Play with a Purpose — Hannah Stark
During free-choice play time, Kindergarten students have choices among themes for play centers that connect with real-world experiences. The grant will purchase equipment to add the centers “Community Helpers” and “Veterinarian’s Office”

Puppets for Language and Literacy Learning — Hannah Stark
Puppets are a traditional tool for teaching communication and literacy skills to Kindergarten students. The grant will purchase a tabletop Puppet theatre and two sets of Plush Hand Puppets.

Cup Stacking – How Do You “Stack Up?” —Shauna Traylor
Cup stacking is an activity that improves hand-eye coordination, reaction time, ambidexterity, quickness, and coordination. Purchase of a Sport Pack containing 30 sets of cups will allow skills development at different age levels from Kindergarten through red grade and a variety of moderate to vigorous physical activities.

Just Keep JUMPING! — Shauna Traylor
Jumping rope can be a lifetime activity, and elementary school is an ideal time to learn and practice. The grant will allow purchase of 60 jump ropes appropriately sized for students from Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Listen and Learn — Courtney Vanover
The grant will purchase tiered, independent work stations to teach language skills to Kindergarten students with differing needs.

Lunch Book Clubs — Denise Whitaker, Chelsee Ryan, and Sarah Saylor
The grant will purchase books to be used in lunch time reading groups for second and third grade students, who will be encouraged to take Accelerated Reader tests on the books.

Murray Middle School

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Thank you notes are both an assignment and extra credit opportunity.

Super-Sized Grammar Instruction — Hope Foster
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses. The focus will be on instruction in grammar.

PBIS ClassDojo Reward Store — Molly Higgins and 6th grade teachers
The grant will purchase items for a classroom communication platform to encourage positive behavior interventions and support.

Bringing History to Life — Michael Koebbe
The teacher will purchase and wear costumes to help students make stronger connections to their past when he introduces them to historical figures.

Creating with Clay — Gena Maley
The grant will purchase material with which students will use a variety of clay and ceramic techniques to create works of art that are both beautiful and functional.

Robo Challenge Xtreme: LEGO Robotics — Mechelle Morgan and Madelyn McKee
The grant will purchase materials with which students will learn to perform functions, complete challenges, and build and program robots for competition.

Murray Tiger STLP — Mechelle Morgan and Sheri Muehleman
The grant will help cover the cost of supplies and travel for students to compete in the Kentucky Student Technology Leadership Program.

Bear, Bull and Tiger Markets — Sheri Muehleman
By taking part in a virtual competitive game students will learn personal finance skills and investment strategies that can be used beyond the classroom.

Pizza Garden (MMS Greenhouse) — Sheri Muehleman
Funds will purchase supplies for a greenhouse in which students will learn economic, technical, biological, and nutritional skills as they grow ingredients for their own pizzas.

Building a 21st Century Library — Rebecca Simons
The grant will fund books for the 7th grade reading classroom library. A special focus will be placed on engaging non-fiction titles and diverse literature by multicultural authors with multicultural main characters.

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
The grant will help pay to bring gifted teachers and musicians to participate in a clinic with 7th and 8th grade band students.

Fun Between the Lakes — Amanda Tipton and 4 others
The grant will fund entry fees during a field trip to Land Between the Lakes.

Murray High School

Art Display Panels — Emily Chipman
Student works of art can be shown in various locations throughout schools and elsewhere using display panels purchased with grant funds.

Creature Collaboration — Emily Chipman
The grant will purchase material for a collaborative project in which MHS art students will make creatures imagined by MES third grade students.

Development and Enrichment Grants 2019-20

Tiger Tales — Amanda Pittman
A commitment grant will help publish the writing and art work of students at Murray Elementary School.

Challenger Space Center — Michael Koebbe
The grant paid part of admission costs for all fifth grade students to visit the space center in Paducah.

Sensory Breakout! — Darrah Jackson
The grant will purchase materials to help special needs students better respond to various sensory data.

Uke Can Do It! — Hunter Carter
Ukeleles will be purchased for MES students so they may learn basic music skills through hands- on experience.

Build a Creature — Emily Chipman
The grant will purchase material for a collaborative project in which MHS art students will make creatures imagined by MES third grade students.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award 2019-20
High School Information Technology and STEM – Whitney York

Funds will be invested in materials, supplies, and software for MHS students to explore and engage in science, technology, engineering, and math related fields.

Mini-grants 2019-20

Murray Elementary School

We Love Informational Text! — Sherri Bazzell
Magazines which enhance cross-curricular learning will be purchased.

Now I Like Math!!! — Sherri Bazzell
Books about math will be used to encourage students who like reading to also develop interest in both subjects.

Go Fish—Kinders Find Music! — Kara Brown and six others
All kindergarten students will prepare and perform in the Musical Go Fish as the culmination of their last science unit: oceans. The grant will help pay for materials needed for props, costumes, and scenery.

Mystery Science — Kandi Dawson
The grant will purchase materials with which students will use scientific methods of inquiry to enhance their natural curiosity about their world.

Second Grade Economic Fair — Thenia Gibson
Students will learn basic principles of economics by planning and managing all steps needed to develop an Economics Fair at which products they have created are displayed.

Growing Independent Readers and Writers — Hannah Stark
The grant will help purchase materials which develop confidence and skills in young readers.

Bump! Set! Spike! It’s Volleyball Time! —Shauna Traylor
Volleyball equipment appropriate for introducing the game to younger students will be purchased for the elementary school.

It’s the Climb! Rock Wall Fun for P.E. — Shauna Traylor
Improving coordination, balance, and strength is the purpose of materials and equipment to be purchased for constructing a climbing wall at Murray Elementary School.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All — Beth Wood
Seating appropriate for younger students will be purchased to replace adult size chairs in the Murray Elementary School library.

Serious About Series — Beth Wood
Funds will help purchase more durable books in the kinds of series which motivate elementary school students to develop the habit of reading for pleasure.

Lego Robotics for Littles! — Whitney York
The grant will add equipment to allow elementary school students to transition to a program at the middle school which introduces engineering principles and helps students learn and practice computational thinking.

Murray Middle School

Books, Books, Books! — Chelsea Allen and Rebecca Clark
The grant will help purchase books that present many cultures, races, and ethnicities in an engaging way.

IXLing to a Better Understanding of Language Arts — Amy Coulson
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses. The focus will be on reading and language arts skills.

Reading’, Writin’, and Debatin’ for Fun — Amy Coulson
A continuation grant to purchase magazines and videos which may be shared among classes, the project will add emphasis on development of argumentative skills and creative thinking.

Flexible Seating — Amanda Curlin
Seating which encourages and enables collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking will be purchased for the Murray Middle School library.

Graphic Novels — Amanda Curlin
The grant will help purchase novels which use imagery to improve literacy and reading comprehension, especially among students with language and learning disabilities.

Dressing KUNA — Krista Fielder and Heidi Mallory
The grant will help purchase native attire for students to wear while attending the Kentucky United Nations Assembly.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Thank you notes are both an assignment and extra credit opportunity.

Super-Sized Grammar Instruction — Hope Foster
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses. The focus will be on instruction in grammar.

Bringing History to Life — Michael Koebbe
The teacher will purchase and wear costumes to help students make stronger connections to their past when he introduces them to historical figures.

Robo Challenge Xtreme: LEGO Robotics — Mechelle Morgan and Mike Epperson
The grant will purchase materials for use in an enrichment class and with which more than 50 students will learn to perform functions, complete challenges, and build and program robots for competition.

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
The grant will help pay to bring gifted teachers and musicians to participate in a clinic with 7th and 8th grade band students.

Sounds of the World — Beth Stribling
Authentic percussion instruments from Brazil will be purchased to help continue an after school drumming circle for 4th and 5th grade students.

Flexible Seating — Jennifer Westbrook
A variety of classroom seating options, which improves comfort and thus better focus on learning, will be purchased.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
The grant will pay part of the cost of a web-based computer program to enhance students’ math skills by allowing teachers to monitor their progress and identify strengths and needs for improvement.

Development and Enrichment Grants 2018-2019 

Rendezvous with a Comet — Beth Myers and Lourdes Oster
A $1500 grant will pay partial cost for all fifth grade students’ admission to the Challenger Space Center in Paducah.

Tiger Tales — Amanda Pittman
A commitment grant will help publish the writing and art work of students at Murray Elementary School.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award 2018-2019

Emily Chipman will begin integrating technology into the art classroom by purchasing equipment to help art students photograph and respond to their work through digital portfolios, create game design, and create visual holographs.

Mini-grants 2018-2019 

Murray Elementary School

We Love Informational Text! — Sherri Bazzell
Magazines which enhance cross-curricular learning will be purchased.

MES Goes Broadway — Kim Black and Arts and Humanities Team
The grant will purchase material for backdrops, props, and costumes for a 2nd and 3rd grade production of Annie Junior.

Share-A-Seed — Robin Brown
The grant will purchase plants, flower pots, paint, and seeds so that kindergarten students can learn about plant life as they visit the City Park and and create displays of flowers at MES.

Art Enrichment — Stoya Hastings
Grant funds will purchase equipment to be used in an after school program for third grade students which goes beyond the regular art classroom curriculum.

Practice Makes Perfect — Hannah Stark
“Boogie Boards,” an innovative personal writing board, will be used in kindergarten and first grade classes to help provide practice of essential skills.

STEM Explorations for 21st Century Learners — Kesha Sullivan and Grade 1 Teachers
The grant will help integrate science studies by purchasing bins to store equipment to be used in the engineering portion of the STEM curriculum.

Kicking it Up a Notch with Soccer —Shauna Traylor
Elementary school students will learn and practice basic soccer skills in physical education classes with age appropriate equipment purchased by the grant.

Physical Education is a Balancing Act — Shauna Traylor
The grant will purchase Create-A-Balance equipment to help elementary students develop essential and advanced skills in maintaining balance.

Magnificent Multifaceted Magna Tile Magic! — Dana Welsh
Kindergarten students will discover and explore color, shapes, and geometry concepts and will develop spatial awareness and fine motor skills with equipment purchased by the grant.

Periodicals Promoting Progress in Reading — Beth Wood
The grant will add children’s magazines to material available in the MES library.

Inspiring Exploration Through Fairy Tale Problems — Beth Wood
After hearing a fairy tale read by the teacher, students will work together to create structures which solve a problem faced by characters in the story.

Murray Middle School

IXLing to a Better Understanding of Language Arts — Amy Coulson
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Reading’, Writin’, and Debatin’ for Fun — Amy Coulson
A continuation grant to purchase magazines and videos which may be shared among classes, the project will add emphasis on development of argumentative skills and creative thinking.

Dressing KUNA — Krista Fielder
The grant will help purchase native attire for students to wear while attending the Kentucky United Nations Assembly.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Thank you notes are both an assignment and extra credit opportunity.

Support for Student-centered Learning for ELs — Sarah Hines
The grant will purchase computer equipment to help students learning the English language enhance and demonstrate their skills.

Bringing History to Life — Michael Koebbe
The teacher will purchase and wear costumes to help students make stronger connections to their past when he introduces them to historical figures.

Robo Challenge Xtreme: LEGO Robotics — Mechelle Morgan and Mike Apperson
The grant will purchase materials for use in an enrichment class and with which more than 50 students will learn to perform functions, complete challenges, and build and program robots for competition.

Character Cash Program — Sixth Grade Teachers
Positive behavior is encouraged among sixth grade students through rewards for meeting expectations for grades and actions.

Creating Permanent Readers — Sheri Muehleman
The grant continues a project to purchase durable, guaranteed replaceable copies of high interest novels that develop and encourage students to read.

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
The grant will help pay to bring gifted teachers and musicians to participate in a clinic with 7th and 8th grade band students.

Sounds of the World — Beth Stribling
Authentic percussion instruments from Brazil will be purchased to help continue an after school drumming circle for 4th and 5th grade students.

Study Island for Middle School Science — Amanda Tipton
Individualized instruction at their own pace will be provided for science students through a computer program they can access in various ways.

St. Jude Books of Hope — Heather Vietiez
The project is designed to help students enhance writing skills, learn to collaborate, and contribute to an activity that helps peers in need. Sixth grade students will write and illustrate poems and stories to be published and sent to patients at St. Jude’s hospital. The grant will help cover the cost of publication and shipping.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
The grant will pay part of the cost of a web-based computer program to enhance students’ math skills by allowing teachers to monitor their progress and identify strengths and needs for improvement.

Murray High School

Ceramic Studio Setup — Emily Chipman
Materials and equipment will be purchased to equip the new MHS art classroom with tools and supplies needed for a kiln.

Development and Enrichment Grants 2017-2018 

Tiger Tales — Holly Bloodworth
A commitment grant will help publish the writing and art work of students at Murray Elementary School.

Challenger Space Program — Beth Myers
A grant will cover a portion of entry fees for fifth grade students to attend the program.

Future Problem Solving Team — Michael Koebbe
A Pella volunteer recognition grant to Janel Carey will be used to help pay expenses for the team.

Adaptive Swing — Jennifer Westbrook
Funds will be used to help purchase playground equipment for students with special needs.

MHS Golf Team Equipment — Amy McDowell
Grant funds from the Chuck and Sarah Jones endowment will help purchase golf bags.

Adapted Art Toolkits — Emily Chipman
Art tools will be purchased for use by students with special needs.

2017-18 Mark Schmidt Technology Award
Nancy Newsome and Murray Elementary School will use a grant of $1000 to fund the project “Communication Station Using ESGI

Mini-grants 2017-2018 

Murray Elementary School

Learn Like a Real Scientist — Sherri Bazzell
The grant will be used to purchase tools and materials with which students can practice carrying out basic scientific experiments.

We Love Informational Text! — Sherri Bazzell
Magazines which enhance cross-curricular learning will be purchased.

Chess Time —Chuck Blanchard
The grant will purchase timers for elementary students to use in practice and learn how to manage time during matches.

Acting Out —Holly Bloodworth
The grant will purchase reusable costumes and material to be used in dramatic experiences that enhance students understanding of literature.

Let’s Get Wild! — Kandi Dawson
A grant will be divided among four projects which use different kinds of scientific exploration of real world situations.

Science Can Move You! — Kandi Dawson
See above.

Science Can Be Magnetizing! — Kandi Dawson
See above.

Weather Can Be Challenging! — Kandi Dawson
See above.

Adaptive Swing — Shannon Harrell
The grant will supplement a 2016-17 Development and Enrichment grant to provide adaptive playground equipment for Murray Elementary School.

Get Ready, Set, READ — Nancy Newsome
Materials will be purchased to target phonemic awareness skills in early learners and thus help them to read and spell.

Lights, Camera, Green Screen — Jacqueline Robinson
The grant will purchase equipment by which students can create and manipulate images from various arts and media.

Sensory Garden — Amberley Sphinx, Billie Martin, and Peggy Chrisman
Building upon a previously successful project, the grant will help transform the MES courtyard into a garden with plants and equipment which produce a variety of sensations.

Learn a New Trick or Score a Hat Trick —Shauna Traylor
Students will learn teamwork and skills by being introduced to a classroom version of the sport of hockey.

Keep the Tradition Bouncing — Shauna Traylor
The grant will purchase appropriately sized equipment by which elementary students can learn the skills and basic rules of basketball.

Murray Middle School

IXLing to a Better Understanding of Language Arts — Amy Coulson
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Using Current Events Sources in the Classroom — Amy Coulson
A continuation grant to purchase magazines and videos which may be shared among classes.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Thank you notes are both an assignment and extra credit opportunity.

Super-Sized Grammar Instruction — Hope Foster
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Academic Team Buzzer System — Michael Koebbe
A new buzzer system will be purchased for use by the Murray Middle School Academic team.

Robo Challenge Extreme: LEGO Robotics — Mechelle Morgan
The grant will purchase materials with which more than 50 students will learn to perform functions, complete challenges, and build and program robots for competition.

Creating Permanent Readers — Sheri Muehleman
The grant will help purchase durable, guaranteed replaceable copies of high interest novels that develop and encourage students to read.

Character Cash Program — Sixth Grade Teachers
Positive behavior is encouraged among sixth grade students through rewards for meeting expectations for grades and actions.

Bringing the Mountain to Mohammed — Beth Stribling
The grant will help pay to bring gifted teachers and musicians to participate in a clinic with 7th and 8th grade band students.

Enriching the Band Experience Digitally — Beth Stribling
A Google chromebook will be purchased for use in practice and assessment.

Sounds of the World — Beth Stribling
Authentic percussion instruments from Middle Eastern, African, and South American countries will be purchased to help start an after school drumming circle for 4th and 5th grade students.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
The grant will pay part of the cost of a web-based computer program to enhance students’ math skills by allowing teachers to monitor their progress and identify strengths and needs for improvement.

Murray High School

Printmaking Lab — Emily Chipman
Materials and equipment will be purchased to create a mini-lab for advanced art students to create prints and build portfolios for college applications.

Table Top Easels — Emily Chipman
The grant will be used to purchase lumber from which about 30 easels can be made to be used in art classes.

Development and Enrichment Grants for 2016-2017 

Shannon Harrell — Adaptive Playground Equipment
A $1000 grant will help fund the addition of equipment so that Special Needs Children can better participate in recess.

Kristen Swisher — A Comet Mission
A $1500 grant will help fund a visit of all Murray Middle School 5th grade students to the Challenger Center in Paducah in March; students will participate in science, math, and language arts enrichment activities, and teachers will attend training sessions prior to the trip.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2016-017

Kara Brown and the kindergarten team received a grant of $900 for the project “Communication Station Using ESGI.”

Mini-grants for 2016-2017 

Murray Elementary School

Better Than Paper — Sherri Bazzell
The grant will purchase dry erase boards and markers to help motivate students to learn math skills.

We Love Informational Text! — Sherri Bazzell
Magazines which enhance cross-curricular learning will be purchased.

Folkarts Festival — Kim Black and Stoya Hastings
Students will experience how the arts have been a part of culture through a variety of activities such as quilt and weaving demonstrations, experiencing folksongs and instruments, traditional dance, and storytelling.

Dr. Seuss Reading Books — Kara Brown
Texts will be purchased which develop skills and appreciation of reading among younger readers by emphasizing rhyming and alliteration.

Monarch Butterfly Habitat — Kara Brown, Fawn McDonald, and Peggy Chrisman
A butterfly garden “courtyard classroom” will introduce students to wildlife conservation as they observe and monitor butterfly and plant life cycles.

Buddy Bench — Dana Henry
Elementary students will develop social skills and friendships as they gather on a playground bench.

Dreambox Math — Dana Henry
Tier 2 and 3 students will receive a subscripton to www.dreambox.com to provide supplemental instruction and practice in addition to their daily intervention in a fun, interactive way.

“Let’s Magnetize Our Learning” — Stacy Lawson and Shelley Powell
Magnetic items and a board will be purchased to assist in group and individual learning skills in language, reading, and math.

Animal and Sky Explorations — Amberly Munsey and 1st grade teachers
The grant will help support a visit by all first grade students to the LBL Nature Station and Planetatium where they will learn about animal habitats and objects visible in the sky.

“A Treasure Trove of Tantalizing Tales” — Amanda Pittman
The grant will purchase a subscription to Storyworks magazine, a resource for teaching reading, writing, and thinking skills that can be shared among all third grade classes.

MES Student Ambassadors — Chelsee Ryan
The grant will purchase supplies and materials for students serving in leadership roles throughout the Murray Elementary School.

ROARING to a Positive Culture — Sarah Saylor and Chelsee Ryan
The grant will fund materials and incentives for the ROAR–Reinforcement of Appropriate Responses–program, which promotes positive behavior and relationships among students in grades K-3.

Nutrition: FoodFat Attack! — Shauna Traylor
An interactive physical activity game that involves learning about healthy and unhealthy food choices will be purchased for use by all elementary school students.

Totally Motivating Math — Beth Wood
Materials will be purchased for a program which helps students develop critical thinking and math skills in three grade levels.

Dreambox Math — Beth Wood
Tier 2 and 3 students will receive a subscripton to www.dreambox.com to provide supplemental instruction and practice in addition to their daily intervention in a fun, interactive way.

Murray Middle School

Dressing KUNA — Krista Fielder
The grant will help purchase material for native costumes of about forty students who will attend the simulated international diplomacy conference Kentucky United Nations Assembly.

Digital Art Folios — Gena Maley
Two iPad Mini computers will be purchased to help students learn the process for creating, selecting and displaying works of art.

Robo Challenge Extreme–LEGO Robotics — Mechelle Morgan and Mike Epperson
The grant will purchase a Robot-EV3 Core Set with which more than 75 students will learn to perform functions, complete challenges, and build and program robots for competition.

Creating Permanent Readers — Sheri Muehleman
The grant will help purchase durable, guaranteed replacable copies of high interest novels that develop and encourage students to read.

IXL-ing to a Better Understanding of Language Arts — Amy Coulson
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Using Current Events Sources in the Classroom — Amy Coulson
A continuation grant to purchase magazines and videos which may be shared among classes.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Thank you notes are both an assignment and extra credit opportunity.

Super-Sized Grammar Instruction (a.k.a. IXL) — Hope Foster
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Project Study Island — Sheri Rust and Suzanne Armstrong
Study Island is used to reinforce key academic concepts anytime, anywhere with an easy-to-use web-based platform. It provides differentiated instruction with an immediate feedback, built-in remediation, and real-time progress reports.

Character Cash Program — Martin Son and 6th grade teachers
Positive behavior is encouraged among sixth grade students through rewards for meeting expectations for grades and actions.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
The grant will pay part of the cost of a web-based computer program to enhance students’ math skills by allowing teachers to monitor their progress and identify strengths and needs for improvement.

Development and Enrichment Grants for 2015-2016 

Field Improvement — Jim Baurer
A $5000 donor designated grant from Toyota of Murray and matching grant from Toyota Corporation helped provide renovation of the football field at Ty Holland Stadium.

Athletic Hall of Fame — Jim Baurer
A $15,000 donor designated grant from alumni Tim Masthay will create and maintain a Hall of Fame at Murray High School honoring former athletes.

Books for Murray Elementary School — Sarah Saylor
A $1000 donor designated grant from Walmart will purchase material for the library and classrooms at Murray Elementary School.

Blue Ribbon School Ceremony — Teresa Speed
A grant provided partial funding for the MHS principal to attend a ceremony in Washington DC honoring Murray High School as a Blue Ribbon School.

History Alive! A Chautauqua Experience —Tina Dunn
A speaker portraying Lily May Ledford will present two programs to MES and MMS students through a Kentucky Humanities Council grant funded by the foundation.

Mastering the Art of Creativity — Gena Maley
Material will purchased for use by students to create art in various media in imitation of masterpieces.

Music Educators Conference — Tim Zeiss and Beth Stribling
Partial funding will be provided to enable MISD band directors to attend the MidWest International Band Clinic.

Band Clinic — Beth Stribling
Funding will be provided for four of eight instructors to conduct a clinic for 7th and 8th grade bands at Murray Middle School.

Murray High Art Show — Emily Chipman
Art supplies and material will be purchased for use by students in preparing an exhibition at Murray High School in the spring term.

Enhancing Physics with Technology — Melanie Dawson
A Chrome Book Computer will be purchased for classroom use.

Technology in the Art Studio — Emily Chipman
A digital camera and computer will be purchased as instructional aids.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2015-2016 

Stacey Lawson and the kindergarten team received a grant of $900 for the project “Communication Station Using ESGI.”

Mini-grants 2015-2016 

Murray Elementary School

Girl’s STEM Club: GIRL POWER RELEASED! — Marcy Back and Thenia Gibson
Second grade girls will engage in team-building activities and complete projects to develop their interest and increase their skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Appalachian Folkarts Festival — Kim Black , Tina Dunn, Stoya Hastings, and Michael Conley
Students will learn the origins of Appalachian culture by observing and participating in various arts, including weaving and quilting, music, storytelling, and folk dancing.

Nature in Our Backyard — Sherri Bazzell
Materials will be purchased to help students observe and record information about nature which is close to their classroom.

Motivating Readers — Sherri Bazzell
Equipment will be purchased to help interest third grade students in reading and to develop their skills.

Story Theatre — Tina Dunn
Reading comprehension skills will be enhanced by drama and creative dramatics, including workshops and live performances.

Kentucky Tales — Tina Dunn
The grant will provide fees and travel for a professional story-teller to perform and teach students about the oral history and culture of their region.

“Phonics Factory” — Stacey Lawson
Materials and equipment will be purchased to provide a multisensory system for the development of language skills.

“Sensational Science and Art” — Stacey Lawson
Learning will be enhanced through exposure to and hands-on experience with the basic vocabulary and materials of art and science.

Murray Middle School

Character Cash Program — Suzanne Armstrong and sixth grade teachers
Positive behavior is encouraged among sixth grade students through rewards for meeting expectations for grades and actions.

IXL-ing to a Better Understanding of Language Arts — Amy Coulson
The grant will cover a portion of the cost of a web-based computer program which allows teachers and students to monitor progress in learning language skills.

Using Current Events Sources in the Classroom — Amy Coulson
A continuation grant to purchase magazines and videos which may be shared among classes.

Super-Sized Grammar Instruction — Hope Foster
The grant will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program by which students receive both results and explanations for missed responses.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
Materials will be purchased with which students may write and mail thank-you letters.

Functional Art Forms – Creating in Clay — Gena Maley
Students will learn both the artistic and functional purposes of ceramic objects they create with materials provided by the grant funds.

Study Island for Science — Amanda Tipton and Mike Epperson
Individualized instruction at their own pace will be provided for science students through a computer program they can access in various ways.

Project Study Island — Sheri Rust
Funds will cover part of the cost of a web-based computer program which allows differentiated instruction, immediate feedback, built-in remediation, and real-time progress reports.

SmartMusic = Smart Musicians — Beth Stribling
The grant will cover the cost of an award-winning software program which allows music students to measure their skills against onscreen rhythms and pitches.

Technology for Project Based Learning — Kristen Swisher
A document camera and printer cartridge will be purchased for use by students in the fourth and fifth grade Flex program.

PBIS Rewards — Amanda Tipton
Prizes to implement the program Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports will be purchased.

Kin-Ball is Team Ball — Shauna Traylor
The grant will purchase equipment to use in a physical education program which encourages students to learn sportsmanship and teamwork.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
A part of the cost of a web-based computer program to enhance students’ math skills will be paid by the grant.

Development and Enrichment Grants for 2014-15 

Lessons, Leadership, and Lots of Music — Kim Black
The foundation will provide partial funding for an MES teacher to participate in the Kentucky Music Educators professional development conference.

Art Teacher-ology — Stoya Hastings
The cost of registration at the Fall Conference of the Kentucky Art Education will be covered by the foundation.

Choir Uniforms — Elaine Mitchell
The foundation will contribute toward the cost of purchasing polo shirts to be used as uniforms for the Murray Middle School Choir.

Reading Strategies — Chelsea Allen
An MES teacher will present at a meeting of the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts conference; the grant will cover the cost of registration.

Chautuaqua Speakers—Tina Dunn
The foundation will provide funding to the Kentucky Humanities Council to pay expenses for two speakers representing historical Kentucky figures.

Dual Purpose Grant—
A donor-designated grant from Dr. Jack and Mrs. Janice Rose will purchase tablet computers for classroom use and cafeteria meals for students.

Learnpads for Kindergarten Classes — Stacy Lawson
A donor-designated grant will purchase tablet computers for kindergarten students.

Honoring a Teacher — Hannah Stark
Funds for travel to the KCTE/LA meeting were provided for the teacher who won a state-wide award for elementary school language arts teaching.

IPad for the library — Doreen Johnson
Funds were provided to purchase an iPad to be used and checked out from the library.

IPads for bands — Beth Stribling and Tim Zeiss
IPads were purchased for use by the MHS and MMS bands.

Mastering the Art of Creativity — Gena Maley
Supplies and equipment will funded so that students may study and create their own works of art inspired by masterpieces.

Literacy in the Gifted and Talented Classroom — Kristen Swisher
Funds were provided to purchase sets of award winning literature for use in the 4th and 5th grade Flex program.

Speech Travel — Michael Robinson
A donor-designated gift was used to support travel to a national contest.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2014-2015 

Sarah Hultman
Award funds will purchase computer technology to help students improve performances in Advanced Placement statistics examinations.

Mini-grants 2014-2015 

Murray Elementary School

Appalachian Folk Arts Festival — MES Arts & Humanities Team: Teachers Tina Dunn, Kim Black, Stoya Hastings, and Michael Conley
This Proven Excellence Grant provides continued support for a program focusing on an arts festival in LBL. After two weeks studying the history and culture of the region in the 1850’s, students will visit The Home Place. They will experience wool spinning, music, dance, and folk tales and will create a video of highlights of the festival.

Making Reading and Writing Connections — Sherri Bazzell
Mentor texts exemplifying aspects of Common Core Standards will be purchased for a classroom library.

Science Satisfaction — Sherri Bazzell
Supplementary texts will be purchased to expand students’ opportunities to learn about topics in science on different levels.

Lunch Bunch Book Club — Holly Bloodworth
High interest reading material will be purchased for five groups of students of varying interests and capabilities to read and discuss outside the classroom.

Picture That: A Literacy Workshop for Kids — Tina Dunn
The grant will support a visit by an author/illustrator who will help students learn to write and illustrate their own stories.

Math in a Flash — Stacey Lawson
The grant will purchase Math Centers which provide materials by which students work together and focus on Common Core Standards.

Phone in on Phonics — Stacey Lawson
Kits of materials to develop language and reading skills will be purchased for use by early elementary school students.

Exploring Engineering — Hannah Stark
Using a variety of learning and building manipulatives and materials, kindergarten students will explore engineering concepts through play and structured investigation.

Science in Motion: Investigating Force — Hannah Stark
Through investigation and exploration with wooden ramps and balls, kindergarten students will discover the effects of pushes and pulls on motion of objects.

Soaring with Storybird — Elizabeth Wilson
Using computers, students in all levels of MES will create picture books by selecting images and writing their own text to accompany them.

Dreambox Math — Mary (Beth) Wood
The grant provides continued partial funding of subscriptions to an internet program which helps students better integrate understanding of numbers.

Murray Middle School

Let’s Get Physical — Nicole Barnette and Laura Miller
The grant will purchase equipment to help provide appropriate health and physical development activities for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

Physical Frenzy — Ted Booth
The grant will purchase a game designed to encourage physical activity and teach teamwork skills among all middle school students.

Using Current Event sources — Amy Coulson
The grant is a continuation of a project in which publications with age-appropriate articles relating to various social studies topics are used to enhance knowledge of current events and argumentative writing skills.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster
The grant continues a project which focuses on writing skills, helping students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Students write and then mail thank you notes

Study Island — Mike Epperson and Hope Foster
The grant covers part of the expense of a web-based program which helps students increase skills in multiple-choice testing in a variety of subjects.

EARNING Success — Grade 7 Teachers: Tommy Shown, Sherri Muehleman, Hope Foster, Mike Epperson, and Clint Wilson
Rewards are purchased for students who perform well in a series of tests using open-response questions.

Character Cash Reward Program — Amanda Tipton
The grant provides continued support for a program in which students in the Sixth Grade earn fake “money” throughout the year for positive behavior and good grades or are penalized for behavior that needs improvement. At the end of the year they exchange what they have earned for rewards purchased by the grant.

Next Generation Science Standards — Amanda Tipton
Funds will purchase science equipment to teach engineering concepts through hands-on learning experiences.

Super-Sized Math — Clint Wilson
Funds will purchase a web-based computer program which allows students to test their math skills and knowledge at school or at home.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel
Partial funding for continuation of a proven excellence grant will be provided. Students use a web-based computer program by which students monitor their progress in learning math skills.

Murray High School

Unique Learning Systems — Chuck Williams
The grant will purchase an online, standards based reading system with multiple levels of lesson plans based on state reading standards but modified (and customizable) to the lower grade level reading abilities of students with moderate to severe disabilities.

2013-14 Development and Enrichment Grants

Learnpads for Classrooms—Matt Gardner, Lauren Hines, Sarah Hines, and Scott Turner
Four tablet computers for use in language and history classrooms were purchased.

Building a Library of Scripts—Michael Robinson
A grant provided additional funds to purchase sources of scripts to be used by the Murray High Speech Team in preparing for competition.

Ornament Economics — Amanda Ashlock and Laura Miller
A $400 grant will provide startup funds for a service-learning project. Fourth grade students will learn about economic principles and sharing with others as they create, advertise, and sell hand-made ornaments. Profits will be donated to the Special Olympics Polar Plunge.

Tablet Computers for MMS—Krissy Zirbel
An anonymous contribution of more than $11,000 purchased 13 iPad Air computers, protective cases, an AppleTV, and a cart for the 8th grade at Murray Middle School.

Chatauqua Speaker—Richard Todd
Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Jim Sayre, will visit the MMS 8th grade in April as part of a series of dramatic programs sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council.

Bridging the Gap!—Sherry Bazzell
The foundation provided partial funding to support attendance at a professional conference by an officer of the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts.

Tiger Eyes to the Skies—Chuck Williams
Equipment will be purchased to supplement a previous Schmidt Award so that a weather station and amateur radio club can be developed at MHS.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2013-2014 

Doreen Johnston
Funds were used to purchase MP3 players for the library so that students could download and listen to books.

Mini-grants for 2013-2014 

Appalachian Folk Arts Festival — MES Arts & Humanities Team: Teachers Tina Dunn, Kim Black, Stoya Hastings, and Michael Conley
The grant provides continued support for a program focusing on an arts festival in LBL. After two weeks studying the history and culture of the region in the 1850’s, students will visit The Home Place. They will experience wool spinning, music, dance, and folk tales and will create a video of highlights of the festival.

Math is Marvelous, but Better with Manipulatives — Sherri Bazzell, MES Teacher
Children are better motivated and better learn mathematical concepts when they see and handle variously shaped concrete objects. The grant will help purchase items which may be used for several years.

Learning Doesn’t Fall Far From This Magazine — Sherri Bazzell, MES Teacher
The grant will help purchase subscriptions to Scholastic News, a resource for learning in the areas of reading, language arts, science, and social studies.

Magazines with a Purpose — Amy Coulson, MMS Teacher
The grant will again help purchase subscriptions to Junior Scholastic and Scholastic Scope. Both magazines are good resources for study of current events and use of textual evidence in language arts, reading, and social studies. They will help students improve skills in argumentative writing.

Reading Jamboree — Tina Dunn, MES and MMS Library Media Specialist
After hearing a model performance by storyteller Mary Hamilton, MMS students will select a story and learn to become storytellers themselves. They will visit and read to students at MES individually and on special reading theme days. Contests throughout the year will encourage students to enjoy various genres of books.

My Scene — Tina Dunn, MES and MMS Library Media Specialist/Drama
Research shows that the skills involved in drama help enhance other learning. Students will see and learn to practice communication through verbal and non-verbal expression. They will create and perform drama in various places, culminating in school-wide performances.

Attitude of Gratitude — Hope Foster, MMS Teacher
A Special Purpose Grant designated for a project which focuses on writing skills, this grant helps students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Students write and then mail thank you notes.

Seriously Seuss — MES Kindergarten Team: Teachers Stacey Lawson, Kara Brown, Robin Brown, Hannah Stark, Nancy Newsome, and Barbara Kough
Grant funds will purchase multiple copies of books by Dr. Seuss to be used throughout the year in teaching reading, math, social studies, and science.

Handwriting Without Tears; Building Successful Writers — MES Kindergarten Team (see names in item above)
The grant will purchase paper, writing utensils, and supplies for a program which uses a multisensory approach to develop fundamental language skills.

Flipping and Flopping Over Numbers — MES Kindergarten Team (see names in items above)
Funds will purchase research-based materials to teach and reinforce number sense concepts. The material can be used for several years and may prove useful in Headstart and First Grade classes as well as Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Performance — MES Kindergarten Team (see names in items above)
Creative dramatics help achieve reading comprehension, writing, and drama skills. The grant will help purchase costumes and props to be used in a performance by all Kindergarten students for students in Murray Elementary School and their parents..

MHS Choir Formal Wear — Laynie Mitchell, MHS Choral Director
Funds will help purchase additional formal wear for both men and women members of the growing MHS choir.

I See What You Mean — Jacqueline Robinson, MMS Teacher
Funds will purchase a document camera for classroom use.

Magazines with Purpose —Jacqueline Robinson, MMS Teacher
Funds will used for subscriptions to Junior Scholastic and Scholastic Scope. The magazines will be used in language arts/reading classes and other subjects.

Character Cash Rewards Program — Amanda Tipton, MMS Teacher
The grant provides continued support for a program in which students in the Sixth Grade earn fake “money” throughout the year for positive behavior and good grades. They can spend this “character cash” for items at the end of the year, and the grant will purchase items for the store.

Flip Flopping Over Multiplication & Division — Beth Wood, MES Teacher
The grant will purchase materials to be used in games which develop fluency in multiplication and division.

Dreambox Math — Beth Wood, MES Teacher
The grant will purchase subscriptions for five students in each of grades K—3 to an internet program which helps struggling students better understand number concepts, especially the quantitative aspect.

A Better Way to Learn Math — Krissy Zirbel, MMS Teacher
The grant provides continued support for a web-based-computer program which is aligned to mathematics common core standards. Students may use the program in school or at home. The teacher can monitor students’ progress and generate reports to identify for each student those math skills that are strengths and those that need improvement.

Development and Enrichment Grants

Choral Camp—Laynie Alba Mitchell
The FFE approved a grant of $650 to support a one-week camp focusing on vocal skills for MHS and MMS students during the summer of 2013.

Murray Elementary School Spanish Program—Kehla Vance
A $500 Donor Designated Grant by Dr. Tara Houston will purchase books and equipment to support early development of Spanish language skills in Murray Elementary School students.

Tiger Tales—Holly Bloodworth
Contributions totaling $1000 funded a Commitment Grant to help support continued publication of Tiger Tales, a compilation of art and writing by students at Murray Elementary School.

Tablet Computers for MMS—Mike Epperson
An anonymous contribution of more than $10,000 purchased 12 iPads, protective cases, an iMac, and a storage/charging station for the 7th grade science lab at Murray Middle School.

Attitude of Gratitude—Hope Foster
The FFE approved a grant of $432 in support of a student enrichment ongoing project which encourages Murray Middle School students to write thank you notes to someone who has helped them.

Tracking the Sun—Courtney Vanover
The FFE approved support for travel to a national conference so that a teacher can present the results of a two year long project during which MES students each week recorded the progress of the sun’s shadow.

Laying the Foundation Training—Amanda Tipton and Scott Turner
Professional Development Grants of $695 each will support participation by teachers from Murray Middle School and Murray High School in training to increase instructional rigor and better prepare more students for Advanced Placement courses.

Building a Library of Scripts—Michael Robinson
Plays, books, and subscriptions to literary journals will be purchased to provide sources of scripts to be used by the Murray High Speech Team in preparing for competition.

Tablet Computers for Forensic Events—Michael Robinson
Two iPad mini-computers for speech students to use in conducting research were purchased with help from an anonymous donation of $1000.00.

Tablet Computers for MMS Classroom—Nicole Barnette
A $1700 donation from local business Creative Canvas has allowed the purchase of three iPad computers and related equipment for a Murray Middle School classroom.

Mark Schmidt Technology Award for 2012-2013

The Mark Schmidt Technology Award went to Charles Williams for the project Tiger Eyes to the Skies.

2012-13 Mini-grants

Magic Wand — Sherri Bazzell, MES teacher
Hand held scanner to scan and store student work, pictures and any type of teacher documentation will be purchased with this grant money

Sound Performances — Kim Black, MES teacher
Grant money will purchase an IPOD to be use as the source of the accompaniment music for our Music Program Presentations.

Just Buzzing In — Laura Brown, MMS teacher
The grant money will be used to update and repair/replace buzzers and other equipment for the academic team; and help with yearly purchases of resources used to practice for our academic competitions.

Ion Copy Cat /magic wand — Amy Coulson, MMS teacher
This Scanner will be used to save student’s hand written work and any other printed material that can then be displayed on the classroom Smart Board.

Using Relevant Sources in the classroom — Amy Coulson, MMS teacher
Reading material (Junior Scholastic magazine) will be purchased. Junior Scholastic will be used in current events,geography,American history and world studies and can be used as a textual evidence for student writings in any subject.

Drama Alive— Tina Dunn, MMS
This project will bring hands on drama workshops and activities, to our Middle school students. These will be presented by Market House Theater staff of Paducah KY. and the Shakespeare Co. of Louisville, KY.

Drama Buddies — Tina Dunn, MES
The program will bring drama workshops and activities presented by Market House theater of Paducah and Murray’s Playhouse in the Park, as well as Story Tour Theater for Murray elementary school students.

Using Classroom Performance systems (clickers) for Formative Assessment— Wayne Jackson and Sarah Hultman Math Department MHS
The these systems allow students to actively engage in classroom learning and receive immediate feedback on practice math problems.

Ceramic Creations- Stoya Hastings, MES Art Teacher
This project will allow second and third grade students to be introduces to ceramic art. They will create there own clay sculpture. Local artist Wayne Bates will be teaching the process of Sgraffito on ceramic tiles.

Murray High Energy Conservation team- Sarah Hultman -Math teacher MHS
We will form and Energy Team as part of the National Energy Education Development Project (N.E.E.D.) We will purchase their equipment and materials “Learning and Conserving” kit for grades 9-12.

Kindergarten Tiger Fitness — Kindergarten Team: Kara Brown, Robin Brown,Rebecca Cunningham, Barbara Kough, Stacy Lawson and Nancy Newsome
Provide equipment for the students to use while on the playground.

Numicon to the Rescue — Kindergarten Teachers: Nancy Newsome, Robin Brown,Stacy Larson
The Numicon number Shapes will allow our students to use developmentally appropriate materials to reinforce basic concepts related to number sense, place value, pattering and number relationships.

Literary Magazine — Lisa Polivik, MHS English teacher
This project will allow the students to create, develop a MHS literary magazine of student work using art work and creative writing.

Ion Copycat Document Scanner — 6th grade teachers Sherri Rust, Amanda Tipton, Vicky Dunlap, Martin Son, Stephanie Youngblood
This Scanner can be used to scan and store book-pages, photos, students papers and drawings——endless possibilities in all subjects.

Live performance field trip — Amanda Tipton MMS teacher
This grant money will be used to take our 6th grader students to a live performance at The Carson Center.

Appalachian Arts Festival — MES Arts and Humanities teachers; Kim Black, Tina Dunn, Stoya Hastings, Michael Conley
The interpretive staff of the Land between the Lakes,will let the children actively participate in groups to learn about spinning wool. They will also learn to play Appalachian musical instruments, learn a folk dance and hear folktales of the 1850’s

History in Our Backyard — MMS 5th grade teachers
After reading a true story about a 14 year old Calloway County boy, entitled Captured! A Boy Trapped in the Civil War and hearing local Civil War historians speak to our classes, we take a field trip to Fort Donelson. This trip to a Civil War battlefield and park allows the children to make the real connection to what they have read, and heard in the classroom.

Lovin’ literacy —Tina Dunn MES Media Specialist
This grant will be used in the school wide literacy project -Accelerated Reader Program. It will allow those who meet their individual reading goals to attend a field trip to the Curris Center for a movie or drama event at the end of the 2nd nine weeks and our Sneech Beach party for students at the end of the 3rd nine week grading period.

Why Try Journals — Leisa Faughn Guidance counselor MMS
The grant will provide the Why Try Journals for all six grade students to practice and learning about reflecting skills based on Decision Making and problems solving models.

Me, Myself and I — MMS fifth grade teachers: Laura Brown, Lindsay Weaks, Lauren Martin, Carolyn Shown
This grant will help provide the books, guess speakers for our Learning about Self programs,with topics of Hygiene and puberty addressed ,as well as learning about self esteem , etiquette and social interactions skills.The grant will also allow us to take the students out to lunch a Sirloin Stockade as the culminating event to practice etiquette and social skills.

Kindle a love for reading—Doreen Johnson MHS library media specialist
This grant will be used to buy more Kindles for the Library. We have found the electronic readers to be increasingly used by our students.

Character Cash Store — MMS 6th grade teachers -Suzanne Hinton,Sheri Rust, Stephanie Youngblood, Martin Son, Amanda Tipton
This grant money will be used to purchase items for our store. The students can buy these items, using only their earned character cash , that they have collected throughout the year for exhibiting good character.

A better way to learn Math — MMS Krissy Zirbel 8th grade Mathematics teacher
IXL is a web-based-computer program, aligned to the new mathematics common core standards. It allows the teacher to monitor students progress and generate reports to identify math skills that are both strengths and areas of improvement for each student.

Tech Savvy — MMS Lauren Martin, 5th grade teacher
Purchase of a document camera and a mobile interactive whiteboard to use in our classrooms would help me to be able to circulate in the classroom and to write on the board from any where in the room. The document camera will allow me to be able to display resources found in books and other printed resources and project the material or article on to the classroom smartboard.

Ladibug Document Camera — MMS 4th grade teachers- Stacy Wortham, Joan Hayman, Chelsee Thompson
This document camera will be used by every teacher in every subject in our 4th grade. It will provide up close look at insects and fossils, help with learning to make measurements, building 3D shapes, studying maps, charts, and graphs. In language arts it will help look at and improve open response by looking at organization and, structure of the writing as an entire class.

Kindling the reading spirit- MHS -Language Arts and Literature teacher John Karanza
This grant will be used to provide my Junior year Special Needs students with Kindles. Kindles allow change of font size and instant dictionary while reading. Each student will be trained to use the Kindle for reading and vocabulary development. They provide smaller page size with larger print, which is less daunting to my students.

Development and Enrichment Grants for 2011-2012

Murray Elementary School Spanish Program—Lauren Hines
A $500 donation by Dr. Tara Houston will purchase books and equipment to
support early development of Spanish language skills in Murray Elementary School
students.

Television Production Equipment—Sherry Purdom
An anonymous $500 donation purchased a new teleprompter for use in every
show produced by the WMHS TV 13 television production class at Murray High School.

Tiger Tales—Holly Bloodworth
Contributions in the amount of $800 from donors to the Triennial Fund Raiser
were used to supplement a mini-grant for publication of Tiger Tales, a compilation of art
and writing by students at Murray Elementary School.

Neo-Typers—Kandi Dawson, substituting for Beth Wood
Contributions to the Triennial Fund Raiser purchased a NEO 2 SmartOption
Mobile Lab for use in developing keyboard skills among students at Murray Elementary
School.

Mark Schmidt Technology Grant for 2011 – 2012

Doreen Johnston
The 2011 Mark Schmidt Technology Grant went to Doreen Johnston, the librarian at Murray High School to purchase Kindle e-readers

Mini-grants for 2011 – 2012

French Reading Textbooks Erin Plunkett
Reading skills texts will be purchased for French classes, to offer a wider variety of materials for class activities and improve student achievement in French

Understanding Biology Through Gardening Kat Drennon
This grant will be used to create a garden space at Murray High School for use in Biology class. Students will apply the concepts of Biology (photosynthesis, biogeochemical cycling, symbiosis, etc.) to growing plants from seeds to maturity

Kindles in the Classroom: Motivating Readers Adrienne Custer
This project will make new electronic reader technology available to our students by placing Amazon’s Kindles in the English classroom

A Better Way to Learn Math Krissy Zirbel
IXL is a web-based computer program, which is aligned to the new mathematics common core standards, that allows the students to answer both multiple choice and short answer questions. Students have the ability to access these questions both at home and/or at school. The program easily allows the teacher to monitor student’s progress and generate various reports to identify mathematical skills that are both strengths and areas of improvement for each student.

Ladibug Document Camera Stacy Wortham
Ladibug Document cameras will be purchased and used to enhance student learning in every subject area. For example, in Science, the cameras will be used to provide an up-close look at insects, plants, fossils, and will be used in experiments involving energy and forces.

Character Cash Reward Program Amanda Tipton, Martin Son, Sheri Muehleman, Sheri Rust
Sixth grade has a program which uses “character cash” as a reward system. Students save their “character cash” throughout the year and are able to make purchases with it such as gift cards, books, games, cameras, bicycles, MP3 players, etc. This grant money will help with the purchase of these items.

History in Our Backyard Sherri Bazzell, Carolyn Shown, Laura Brown, Stacy Wortham, and Amanda Ashlock
The study of the Civil War is a major study in the fifth grade and we are living among the history. There are living historians to come and share, a book to read that is written from the viewpoint of a boy from Calloway County who was captured during the war and yes, there is a trip to Fort Donelson. Let’s bring the learning to life and explore what happened right in our backyard!

Me, Myself, and I — Sherri Bazzell, Carolyn Shown, Laura Brown, Stacy Wortham, and Amanda Ashlock
Fifth grade has traditionally been the year of self-learning. Topics of hygiene and puberty are addressed and in turn, we would like to take this concept of self-learning and continue to encourage the path of our maturing young men and women in the world of etiquette. A self-anthology book will be created by each child and will be hard-bound for them to keep forever. Let’s make a year of memories for me, myself, and I!

Why Try? Leisa Faughn
Why Try is an evidence-based motivational program which is implemented through the 6th grade at MMS with Pre and Post Assessments given by use of surveys to measure growth of learned concepts. Why Try is linked to core content for positive behavior supports, interaction for Safe & Drug Free Schools and is research based while being used in 36 states, Canada and Australia. This hands-on approach to learning styles is connected to Solution Focused Brief Therapy with social skills for group, attitudes and emotional intelligence.  

Just Flip IT!!! Sherri Bazzell
A picture is worth a thousand words!!! How exciting! Several flip cameras will be purchased and kids will be creating their own video and pictures to create real-life stories and support for real world writing all by using a Flip camera! I say “Flip It!” Appalachian Arts Festival Tina Dunn, Kim Black, Stoya Hastings, Michael Conley In collaboration with the interpretive staff of LBL, the entire 3rd grade class will visit LBL to experience the dance and drama of the 1850’s, music and the environment during this time period, and spinning wool.

Down Storybook Lane Tina Dunn
An improved literacy project at Murray Elementary School will feature a Book Character Club to promote reading for kindergarten through 3rd grade students. The focus will be high quality , high interest reading utilizing the Renaissance Learning Enterprise/Accelerated Reader/literacy quizzes to read for comprehension. This project will implement enticing incentives throughout the year and semester to celebrate reading success utilizing storybook characters and themes. In addition, Murray Middle School (4th-6th grade students) will be included for movie pass and limo literacy luncheon for more age appropriate rewards.

Movie Magic Kandi Dawson
Flip cameras will be purchased and shared by all P4 teachers at Murray Elementary School. These cameras will spark instant enthusiasm and increase student motivation. The cameras will be used for a wide range of projects and purposes in all curricular areas.

Science through Literature Kandi Dawson
Teachers will use sets of books in reading groups to teach or to connect to science concepts. These book sets will be shared by all P4 teachers to address all students’ learning needs, remediation or enrichment.

Tiger Tales Holly Bloodworth
Grant funds will be utilized to partially pay for the printing of Tiger Tales. Tiger Tales is an anthology of children’s work designed to celebrate our students as authors. The publication has been a part of our rich tradition for many years. Each contributing author receives a free copy of the book and is recognized at a special assembly. This book becomes a keepsake that students treasure throughout a lifetime and provides them the opportunity to reflect on their growth as a writer.

Mark Schmidt Technology Grant for 2010 – 2011

Amy Cox
The 2010 Mark Schmidt Technology Grant went to Amy Cox who teaches Forensic Science at Murray High School to purchase forensic software to assist her students in forensic analysis in the classroom.

Mini-grants for 2010 – 2011

French Video Creation by Erin Kelly $300
Two flip-cameras will be purchased for use in the French classes.  Students will write, direct, produce and star in numerous video projects that allow them to apply cultural knowledge and express themselves creatively in French.

Preventing Plagiarism by Lisa Polivick  $600
This grant will enable the purchase of “Turn-It-In” software.  This software detects plagiarism in students’ writing, helping them develop good writing practices and maintain academic integrity.

Why Try? by Leisa Faughn  $141
This program has been implemented at MMS successfully for the past 4 years.  Journals for this motivational program will be purchased for individual student use for 6th graders.

Me, Myself, and I by S Bazzell, A Ashlock, S Wortham, and C Shown  $280
Fifth grade has traditionally been the year of self-learning.  With this grant, students will create a self-anthology book marking this year of history in their own life and the world around them.  This is an excellent way to finalize the elementary years for the children as they make their own personal connection to their self and world around them!

PBIS-Promoting Positive Behavior  by Amy Bell and Lou Carter  $300
MMS is implementing a school-wide program of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).  One component of a PBIS school is a well-defined system for recognizing and rewarding desirable, positive student behaviors.  Funds from this mini-grant will be used to obtain items for Tiger Card rewards and to provide for school-wide celebrations of the program.

History in our Backyard by S Bazzell, A Ashlock, S Wortham, and C Shown  $434
The study of the Civil War is a major study in the fifth grade and we are living among the history.  There are living historians to come and share, a book to read that is written from the viewpoint of a boy from Calloway County who was captured during the war and a trip to Fort Donelson.

Springing into Action by Hope Foster, Mike Epperson, Tommy Shown, Elaine Kight  $455
Students will learn about topics like extinction, habitats, conservation, and even symbolism (epitaphs/gravestones). A visit to Brandon Springs will present opportunities for building relationships between different peer groups, and teachers and students; instilling an appreciation and respect for nature, and a review of core content in both Science and Writing.

Attitude of Gratitude by Hope Foster  $440
Students will learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience.  Thank you notes and postage will be purchased and used as both assignments and extra credit opportunities.

Kentucky Kids Book Club by Tina Dunn  $450
A new literacy project at MES will feature a Book Club to promote reading for K-3rd grade students.  The focus will be high quality, high interest reading utilizing the Kentucky Bluegrass Award book set 2011 geared toward the students’ independent reading level. To kick-off the Book Club, a variety of enticing themes will be utilized such as Book Safari, Captain Book’s Treasure of Good Books, Gingerbread Man goes to the library, and a Book Scavenger Hunt to culminate.

Published Authors by Janet Caldwell and Holly Bloodworth  $300 
Grant funds will be utilized to partially pay for the printing of Tiger Tales.  Tiger Tales is an anthology of children’s work designed to celebrate the students as authors.  This publication has been a part of our rich tradition for many years.  Each contributing author receives a free copy of the book and is recognized at a special assembly.  The book becomes a keepsake that students treasure throughout a lifetime and provides them an opportunity to reflect on their growth as a writer.

Differentiation through Meaningful Reading by Lorrie Booth  $300
DiDifferentiated reading groups have been formed across the entire P3 grade level in order to enrich/remediate reading skills in a more interesting and meaningful way.  These groups will be exposed to a variety of reading and writing genres by using trade books to cover topics on author studies, genre studies, character studies, and various writing skills.  Funds will be used to purchase more books and build upon this program.

Mark Schmidt Technology Grant for 2009 – 2010

Debbie Burgess
The 2009 Mark Schmidt Technology Grant went to Debbie Burgess who teaches Spanish at Murray High School to purchase the computer software Rosetta Stone (Spanish) which will enhance the opportunity for our students to learn Spanish.

Mini-grants for 2009 – 2010

Tina Dunn, MES:  Book Cafe’
Funded in the amount of $600

This literacy project at Murray Elementary School will feature a “Book Cafe'” to promote reading for kindergarten through 3rd grade students. The focus will be high quality, high interest reading geared toward the students’ independent reading level. To kick-off the Book Cafe’, a variety of enticing themes will be utilized including a Hawaiian luau, a Teddy Bear Tea Party, a “Going Bananas over Books” party with Curious George, and to culminate, a Book Carnival. The highlight of this project for all classroom winners will be a limousine ride to University Book and Bean bookstore for a literacy lunch.

Kandi Dawson, MES:  Science Explorations
Funded in the amount of $300

Science is an important part of everyday living. Science textbooks, however, are not very kid-friendly. In efforts to promote more interest and success in science, some “hands-on” materials and/or trade books will be purchased to supplement the core curriculum.

Kandi Dawson, MES:  Social Studies through Meaningful Reading
Funded in the amount of $300

Differentiated reading groups can be formed across the entire P4 level to enrich or remediate homeroom reading and Social Studies skills in an interesting and meaningful way. These groups will be exposed to “real reading” by using trade books that would be purchased to cover topics such as places, people, cultures, etc. Groups will read, create projects and/or writings, assess comprehension, and possibly make Book Talks via the school news program. From time to time, teachers will meet to re-evaluate groups and move students around as needed to achieve success and to cover core content.

Janet Caldwell, MES:  Tiger Tales
Funded in the amount of $500

Grant funds will be utilized to partially pay for the printing of Tiger Tales. Tiger Tales is an anthology of children’s work designed to celebrate the student’s as authors. This publication has been a part of our rich tradition for many years. Each contributing author receives a free copy of the book and is recognized at a special assembly. The book becomes a keepsake that students treasure throughout a lifetime and provides them the opportunity to reflect on their growth as a writer.

Leisa Faughn, MMS: “Why Try?”
Funded in the amount of $600

“Why Try?” is a motivational and strength-based program. The objective is to teach social and emotional skills needed for success in school and life. Decisions and their consequences, peer pressures, responsibility, and interpreting human behavior are some of the areas that are dealt with in this handbook. All 6th graders will participate.

Hope Foster, MMS:  Black Out!
Funded in the amount of $410

This innovative fund-raising program will benefit the little league football program now, and in years to come; as well as promote “Tiger pride”. An “eye black” booth will be set up at all home football games and stickers worn under the eyes (like those worn by players during a game) will be sold. Funds collected will then be channeled into the little league program as “seed money” to begin building upon the funds necessary to replace and maintain equipment.

Hope Foster, MMS:  Attitude of Gratitude
Funded in the amount of $440

Students learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience. Postage for “Thank You” notes purchased with this grant will allow 7th graders an opportunity to thank teachers and other individuals for “making students the people they are today.”

Sherri Bazzell, Amanda Ashlock, Laura Brown, Stacy Wortham, and Carolyn Shown, MMS:  History in Our Backyard
Funded in the amount of $600

The study of the Civil War is a major study in the fifth grade and we are living among the history. There are living historians to come and share, a book to read that is written from the viewpoint of a boy from Calloway county who was captured during the war and yes, there is a visit to Fort Donelson. Let’s bring the learning to life and explore what happened right in our backyard!

Sherri Bazzell, Amanda Ashlock, Laura Brown, Stacy Wortham, and Carolyn Shown, MMS:  Me, Myself and I
Funded in the amount of $200

Fifth grade has traditionally been the year of self-learning. Topics of hygiene and puberty are addressed and in turn, we would like to take this concept of self-learning and continue to encourage the path of our maturing young men and women in the world of etiquette. Let’s make a year of memories for me, myself, and I!

Krista Shelby, MMS:  Bridging with Books
Funded in the amount of $600

Current 8th grade students will begin preparing themselves for the transition to high school English practices by beginning to read for class outside of the classroom. This grant will provide 45-50 copies of the book, “I am the Cheese” to students. These books will be sent home with students overnight in order to foster reading in this setting.

Amanda Killebrew, Dan Runnels, MHS:  Spanish videos
Funded in the amount of $300

With the purchase of flip cameras, this grant will provide students an opportunity to write, perform in, edit, and direct their own short films in order to enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the Spanish language.

Erin Kelly, MHS:  French Video Creation
Funded in the amount of $300

Students will have numerous opportunities throughout the year to apply their language skills in short videos that they will write, direct, and perform in. Students will also have the opportunity to apply cultural knowledge and express themselves creatively. There opportunities include a “dating video,” commercials, and numerous skits. This grant will provide the cameras necessary to the project.

Doreen Johnston, MHS:  Picturing America
Funded in the amount of $600

MHMHS received a grant, “Picturing America” and attained 20 beautiful, laminated reproductions printed on both sides with artwork. The requirement of the grant is to keep the pictures in continual exhibit in classrooms or public locations in the school or library, and to retain the reproductions for future display and educational use. This grant would provide part of the expense of purchasing frames for these prints.

Mark Schmidt Technology Grant for 2008 – 2009

Sherry Purdom
The 2008 Mark Schmidt Technology Grant went to Sherry Purdom, the school’s Public Information Officer for the project: “The Tiger Stripes” Monthly Magazine Show. The grant will be used to upgrade the editing software equipment at WMHS TV 13. This is expected to enhance the show which will be aired to over 9,000 homes in the area.

Mini-grants for 2008 – 2009

Lisa Polivick, MHS:  “Reminiscences of WWII”
Funded in the amount of $400
This mini-grant allowed students to interview World War II veterans and capture their memories and historical roles in this war.  Pictures, biographical information, and WWII reminiscences would be posted online.

 

Laurie Edminster
The software programs provide students with engaging opportunities to work cooperatively to make goal-oriented decisions regarding serious, relevant issues, such as prejudice, substance abuse, violence in the media and government and politics. Each of the software programs will serve as a companion to a major literary work or historical period studied in class. Not only will the programs enhance students’ learning and transfer of knowledge in English/Literature, but they will also help students make cross-curricular connections within their social studies courses. Students will also work together to debate controversial issues and to resolve conflicts in a controlled environment.

Amy McDowell, MHS:  Digital Video Productions
Funded in the amount of $400
This mini-grant would allow for the purchase of a digital video camera and digital cameras to incorporate with existing software to create movies and presentations.  Some of the uses would be to promote FBLA and to create commercials and marketing campaigns for the Tiger Bank.

Janet Caldwell, MES:  Tiger Tales
Funded in the amount of $600
This mini-grant would be used to supplement the funds used to publish Tiger Tales; a book that highlights the writings and artwork of the students of Murray Elementary School.  Each child that submits an entry will receive a book of their own.

Kim Black, MES:  Arts in the Environment
Funded in the amount of $600
This mini-grant will make funds available so all third grade students at Murray Elementary may visit the Home Place 1850s Interpretive Center.  This visit will be the culminating experience of a unit involving music, art, dance, and drama.

Tina Dunn, MES:  Be an AR Star
Funded in the amount of  $400   This mini-grant will provide funds for a variety of incentives for students who meet their individual reading goal on a weekly and monthly basis.   Some incentives include movie passes, pencils and bookmarks, pizza party, golf and picnic, and a school-wide reading carnival.

Kandi Dawson, MES:  Differentiation through Meaningful Reading
Funded in the amount of  $400
This mini-grant would allow for the purchase of reading materials for P4 level students at Murray Elementary.  Books purchased would provide entire sets for a classroom as well as differentiated reading level materials.

Jill Courtney, MMS: Wellness Exploratory Class
Funded in the amount of $600
This mini-grant provides funding for instruction and materials on nutrition, exercise, and life-long leisure sports.  Some items purchased include pedometers, jump ropes, yoga mats, weight scales, tennis balls, etc.  Activities for health and wellness will be emphasized for a happy, healthy life.

Leisa Faughn, MMS:  Why Try? 
Funded in the amount of $600
This mini-grant would allow for the purchase of journals used to implement a motivational program for Murray Middle 6th graders.  The journals include a CD and subjects discussed include, praise, power, projects, people, and prestige.

Sherri Bazzell, MMS:  Mysteries and Motivators
Funded in the amount of  $500
This mini-grant provides funds used to purchase items to be used in a mystery reading and writing unit.  Items will tie-in to the short stories element of writing and reading and will assist students in developing different characters and audience perspective.

Hope Foster, MMS:  ERNA4
Funded in the amount of $250
Funds from this mini-grant are used to encourage proficient/distinguished work on open response assessments.  Students receiving this ranking will be awarded with prizes and t-shirts.  Nearly 65% of 7th grade Murray Middle students reached this ranking through this program last year.

Hope Foster, MMS:  Attitude of Gratitude
Funded in the amount of $600
FuFunds from this mini-grant will be used to purchase postage and notecards to be used in a writing program for 7th grade students.  Students will learn the value of showing gratitude while gaining valuable real-world writing experience.

Mini-grants for 2007 – 2008

Arts Infused Field Trip, Dunn, Black, Conley, Chuck, MES
The P-4 teachers plan to bring all third grade students at Murray Elementary School to LBL to visit the Home place1850’s interpretive center. We intend to divide the third grade classes into two groups one will go the Home place and the other group will participate in music in the environment experience with regionally known artist Chad and Carrie Schott. In collaboration with the interpretive staff of LBL, the regular classroom teachers, the arts and humanities teachers and our visiting artists we intend to make our visit to LBL the culminating experience of a two week unit involving arts and humanities, science, and social studies while at Land between the lakes the students will be assigned digital still cameras and digital video cameras to document our experience and then with the help of the teachers the students will create a movie about the visit.

Tiger Tales, MES
Tiger Tales highlights the writings and art work of our MES students. It has been a part of our tradition of excellence for many years. Each contributing author is presented a copy of the book and recognized during a special ceremony. Children are delighted to see their work published. Additional funding for this project comes from the PTO and school activity funds.

ERN A 4, Hope, Foster, MMS
This project will purchase the t-shirts that are used as rewards in the ERN A 4 campaign to promote high achievement on open responses in all academic areas.

Inside your Body, Mike Epperson, MMS
This grant allowed my students to participate in a session called “Inside Your Body” which is one of the memorable presentations created by the educator Brad Reynolds in his Real Science Programs. The students absolutely loved the presentation because it was engaging, interesting and they actually had the opportunity to participate

Mini Economy, Jill Courtney, MMS
The Mini-Economy is a hands on approach to economics. The students earn money by performing various jobs in the classroom. They learn how their parents work hard to make ends meet as they become responsible for renting their desks, selecting insurance, saving, giving to charity, putting money into retirement (for an end-of-the-year auction), buying snacks and school supplies, and just having fun in our store. It is a wonderful experience for the students.

Why Try?, Leisa Faughn, MMS
The Why Try Program is a strength based approach to helping youth overcome their challenges and improve outcomes in areas of behavior, academics, and truancy. His project will use the WhyTry Classroom Value Pack of materials.

Fluency and the Analytical Reader, Chris Merfeld, MMS
This project involves the purchase of software so that we can expand the use of the read naturally program.

Celebrating Ceramics, Gena Maley, MMS
Middle School students will explore pottery traditions from various cultures, i.e. Native American, China, Greek. Students will create their own ceramics pieces using a variety of techniques that will be kiln fired and glazed.

Saxon Math Pilot, Joan Hayman, MMS
This is a pilot program to compare the traditional math curriculum with the Saxon math curriculum.

Teen Pregnancy, Cindi Alderdice, Murray High
My Child Development classes will be working with The Life House of Murray to combat teen pregnancy.

Moon Buggy Race, Teresa Speed, Murray High
Students in Tech Ed, Physics, Math and business construct a moon buggy fitting specifications set by NASA. The completed buggy will race at MSU and Huntsville.