Des Plaines School District 62 gets grants for books, clubs and more

Des Plaines School District 62 recently received 26 grants totaling more than $18,000 from a local charitable group that works to support quality education through innovative programs, creative opportunities and imaginative approaches.

The School District 62 Education Foundation awarded the grants for projects promoting literacy, craft skills and other educational skills.

"These grants offer a wide variety of experiences above and beyond the traditional classroom experience for students," foundation President Elizabeth Murphy said in an announcement of the grant awards.

"There were some excellent proposals submitted this time around, and we look forward to providing students with more opportunities in the future."

Among the grants:

• $200 will be used to purchase materials for a sewing club at Algonquin Middle School.

• $1,000 will be used to purchase percussion instruments for the Algonquin Middle band.

• $1,000 to bring award-winning author Fern Schumer Chapman for a visit to Algonquin Middle.

• $537 will go to buy new cameras for the Chippewa Middle yearbook club.

• $1,000 for a Family Literacy Night at Chippewa.

• $1,000 will fund the creation of a sensory space at Cumberland Elementary for students struggling with anxiety.

• $631 will purchase books for second-graders at Iroquois Community School.

• $500 will fund two virtual programs for North Elementary School families that will promote science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

• $1,000 for a visit to Forest Elementary School by author Kevin Luthardt.

• $1,000 will fund the creation of a sewing club at Orchard Place Elementary.

• $1,000 for a Creative Well-Being program that focuses on the special needs population at Orchard Place.

For more on the foundation, visit d62foundation.com.