Urbandale Teachers Surprised With Grants

URBANDALE, IA — Several teachers in Urbandale schools were surprised in their classrooms on Friday when they received grants from the Urbandale Education Foundation. More than $12,000 was awarded through the foundation's Making A Difference grant program.

This year marked the fifth grant year for the foundation, which also awards scholarships to Urbandale High School seniors at graduation and connects alumni through a partnership with Urbandale Dollars for Scholars and the Urbandale Alumni Association.

Foundation Board President Steve Schuler said in a story on the Urbandale school district's website that the grants "go beyond what is possible from normal school funding and budgets" and he thanked donors for providing the contributions that made the grants possible.

Grants were awarded for:

• Flexible seating for second-graders at Jensen and Karen Acres elementary schools
• English Language Learner Family Nights in classrooms at Jensen Elementary School
• Participation in the summer Making A Connection camp for students at Karen Acres, Olmsted and Jensen elementary schools
• A visit by a Civil War re-enactment group to a class at Urbandale Middle School
• Expanding a library of diverse books at Urbandale High School
• A field trip to Junior Achievement BizTown for Webster Elementary School fifth-graders
• Additional music resources to help students in a Rolling Green Elementary School class learn English
• Learning activities during winter and spring breaks through the Student Connectedness program for Valerius, Jensen, Rolling Green and Karen Acres students
• Technology in the music class at Webster Elementary School
• Expanded cultural learning by bringing the Culture All program to Olmsted Elementary School

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