Award Recipients for 2010 – 2011

Robert Glin Jeffrey Scholarship — David Kuykendall
Clara Waldrop Griffin Humphrey Scholarships — Nicole Payne
Sue and Earl Steele Scholarship — Sean McClellan

56 students from 36 families were awarded tuition assistance grants for 2009-10.

Mark Schmidt Technology Grant for 2010 – 2011

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 2010 – 2011

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.

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