Student Impact Grants
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The Claremont Educational Foundation believes in supporting Claremont Unified School District's top-notch educational staff and nurturing a space where innovative ideas can develop and flourish. We are excited to fund Student Impact Grants (formerly called "Teacher Innovation Grants") to CUSD teachers, classified staff members, and principals for positively impactful projects that engage students and help them grow. CUSD staff members may apply individually or as a group for special school-wide or grade-level projects. This program is available to teachers, classified staff members, and principals in Claremont Unified School District for projects directly benefiting CUSD students.
Past Grant Projects Highlights
Math for Personal Finance – $1,950
Presented to: David Sawhill at Claremont High School
This annual 10-week program includes a realistic online budgeting simulation where each student had a job with earned income, pay taxes, and participate in a 401k, all while renting an apartment, paying typical personal bills, and managing checking and savings account balances. This program is primarily funded by a dedicated gift from DA Davidson.
Outdoor Instrumental Music – $1,515
Presented to: Burke Shouse at Claremont High School
Funding supported the purchase of audio equipment needed to enable outdoor rehearsals and performances. The audio equipment was particularly useful in 2021 once students are allowed to return to campus in small numbers, but will also enable outdoor performances and rehearsals for years to come.
Outdoor Learning Center – $1,200
Presented to: Jessica Uy and Ann O’Connor at Chaparral Elementary School
Funding supported the second phase of construction on Chaparral's outdoor learning space. The outdoor learning space, which is available to students during class and recess, is used for a variety of purposes including dramatic performances, learning about native plants, art projects, and more.
Front Desk Books Program – $764.32
Presented to: Sofia Ahmed, Leticia Donahue, Renee Duniven, and Jennifer Luebbers at Condit Elementary School
Funding supported the purchase of books that feature messages of diversity, equity, and inclusion to be used to stimulate discussions on these topics in 6th grade classrooms.
Learning in Virtual Reality – $750
Presented to: Jennifer Maclin at Chaparral Elementary School
Funding purchased two sets of Virtual Reality goggles and an educational app to allow students in 5th and 6th grade to virtually explore the moon, museums, and distant lands to enhance their learning.
Virtual Choir Performance – $700
Presented to: Joel Wilson at Claremont High School and El Roble Intermediate School
In 2020-2021, choir performances at El Roble and CHS have moved online. Funding from this program supported professional editing for online choir performances.
Sensory Pathway – $710
Presented to: Renee Flores and Jessica Rayos at Oakmont Outdoor School
This grant funded a sensory pathway to offer TK-6 students a physical break that helps them remain on task and focus in the classroom in an evidence-based, colorful, creative and playful way, improving motor skills and building stronger sensory connections in the brain.
STEM Literature for 1st and 2nd Grade – $502
Presented to: Beejal Hansen, Sheri Castro, Elaine Anderson,Patti Colinco, Lynne LeForge and Denise Klinovsky at Sumner Danbury Elementary School
The grant provided opportunities for 1st and 2nd grade students, in both general education and special education, to listen to a story and then engaging in a STEM activity that is directly related to the story.
Changing Conversations through Social Justice – $800
Presented to: Jacqueline McElvy at Mountain View Elementary School
In this program, students learned about the topics of suicide prevention and mental health in an innovative way: a film contest. Each group created a 6-second PSA to prevent suicide or help change minds about mental illness from a set of predetermined themes.
Spheros for STEAM and Synergy in Kindergarten – $1,673
Presented to: Dinh Tran and Maria Tuck at Vista del Valle Elementary School
Using Sphero robots, kindergarten's sharpened their knowledge of STEAM and developed the synergy that exists between reading, writing, and speaking.
Audio Recording for Elementary Students – $448
Presented to: Anamaria De La Cruz and Amy Stanger at Sycamore School
In this project, students grades 4-6 prepared music and learned how to use current audio technology to record the music they have learned and performed at school.
Math Matters: A Multi-Age Math Mission – $1,300
Presented to: Leslie Wallace at Sycamore School, Cynthia Wiedefeld Oakmont Outdoor School, and Carla Campbell at San Antonio High School
This collaborative project involved ninth grade students interviewing business owners and creating videos that define real-world math problems to teach key concepts to students in grades 3-6.