Johnson Elementary School Awarded Grants

Grants totaling $750 were awarded to benefit Johnson Elementary School this fall, thanks to the Sunnyside Reunion Memorial Fund at the Scott County Community Foundation.

The Sunnyside reunion awards group, made up of former students of the one-room school in northern Johnson Township in Scott County, began a mini-grant memorial award in 2010 for Johnson Elementary School.  Mainly through an auction at their annual get-together and other fund-raising events, the Sunnyside group raised $750 this year, which was earmarked for the benefit of students and teachers at Johnson Elementary to further and enhance educational projects.

Awards of $250 each were presented to three of the most outstanding projects for 2011 during American Education Week, November 13-19 and are as follows:

• Doug Goodwin received funding for the music department to purchase an I-Pod Touch Instrument and application software to bring electronic instruments into the classroom and add more instruments for the ability to perform and instruct. These instruments will eventually be used in concerts and performances.

• Tiffany Barrett received funding for her third grade math class to motivate students to achieve higher goals in mathematics and to engage students in the process of problem solving. Through the "Minute To Win-It" game format, this environment in learning will motivate students and allow for teacher interventions.  Through this motivating and worthwhile activity for the children every student in second and third grade should earn an award throughout the year.

• Flossie McGannon received funding for her second grade reading class. This grant will allow the purchase of 80 chapter books for literature groups. It will encourage students to transition from picture books to chapter books. With the literature groups in the daily reading block, it will engage students in constructive meaning and discussions with other readers and a deeper understanding of what they read.

To contribute to the Sunnyside Reunion Memorial Fund, tax-deductible donations can be mailed to the Scott County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 25; Scottsburg, IN 47170. To view pictures, visit www.facebook.com/ScottCountyCommunityFoundation.