Libertyville teachers get grant funds

More than 25 Libertyville Elementary District 70 teachers have been awarded Partners for Excellence in Education grant money this year to enhance education through innovative and creative new programs in their classrooms.

Thirteen grants totaling almost $5,000 were awarded to progressive teachers in all five schools. The individual grants range from $124 to $500. This marks the fifth year teachers from all five schools will receive funding

The grants are sponsored by Partners for Excellence in Education, a group of local business representatives who offer their time and financial donations to the district. This is the 12th year for the partnership's "Mini-Grant Awards" program, which has awarded $100,000 over the years for use in the classroom.

The recipients are:

Districtwide:

• Cindi Sartain and Alicia Sather. "A Complete Experience in Art." Purchase music that can be paired with art activities.

Adler Park School:

• Gwen Bruno and Rosemary Troxel. "Adler Book Club Blog." To buy the book, "The Trumpet of the Swan," for the entire school to read and discuss online through a Web blog.

• Cathy Jackson and Gwen Travelstead. "If It is to be … It is up to me (A day of good choices)." Bring in three speakers to talk about positive choices, decision-making and maintaining a healthy self-esteem for Adler Park and Copeland fifth-graders.

• Holly Simon. "Manner Up!" Buying "The Etiquette Survival Educator Kit" to teach students about manners and etiquette.

• Lori Sizelove and Holly Simon. "Star Words: A New Dimension." Teaching vocabulary through the school and at home, through hard work and games.

Butterfield School:

• Pat Krech. "Bulldog Recess Mileage Club." Students keep fit and earn tokens while walking or running during recess.

• Erin Carr. "Do You Accept This Challenge?" Students learn about a new country every week, read vocabulary expanding books and do math with attribute blocks.

• Robin Hoffman and Linda Lucke. In "Music, Music Everywhere! A cooperative study of music in other mediums" books, audio and visual material and computer programs will be purchased to enhance the learning of vocal music students. Second year.

Copeland Manor School:

• Ann Marie Grote, Christine Policht and Patti Schroetter. "Meeting the Needs With Differentiation Tools." To purchase wood cubes and magazine subscriptions for Think and Discover to enhance 21st Century Learning.

Highland Middle School:

• Jennifer Dunlap. "Art in Literature." Commission artist Linda Doyle to create a wall hanging, a memory collage and a wood piece all based on the novel students are reading at the time. Doyle will come to class to work with the students.

• Erin Wyatt, Cindy Dale, Jim Gasick, Dennis Lieding, Andrea Perrin, Ann Riggs and Kent Schwerman. "Highland Mock Election: Making Civics Education Count." Students will hold a school-wide mock election using real voting booths that coincides with the Illinois primary in February and the general election, both in 2008.

• Carey Fox and Tara Oshinski. "Seed to Seed: Creating Books for Beginning Readers." Seventh-graders in accelerated language arts study the life cycle of plants in science and then write and illustrate books for beginning readers about a plant's life from seed to seed.

Rockland School:

• Julie Fievet. Popular game Dance Dance Revolution for students to merge physical education and technology in PE class throughout the district. Second year.

The award money is derived from district dinner and dance fundraisers, as well as donations from local businesses belonging to District 70's Partners for Excellence in Education program.