(1) 2016 17 ptsaeducationgrant

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Teacher and Student Support

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Through your membership dues, donations, and fundraising, the West Potomac PTSA supported the

teachers and students with funding over $20,000 through Education Grants, professional development, academic recognition, after school buses and community outreach.

This funding spanned 10 departments and clubs, 25+ teachers, and touched the lives of over a thousand students.

THANK YOU!

M O N T H LY U P D AT E T O T H E P T S A

October Educator Grants

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Jessica Landon, librarian, requested funds to help fund her attendance at the Virginia Association of School Librarians in Williamsburg.

This helps her to continue her learning process about materials for the library and reaching our students with lower reading levels.

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October Educator Grants

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Jamie Carfang, Economics and Personal Finance teacher, attended this conference with the help of PTSA funds. It gave her the opportunity to learn about new curriculum and resources in EPF, which is a graduation requirement for all students in the state of Virginia. She was able to bring back many resources to share with the other EPF teachers to enhance our instruction.

The Jump$tart Coalition National Educator Conference is for classroom teachers dedicated to personal finance education in the classroom. Each year, the conference provides PreK-12 educators with financial education resources, personal and professional development, access to a nation-wide network of colleagues, and general support for financial education.

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November Educator Grants

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On Veteran’s Day, JROTC instructors Colonel Gary Bullard and CSM Clinton Pearson took 52 students to NYC to participate in

America’s Parade for the second year.

PTSA funding helped pay for transportation, food and lodging.

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December Educator Grants

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Thanks to the PTSA, Fire and Emergency Medical Sciences class received a much needed skeleton to learn anatomy and muscles.

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January Educator Grants

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Joy Andrews, Pharmacy Tech teacher, and Sarah Buchkowski Newton, Culinary Arts teacher, requested funding for a portable greenhouse and plant materials to help students understand how plants were and are used medicinally and how they are used to enhance the flavor of dishes. In addition, they are learning the farm to table concept, and, while composting learn important concepts of recycling and alternative energy. Their plan is that this will spread school wide to include the sciences.

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W E S T P O T O M A C H I G H S C H O O L • 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

Melinda Hedenberg, English teacher who is Team Leader of the WestPoSPIRIT Renaissance program,

requested funding for Paw Print rewards to reinforce positive behavior and school pride

to boost morale and attitude of the West Potomac school community. By providing smaller items

to “purchase” students become more motivated to earn them.

January Educator Grants

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West Po-etry

The English Department requested funds to help fund 1st show of its kind at WP

It took place Thursday and Friday, April 6 & 7 in the Kogelman. Poets gathered from different states,

staff members performed poems, along with selected students from NEHS, Creative Writing, BSU, etc.

Students attended an in-school fieldtrip to the theater to see the poetry show instead of classroom learning (all periods except 2nd, department planning period)

During 2nd period we hosted a potluck brunch and Meet & Greet with the poets/department/members.

January Educator Grants

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February Educator Grants

Author–Heidi Heilig

Four copies of The Girl from Everywhere

HOORAY 4 BOOKS

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M O N T H LY U P D AT E T O T H E P T S A

February Educator Grants

Medical Assisting teacher, Iris Lara, requested funding for Operation Skills games to improve her students ability in steadiness when learning venipuncture and giving injections.

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February Educator GrantsCathie Grant-Goodman, YDA Director writes: On Friday, February 17, 50 WPHS YDA (Youth Development Academy) students in grades 9-12, visited the U.S. Department of State which deals with diplomacy abroad and U.S. international relations and aid and was a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The State Department organized an informative and educational experience comprised of panel discussions, career and internship opportunities, and tours. Students came away talking excitedly about careers and their future. We may even have some future U.S. diplomats in our midst! All YDA students have a dream and what we’ve been trying to do is help guide them to their goal. The State Department visit opened their eyes on how to reach their dream through a college education and great internships. It also made them reflect on what they need to accomplish in high school in order to be ready for and successful at a great career.

On the same day, YDA students also visited Marymount University in Arlington, as part of the YDA focus on college and career exploration.

YDA would like to thank the WPHS PTSA for providing the funds for a bus, without which, we would have never been able to participate in this extraordinary experience.

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March Educator GrantsWorld Languages Department held World Languages Week to celebrate the wonderful cultures, languages, and diversity we have at WPHS. From March 13th – 17th , the teachers had numerous activities including Spirit Week, Polyglot Contest, and more. It culminated with the 2nd Annual World Beats International Dance. Funds from the PTSA were requested to cover various aspects of the week.

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April Educator Grants

requested to cover various aspects of the week.

Students in Mr. Feinstein’s AP European History class used a PTSA Teacher Grant to paint in the style of Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock.

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May Educator Grants

Jackie Fleming and the English Department, used PTSA funding for books for literacy students to call their own and read over the summer.

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May Educator Grants

Peelee Clark, our theatre department guru, used PTSA funding to start a hair department in the technical department. This will be used for future productions, but also at Edinburgh this summer.

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May Educator Grants

Our Latin garden was half-dead and overrun with weeds. Luckily, the PTSA stepped in and donated money to help us buy dirt, mulch, and a new gate for the garden.Our kids have been working hard for two weeks during SHOUT to revitalize the garden. This beautification of our school for all to enjoy would not be possible without the generous support of West Potomac's PTSA.-Jonathan Shev

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June Educator GrantsThe English Department, headed by Mary Mathewson, held reading SOL remediation for 75-85 students. The PTSA grant helped support this remediation. The pass rate of those that attended was close to 70% making the total pass rate well above 90%.

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June Educator Grants

Dana Hubbard, AVID Department Chair, used grant money to send another teacher to Advanced Via Individual Determination (AVID) training, bringing the number of sections and teachers to a total of seven.

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June request

The library was in need of another charging station as more and more students use their personal computers, devices and tablets for research and school work.