The FEEF prize mobile made its rounds today awarding $25,000 in Classroom Grants to the six Fairhope public schools.  To date, the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) has awarded 406 grants totaling approximately $200,000.

“This year's grants are very impressive," said Helen Chappelle, FEEF grants chair.  "Students and teachers, who work together on the application process,  requested grants for technology, creative reading materials, and unique physical activities  that will excite students and enhance the current curriculum."  A total of  37 grants were awarded this year.

For example, Dianna Wolchina, math lab teacher at Fairhope Elementary , wrote a grant for Timez Attack to be installed on all student computers in all classrooms.  The program offers students an engaging method of learning in which students feel as though they are playing a video game as they store multiplication facts in their short-term memory and progressively into their long term memory.  The program can be used for whole groups or for individual intervention or enrichment.  J. Larry Newton third grade resource teacher Beth Little submitted a grant for “Reader’s Theater with Character,” a program that offers multi-level scripts in a variety of character education themes that can be read in a play or script format.  The program will enable students to improve their oral reading fluency, reading comprehension, and will encourage positive character education values.

Similarly, Fairhope K-1 Center Reading Coach Lora Darden and the K-1 faculty requested a library of leveled reading books in a wide variety of genres to help meet the needs of the number of different student reading levels. Amy McKenzie, physical education instructor at Fairhope High School, requested 50 multi-function pedometers for her 9th through 12th grade physical education students who will use the pedometers in a three-phase fitness unit for the semester.   Both Fairhope Elementary and Fairhope Intermediate will receive the exciting Smart Board technology, thanks to grants submitted by Ann Agerton and Leah Conaway-Washington, respectively.  Fairhope Middle School chose to build upon a grant received last year from FEEF in which Direct TV Goes to School programming was brought into four classrooms.  Teacher Sarah Jurenka submitted a grant request for this programming to go into an additional 16 classrooms, allowing teachers to complement their curriculum with news information, current events and educational programming provided by Direct TV  Goes to School.

“FEEF is able to award these classroom grant monies on an annual basis due to our signature spring fund-raiser, the Mayor’s Annual Golf Tournament, Page and Palette’s Dancin’ in the Streets fundraiser as well as individual and corporate donors,” said Heather Cunningham, executive director of FEEF.  “It is very rewarding to see the genuine excitement on the faces of these teachers and students who receive FEEF Classroom Grants.”

A complete list of recipients and grant titles is as follows: 

Fairhope Elementary School:

Fairhope Intermediate School:

Fairhope Middle School:

Fairhope High School:

J. Larry Newton: 

The judging of the grants is blind; no judge knows the name of the teacher or student who submitted the application.  This year, there were 18 judges from the community, three for each school.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary year, the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation was founded in 1996 to promote and enrich educational opportunities for all Fairhope public school students.