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Spring Women’s Giving Circle Supports Innovative Program at Prairie Learning Center
Again and again the Olathe Public Schools Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle proves the power of women working together. Over 150 women participated in the Spring gathering of the Women’s Giving Circle. On April 23 members heard three presentations from Olathe teachers with an innovative idea to solve a problem or enhance learning. After hearing the presentations, the women voted for the proposal they thought would have the greatest impact on students and the winner was surprised the next morning. Great things really do happen when caring women gather!
Members of the Women’s Giving Circle voted to award Prairie Learning Center with a $15,000 grant to create a sensory modulation room to be used by students with emotional disabilities. The sensory modulation room, with associated curriculum, is an innovative way to help children with social-emotional needs learn self-regulation and proactive strategies for reactive behaviors.
Children with social-emotional deficits frequently exhibit some type of sensory modulation dysfunction, meaning they are either over- or under-responsive to information involving the senses. This creates problems with learning and social-emotional development that can result in extreme disruptive behavior.
The sensory modulation room will be divided into a soothing side with bubble tubes, cushioned seating, and tactile opportunities, and a stimulating side with exercise equipment to meet the students' balance and movement needs.
Prairie Learning Center is a therapeutic day school offering emotional, behavioral and academic support for students in special education, who range in age from elementary to high school. Prairie Learning Center students are diagnosed with severe mental, emotional and behavioral disorders that result in extreme conduct.
Special thanks to Women's Giving Circle Sustaining Member Barb Hendricks for hosting this event and to Sustaining Member Renny Arensberg and KVC Health Systems, Inc. for generously providing the venue.
The Women’s Giving Circle meets twice a year to hear three solutions to overcome an obstacle to learning. Spring proposals address student innovation and fall proposals address student need. Each member donates $100, which directly funds the gathering’s winning grant.
The Women’s Giving Circle has awarded $130,000 in grants to Olathe classrooms since Spring 2014. The Olathe Women’s Giving Circle will meet again in the fall to award a $10,000 need-based grant. Visit www.olathepublicschoolsfoundation.org or call 913-780-8222 to learn more.
Watch a video of the night's excitement!
