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.
Level Playing Field Grant
During these tough economic times, it is challenging to find the resources just to fund the basics. To be able to dream “what if…”, and actually be provided the money to experiment with that dream, is a true blessing!
The inspiration for my grant request began on a Monday morning. Students enrolled in ONW’s Teens As Parents Program were engaged in a weekly ritual, checking their grade averages via Parent Access. My eyebrow lifted when I saw that one young mother’s grades were strong with the exception of her Computer Applications grade, which was in the basement. A quick scan reflected a number of half-completed assignments which was hurting her grade.
The student saw my reaction and protested, “Ah, miss, that class is so hard for me! I try my best to get the work done during class, but I just can’t finish the projects at home.”
I shook my head in response, “You must find the time to do your homework, even if you do have a baby at home. You have to stay focused on academics if you want to graduate.”
She dug in her heels with defiance. “I do my homework, miss, but my family doesn’t have a computer at home. And I have to ride the bus, so I can’t stay after school to use a school computer. I try to go to the public library to finish the projects, but I can’t always find a ride.”
The look of frustration in her big brown eyes that morning haunted me all day. I thought about what a non-issue computer use had been for my own children, as they returned home each evening to a wireless Internet setting with their choice of four computers. Flash drives dangled from their car keys for ever-ready file storage. It wasn’t a level playing field for this student and other disadvantaged students like her, for which I almost felt guilty.
That evening I sat in the family room, watching my husband gleefully type away on his latest tech toy - a netbook that cost a mere fraction of what our other computers had cost. A “bright light” solution clicked in my mind. If funding could be secured, why couldn’t a small set of netbooks become available for students to check out on an “as needed” basis? It seemed a simple solution to the academic necessity of personal computer access, something most of our digitally-wired students take for granted.
Thanks to the Olathe Public Schools Foundation, Olathe Northwest students who are not fortunate enough to have computer access in their homes now have 10 netbooks available for check-out. We’re targeting students who have the extra support of being mentored in TAPS, AVID, ELL or Guided Study programs. These students have been taught that giving up in school is not an option, but it’s hard to walk the walk when you have all this homework to do….. and no reasonable means to get it all done without a computer at home.
While this grant is just gearing up this semester, an early indicator is the rise in the average GPA of students enrolled in the Teens as Parents program. The average of their high school cumulative GPA is calculated at 2.68. Yet for the last reporting period, the average of the students’ GPA had come in at 3.1, which was a half-letter grade improvement! 
When my students first saw the big check that the prize patrol brought to my classroom, they thought the money was for me. I wish you could have seen the look on their faces when I told them that “no, this is money to be spent on little computers to help YOU with your homework”. Their eyes turned to saucers!
As the netbooks were brought into the classroom, you could just feel the excitement and pride as I placed one in a particular student’s hands. Finally, she had the tools needed to get caught up with that Computer Applications class. I had to laugh, because students who I knew full well had a computer at home, were lining up with reasons why they were pretty sure they really needed to check a netbook out too. As one girl said, “I need one because Dad is on our computer all night.”
Ironically, the students were just as excited to be given a simple little 7 dollar flash drive attached to a 1 dollar carabineer from Home Depot. You’d thought I’d given them something really precious, the way students were hooking them onto their backpacks. It was leveling the playing field, with a message that their success was important too.
I am proud to live in a community where its patrons are committed to advocating for all students, as evidenced by the Olathe Public Schools Foundation’s vision. When the “prize patrol” visited my classroom with that impressive check to purchase netbooks, the students were so excited about the possibilities. With each student that takes home a netbook for homework use, a flash drive dangling from their bag, they also carry in their hearts the message that “someone cares about my success”. And THAT makes a powerful difference!
Olathe Public Schools Foundation donors, please accept our heartfelt THANK YOU for your generosity! You have helped level our playing field.
Nancy McRoberts
Olathe Northwest High School
Community Collaboration
Dear OPSF Staff and Board of Directors:
Due to the economic status of our community and the generosity of the OPSF, some of our young adults with “special needs”, who have obtained all of their high school credits, but need guidance on completing some IEP goals, have been afforded the opportunity to make some community connections.
The “Community Collaboration Classes” were designed to give these young adults information and experiences to utilize before starting their post school careers. In these times where employment opportunities are slim and our state is cutting budgets, many of these students will exit services and be at home.
Had we not received this grant the community opportunities may not have existed! Students as well as staff attending with the students have learned a lot about their community.
Debby Byrne
Lifeskills Facilitator
Olathe District Schools
A Student Care Fund Story with "Sole"
A lifeskills teacher discovered that “Aliza” was required to special order shoes to accommodate a leg brace. Unfortunately, the shoes were very expensive and mom was unemployed. The student was experiencing an incredible growth spurt and the current shoes were two sizes too small.
Where does a teacher turn for assistance in a case like this? The Olathe Public Schools Foundation’s Student Care Fund! Established four years ago as a tribute to Dr. Wimmer’s years of service as superintendent of Olathe Schools and his passion for students, funds are available for students in times of special need. Great importance is placed on flexibility with the current superintendent having control of the fund. When a disbursement is approved, checks are sent within 48 hours so immediate action can be taken to assist the student in need.
Expenses for “Aliza’s” shoes were approved in less than two hours. Said the requesting teacher, “Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. As educators, sometimes we wonder if we have any impact at all. I went home this weekend feeling like I had made a tangible difference in a student's life. It was a great feeling. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
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.”
Additionally, Mrs. Smith has collaborated with Olathe’s special education team and designed weighted lap pads. The pads are sewn by the students and filled with removable bags of sand. By removing the sand weights, the fabric pads can be tossed in the washing machine, providing a more sanitary lap blanket. Weighted lap pads provide calming benefits to children with autism, ADHD, Down’s syndrome and other disabilities by increasing focus, concentration and body awareness.
For more information on how your company can sponsor a Bright Lights mini-grant program contact Cynthia VonFeldt, Foundation Executive Director, at 780-8222.
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."