Grants awarded to 18 innovative projects in District 128
The money will fund a welcome program for students who are immigrants and their families, science projects and other innovative efforts.
The grants, which were announced Thursday, come from the District 128 Foundation for Learning. The independent nonprofit group supports programs and activities in Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128.
Seven of the new grants will fund projects proposed by Libertyville High employees, nine are going to projects proposed by Vernon Hills High employees and two will be shared by staffers at both schools or the district office.
Among the winning projects:
#x2022; A $1,907 grant for a Libertyville High program designed to help immigrant students and their families build relationships and understand the challenges of living in a new country.
#x2022; A $945 grant for a Vernon Hills High science project that will use ultraviolet cameras to let students see like insects.
#x2022; A $1,150 grant for a literacy program that teams Vernon Hills High students with first-graders at Fairhaven Elementary School in Mundelein.
#x2022; A $1,548 grant for a virtual reality and augmented reality project at both schools.
#x2022; A roughly $1,999 grant for a Libertyville High program that uses audiobooks to assist students who have learning disabilities and who struggle to read.
#x2022; A planned outdoor classroom at Libertyville High was awarded a $1,995 grant to pay for the design, installation and maintenance of native grasses and wildflowers around the perimeter of the site.
These kinds of innovative ideas are part of the reason Libertyville and Vernon Hills are two of the best high schools in the nation, Superintendent Prentiss Lea said during a ceremony Thursday.
"Your outside-the-box vision for teaching and learning and commitment to excellence is greatly appreciated," Lea said.
The foundation has awarded more than $218,447 to 145 projects since 2008. To learn more about the foundation, visit d128foundation.org.