At-Risk Youth Photography Mini-Grant

Tina Sollars knows kids—especially those kids that are “at-risk”. That’s why she applied for a Foundation mini-grant for At-Risk Youth Photography. In her experience working with at-risk populations, Tina found that most of those students excel in the arts and have a desire to learn. Photography was an art form she wanted to introduce. Many of her students could not afford a camera on their own and some have never even used a digital camera. These students are also those who have traditionally never done any of their homework and have failed many, many classes at their regular high schools. But with this project, they were asked to do most of the work on their own time outside of school---not a strong point for this population. However, they did it!

By experiencing photography through hands-on active participation, the students developed an intrinsic desire to learn and achieve and every single student experienced success and autonomy. These students learned techniques of photography as well as the history of the art. They have a far better understanding of what makes a good picture and how to take one. They have gained incredible self-confidence and the proof is in their pictures. They exceeded expectations and really enjoyed the project and developing their portfolios. They have grown as individuals and have created something that they are proud of too. They’ve also learned a marketable skill. Everyone that sees their work is impressed but most of all they are proud of themselves and this is what is most important to Tina Sollars. “I plan to have a photography show each spring to display the work of my students. I have had kids come back to visit me and say how they view the world differently now. They see the world through the eyes of a camera lens.” One student told Ms. Sollars that he always says thing like, “Man, that would make a great picture.”

Said Sollars, “I feel that through the use of the funds granted by the OPSF, my students have been able to experience something they otherwise would never have been exposed to.“

You can see the work of these talented students at http://choicesart.blogspot.com.

A Neverending Story

How far can a teacher make four hundred dollars go? If you are Prairie Learning Center teacher, Judy Smith, the answer is 6,780 miles!  Judy applied for and received a Bright Light mini-grant from the Olathe Public Schools Foundation last year. Her grant, Sewing for Soldiers, provided sewing machines and supplies for her students to make cooling scarves for men and women serving in Iraq. Her daughter, a member of the armed forces, delivered those scarves.

This year, student enthusiasm still ranks high for sewing and philanthropy. These PLC students, with some assistance from their teacher, have continued their sewing project and have recently shipped over 200 cooling scarves to Fort Hood, Texas. Students also included get-well cards for those soldiers injured in the unfortunate events that took place this fall on that military base.

 “It truly warms my heart to see how genuinely sincere my students are in their efforts to help the soldiers,” said Smith. “Sending that package has stimulated them to make even more scarves for our deploying soldiers.  It proves to me that helping others is the most beneficial to the helpers.”

Testimonial

I received the R.R. Osborne scholarship in May of 2006 when I was a senior at Olathe North High School. Coming from a working class family with a sibling already in college, I knew the importance of finding assistance to finance my education. I was absolutely blessed to have received the R.R. Osborne scholarship! Knowing that I can count on that scholarship money each semester helps relieve the financial burden that college places on students. Scholarships like this help me reduce the number of hours I have to work each week thus allowing me to focus more time on academics and achieving my goal of becoming a physical therapist. In May, I will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. I am currently in the process of applying to Physical Therapy schools to become a physical therapist working with post-combat patients recovering from an amputee situation. My family and I will forever be thankful for the donations of Mr. Osborne and other donors for helping to put me through college.

Molly Jones, R.R. Osborne Scholarship Recipient

Champion Mail Express

Washington Elementary School had a dilemma: students' writing assessment scores weren't high enough. So, Principal Christi Gottschalk created a program to address her dilemma. She created Washington's Champion Mail Express based on a program she had seen at Northview Elementary School. She applied for an Olathe Public Schools Foundation mini-grant and was awarded $3,300 to purchase street signs, mail boxes and writing supplies for students in every grade.

Students were taught proper letter-writing techniques and how to address an envelope. They were able to write to anyone in the school, including the principal. Gottschalk checked her mailbox at the end of each day, and even when it was overflowing, she answered each letter.

The school's Title I math teacher also became involved. Students were encouraged to write letters containing math word problems to be read during morning announcements. Students then responded with their answers.

The foundation's financial support of this mini-grant proved to be a good investment, according to Gottschalk. This year's writing assessment scores rose 18 percent, from 49 percent in 2007-08 to 67 percent in 2008-09. “Thank you, Olathe Public Schools Foundation!”

Flashmaster Success

Anna Sambitan wanted her fourth-graders to leave her classroom knowing their math facts, so that they were prepared for their math future. However, sometimes parents just don’t have the time juggling work and home schedules to give their children the extra practice they need at home. Enter Flashmaster success, an electronic unit that drills the students on their math facts, acknowledges their answers and adjusts subsequent facts to their skill level. Students can practice and get feedback all on their own and since it’s an electronic hand-held unit, it’s fun, too! But computation skill achievement was not the only skill these students learned. The surprise benefit to this mini-grant program was trust. Says Sambitan, "Our students are not used to people trusting them with expensive equipment, resources, books, etc. When the students learned that they would be allowed to bring them home, they felt a sense of pride at being trusted with the new, expensive devices. Surprisingly, every student rose to the challenge and not only increased their computation skills, but also increased their trustworthiness—not a single FlashMaster was lost or broken."