TVEF News & Events

	Back to School Night! Check the district website for more information http://tsd401.org
	Teacher Grant Deadline September 15th Print application here
	TKC Project Keep up to date on the happenings at the Kindergarten by clicking here

Thank You From TVEF

Another great year at Tin Cup for the local schools! TVEF thanks each of you for supporting our public schools through volunteering, participating in the events, and donating funds. Our schools, teachers, and students thank you for your contributions and support!

New Executive Director Joins TVEF
We are thrilled to announce the hiring of Deneen Bowen as our new executive director! After several months of searching and interviewing several outstanding candidates, the TVEF board decided to hire Deneen to take the reins from the phenomenal Lori Kramer. Deneen brings two decades worth of educational experiences across a wide variety of roles: classroom teacher, technology specialist, curriculum trainer, and foundation consultant. Most recently, she has worked with school districts around the country as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. "I am so excited to be joining this fabulous and necessary organization that Lori founded with an idea and a heart full of passion. I am fully committed to supporting educators in Teton Valley dream, create, and implement their best ideas to help all kids learn to their highest potential."

Feel free to drop by the new TVEF office in the Kindergarten Center.

Deneen would love to meet teachers, parents, staff and share our programs and grants for the 2010-2011 school year.

Taming of the Shrew Big Hit in Driggs

Utah Shakespearean Festival's Shakespeare-in-the-Schools production of Taming of the Shrew was a big success! Students were delighted to the old west rendition of one of Shakespeare's more well known plays. After the 75 minute performance there was a "talk back" with the actors about the play and from all reports it was a terrific discussion. Students were also engaged in dramatic workshops during the afternoon. Both events were a nice break from the ISATS happening this week.

This year we were able to raise over $3000 from this event which helps Teton Valley Education Foundation fund this program, and our Teacher Grant program. If you were unable to make the performance plan to attend next year's when it will be Macbeth. If you can't wait a year, then consider some of the summer educational programs the Utah Shakespearean Festival provides or enjoy their summer plays in Cedar City. For more information about Utah Shakespearean Festival visit www.bard.org.

One Hat We Should All Wear

Read Across America - March 2, 2010

If you've ever shared a book with a child, you know the joy and excitement this small but meaningful act can bring. But, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, since 1993 only 53 to 58 percent of children ages three to five received this joy on a daily basis.

We can do better! Simply reading daily with a child requires parents, older brothers and sisters, and other caring adults to add yet another hat to the many they already wear to care for and raise a child. But by adding the reading hat to your collection, you also add great rewards:

Children who are read to at home have a higher success rate in school.

Children who read frequently develop stronger reading skills.

To get kids excited about reading and encourage more adults to spend time reading with their children, the National Education Association (NEA) launched the first NEA's Read Across America day in 1998. On March 2, 2010, NEA's Read Across America marks thirteen years of celebrating reading and the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

Contact the schools to find out how you can participate in this annual event and help instill the joy of reading to our kids.

Teton High School Receives Grant Awards

January 2010 - Teton High School was recently awarded funds to purchase new classroom supplies and programs during Teton Valley Education Foundation’s December 2009 grant cycle. Mrs. Fischer was awarded funds to purchase the Nine Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom. This program gives teachers the tools and training to reduce behavior problems in the classroom and establish supportive, caring, and positive relationships with students. The Love and Logic program focuses on personal responsibility for students, joint decision-making for students and teachers, and increasing student motivation. Teton High School was also awarded funds to purchase math manipulatives for the Teton Valley Math Project, a new project headed by Mr. Williams, Mrs. Balmforth, and Mrs. Roscoe. The Teton Valley Math Project will be a collaborative effort between Teton Middle School and Teton High School and teachers will work together to use best practices and problem solving models. The integration of math manipulatives will give students a deeper understanding of mathematics concepts and will help students develop strong conceptual and problem-solving skills.

Quarterly Grant Program Awards Four Elementary Classrooms

October 2009 - Teachers at Driggs, Tetonia, and Victor Elementary Schools were recently awarded grants for new reading, science, and technology classroom supplies. Ms. Donnelly from Driggs Elementary received science materials to supplement the existing curriculum, Mrs. Johnson from Tetonia Elementary received funds to purchase interactive white board student response clickers, and Mrs. Granato and Ms. Hulet from Victor Elementary received new sets of “Just Right” take home books for their first grade students.

Mrs. Granato and Ms. Hulet from Victor Elementary School expressed how valuable the take home book sets are for their reading workshop program. “These new books are perfect for students to take home, read with success, and bring back to school. Take home books allow students’ families to be involved in their child’s reading journey,” explained Mrs. Granato from Victor Elementary. Ms. Hulet also added, “Take home books increase the communication between teachers and parents. Parents are able to read grade level books with their child at home and send valuable feedback on to the teacher.”

Teton Valley Education Foundation accepts grants applications on an ongoing basis. Decisions on grant applications received are made four times a year, with deadlines of December 15, March 15, June 15 and September 15. Teachers, support staff, and employees of Teton County School District #401 are encouraged to apply.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Hearing Screenings for over 1000 TCSD Students Performed

September 2009 - Over 1000 students spanning Kindergarten through Eleventh grades received free hearing screenings in October through the cooperation of Teton County School District #401, Teton Valley Education Foundation and Teton Hearing Center. The purpose of the school hearing screening is to identify children with possible hearing impairments at the earliest possible stage.

Parents of students who need further evaluation by a doctor, audiologist or both, were sent a letter with the screening results and recommendations. If you didn’t receive a letter the student passed the screening.

Hearing loss is often an invisible condition, the consequence of which can be devastating, according to Eliza Petersen, Audiologist and owner of Teton Hearing Center in Driggs. Hearing deficits in children can interfere with normal speech and language development, communication, and the ability to learn.

Results of the hearing screening programs have shown that five to ten percent of the school age populations do not pass audiometric tests. The majority of these children are in need of medical treatment. Such treatment may result in restoration of hearing and prevention of permanent hearing impairment. Last year approximately 6% of the students did not pass audiometric tests.

It is estimated that one-third of children with minimal hearing loss in one or both ears fail a grade. It is important to detect even mild hearing loss in order to treat the problem or compensate for the loss when possible. Children with mild to moderate hearing deficits may be at a disadvantage educationally, emotionally, and socially.

Teton Valley Education Foundation believes that in order for students to succeed they have to be given all the necessary tools; a fundamental tool includes the ability to properly hear. “We are very lucky to have an experienced ASHA certified audiologist located right here in the valley,” said Lori Kramer, executive director of Teton Valley Education Foundation. “Without Eliza’s hard work and that of the many volunteers, this screening would not be possible,” continued Kramer.

For those who are referred to a doctor or audiologist and are concerned about the cost, you are encouraged to investigate the options available through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To request an application or to find out more information, please call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1, or 800-926-2588.

Archery, Geography, Slo-Mo Physics and Technology

Enhanced learning opportunities for TCSD Students this fall

June 2009 - This coming school year, students will be greeted with new and engaging learning opportunities due in part to Teton Valley Education Foundation’s quarterly grant program.

Archery will be offered in Mrs. Burch’s physical outdoor lifestyles class and individual/team sports class at Teton High School; Victor Elementary School fourth graders will have new tools to learn about world geography; Mr. Fillerup’s physics students will be able to capture fast moving objects on new slow motion cameras; and Mrs. Pence’s News Production class will have additional digital cameras and technology to help them put out the school paper.

“This grant cycle was very competitive. We always have more requests than funds to disperse but this cycle we had over ten times the amount of requests to funds available.” said Blaire Kribs, Teton Valley Education Foundation Chairperson. “These grants we fulfill impact the most students and enhance the educational experience in our public schools.”

TVEF Quarterly Grant Awards

January 2009 - Tetonia 4th graders will now each have their own copies of novels to read thanks to a grant from Teton Valley Education Foundation.

Tetonia Elementary teacher, Barb Agnew received funds to purchase classroom novels so each of her students will have their own copies to read. Currently, there are not enough copies for every student in the classroom, which requires students to share a book.

Two other grants were also awarded at the April Education Foundation board meeting. Driggs Elementary teacher Kara Donnelly received funds for professional development and ESL teacher, Lisie Smith received funds to pay for an LCD Projector for her ESL classroom. Ms. Smith, recently received $250 for this projector from Northwest Professional Educators and the grant from the Education Foundation will be enough to completely pay for this projector.

Beyond Box Tops...

Ways to help our schools without putting the pinch on your pocketbook

Unless you’ve been living under a log these past six months, you are well aware of the deep recession we are currently in. No one is immune to the economic downturn – families, businesses, governments at all levels and even our schools.

There are many simple ways to support your public school without reaching for the checkbook or that extra change in you pocket.

Box Tops, Soup Labels & More
One the most well known fundraiser is the Box Tops for Education program.   This is a program run by General Mills where they put small pink “coupons” worth 10 cents on various products. Some of the most common products I’ve seen them on are Kleenex Brand Tissue, Ziploc brand baggies and Betty Crocker cake mixes and ready made frosting containers. To get a complete list of participating products go to www.boxtops4education.com.   And 10 cents adds up quickly. Last year I donated over $20 to Victor Elementary School just through box tops – and I did it just by purchasing items I already use.

Campbell’s Soup and Cream of Weber milk offer similar products? Campbell’s Soup labels are marked with a yellow box on the label by the bar code. The Cream of Weber milk lids from gallon jugs are also worth money. Just drop the labels or lids off at the local elementary school.

In addition to pantry items, our elementary school PTOs also collect used cell phones, used printer ink cartridges and those pesky plastic grocery bags that have a way of piling up on you. The ESL class at the high school also collects used cell phones. All of these items are turned in for recycling and the organizations receive money for them. It’s truly a win / win situation. The schools get much needed money to cover classroom expenses, you get rid of unwanted items and the earth benefits too because there is less in the landfill!

Put your Internet searches to work for the schools!
That is the concept behind GoodSearch.com a new search engine powered by Yahoo! GoodSearch donates 50 percent of its revenue, approximately a penny per search, to the charities designated by its users. You use it exactly as you would any other search engine and the pennies add up quickly – just 500 people searching four times a day will earn around $7,300 in a year. It doesn’t cost the users a thing!

Similarly with GoodShop.com, consumers are helping their favorite causes by shopping at hundreds of well-known retailers including Amazon, Target, Apple, Macy’s, Best Buy, Orbitz, Staples and others. The shopping experience and the prices are exactly the same as going to the retailer directly, but by going through GoodShop, up to 37 percent of the purchase price is donated the user’s favorite cause!

Teton Valley Education Foundation registered with the sites, giving its supporters a chance to raise money for the cause every time they search the Internet or shop online. Last year they raised $600 and the goal this year is to earn $1,000 through the site, which will be used to pay for continued hearing and vision screenings in our schools.

Spring Clean and donate items to classrooms
Teachers are always looking for items for their classrooms. In fact, next year there will be a new class offered at the high school, Practical Entomology, “the science and art of fly fishing.”   Mr. Dan Romano will be teaching the course and can use any and all fly-fishing gear people would like to donate.   Additionally they could also use fly tying equipment like vices and bodkins as well as materials for making flies.

Mr. Mark Hanson’s shop class is always in need of working hand and power tools for the students to use; as well as electrical components so students can practice wiring.

If you have used computer equipment in good condition, the schools are a great outlet for that also.   And if you donate these items through the Teton Valley Education Foundation, you may even get a tax deduction.

So, as we all try to pare down and weather the current economic situation, remember we don’t have to stop giving. We just need to get creative! I hope I’ve been able to provide you with some creative ways to continue to support public education in Teton Valley. Every penny really does matter!

"Upon the subject of education ... I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in." Abraham Lincoln