Friday, March 29, 2024

Triton teachers engaging public in grant request

Every teacher knows that there are things he or she needs for the classroom. And then there are those things that are not really needed but could definitely enhance the learning process for all students.

The “needs” are supplied by the school district but what about the “wants?”

There are ways to get help with some of those wants and two Triton Elementary School students are in the process of seeking the funds for those items and they need the public’s help.

Kindergarten Teacher Katie Macrafic and Fifth Grade Teacher Cassie Peterson have each created a proposal for their classrooms through thankamericasteachers.com, a program sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

If the either project is accepted the teacher will be the recipient of a $2,500 grant. Sixty teachers nationwide will be awarded the money for projects under consideration is October.

And that is where the public comes in.

Teachers can go online and create a proposal for their classroom, Macrafic said. It’s basically a popularity contest as to who wins, she said, because a person can go to the teacher’s site on the website and vote daily, in this case Oct. 1-31.

Macrafic and Peterson are challenging students, parents, grandparents, friends, in short everyone, to do just that.

The winners will be announced in November, Macrafic said.

An individual teacher can only win one grant, they said, but up to five teachers in a district can enter a project in any one voting period.

Last year, the two Triton teachers added, seven teachers in the Kasson-Mantorville School District received grants through the program.

Peterson said she would use the grant for technology and science materials for her classroom, including Chromebooks and an additional straw rocket launcher. A straw rocket launcher allows students to learn about such concepts as angles, force and the scientific method. The school does have one straw rocket launcher, she said, but with four fifth grade classes it would be nice to have more.

The launcher itself costs about $500 but there are additional costs related to the straws and the materials needed for items such as fins, she said.

“The straws are special ones,” she said, “and the clay to make

See full story in this week’s print edition or subscribe online. Please subscribe here or current subscribers can login here.

Dodge County Independent

Dodge County Independent
Dodge County ADvantage
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

Dodge County Printing
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

507-634-7503
 
Hours: 
Monday-Thursday 10a.m.-3p.m.