Riverwood Receives $25,000 Grant To Fund Study Abroad Trips

From RICS: The Fulton Education Foundation awarded a $25,000 a Seed Fund grant to Riverwood International Charter School in February, 2017. Riverwood will use the grant to enable students with demonstrated financial need to participate in the school’s 2017-18 International Study Abroad trips.

The grant will help fund the curriculum and programming costs of language study and homestays for students while abroad. The target population for this project will be students enrolled in Spanish, French, and Japanese language courses at Riverwood to put what they have learned in classes into use while surrounded by native speakers of the language.

"This grant request was received as a direct result of strong collaboration between the Governance Council, the Administration, and the World Language teachers led by department chair, Donna Vargas. It will provide an excellent opportunity for many students to study their world language in its cultural context while working toward our strategic plan goal of increasing International mindedness and citizenship” said Lee Daniel, Chair of the 2016-2017 RICS Governance Council.

Dr. Shaw, RICS Principal added, “Riverwood is unique in that it is a central part of our mission and vision that our students learn their place in a complex, dynamic, exciting, and interconnected global society. While we do this through instruction and programs such as our IB, MYP, and International Studies Magnet, nothing can take the place of our kids getting the opportunity to see, explore, and serve in communities throughout the globe. The generous grant from the Fulton County Education Foundation literally and figuratively opens doors for our students and helps us accomplish our goals.”

The Seed Fund review team stated that they were impressed with the application and interview and the team “looks forward to seeing the positive impact of your concept on your students and school community.” The Fulton Education Foundation established the Seed Fund in 2013 using $7.8 million appropriated by the Georgia General Assembly. The Fulton Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1986 to strengthen the relationship between Fulton County’s schools and the extended community.

Over the years, Riverwood has used Seed Fund grants to support and expand such programs as AVID (to close the achievement gap), System 44 (to assist students with very poor reading skills), and Credit Recovery (an intensive tutoring program for students within a few points of making a passing grade and needing reinforcement of basic skill before advancing).

Pictured from left to right RICS trip to Spain, Summer 2016: Donna Vargas, Spanish Teacher, Brandon Vargas, Talia Skollar, Mary Crawford Esslinger, Christopher Bauguss, Robert Breeser, Ryan Belfi, Rachel Nichols, Jazmine Williams.

Riverwood International Charter School 5900 Raider Drive, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30328RiverwoodICS.org

Photo courtesy of RICS (Pictured from left to right RICS trip to Spain, Summer 2016: Donna Vargas, Spanish Teacher, Brandon Vargas, Talia Skollar, Mary Crawford Esslinger, Christopher Bauguss, Robert Breeser, Ryan Belfi, Rachel Nichols, Jazmine Williams.)