Annual Report for The East Fund, 2007-08
by Henri Rix Wood
For the Lancer News
The Shawnee Mission East Educational Excellence Fund is pleased to report another successful year of enhancing learning and teaching for all students, teachers and staff at Shawnee Mission East High School.
The East Fund awards grants for student programs, professional development and technology. This school year (2007-08), the Fund approved 12 new grants totaling $87,539. The broad spectrum of these grants promises to impact the future of every student at SME. Since 2004, The East Fund has awarded 35 grants totaling $227,081.
This year, The East Fund initiated The Lancer Spirit Shop (www.LancerSpiritShop.org), an online directory of approved SME spirit wear, memberships and merchandise sold by school organizations. This site makes it easy to list and buy all the great stuff that SME groups sell. The East Fund also added a grants archive to its Web site (www.TheEastFund.org) that includes previously funded proposals. One of the purposes of the archive is to inspire new proposals, particularly those that demonstrate collaboration among academic disciplines and can be duplicated in other SME classrooms or throughout the district. The East Fund’s primary fundraiser, “Feast for East,” raised $40,000 this year. For its spring fundraiser, The East Fund invited donations to honor graduating seniors, teachers, coaches and mentors, who were sent a special greeting by mail.
The East Fund deposits contributions into the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation, a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization, so all contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law, while The East Fund retains control of all donations and disbursements. A complete financial report will be available at the end of the fiscal year in August on The East Fund website, www.TheEastFund.org.
New Grants
The East Fund considers applications and makes awards in September, November and February, distributing funds to student programs, technology, and professional development. This year, The East Fund grants committee received more proposals than it could fund—another great reason to make a contribution! The new grants:
- Robotic Brain Power - Three laptops equipped East’s first-ever competitive robotics teams mentored by staff in the physics, auto-tech, pre-engineering, and computer-aided drafting classes, as well as community experts, as they apply knowledge in multiple curricular areas.
- Link Crew 2008 Training: Three teacher sponsors will be trained to further enhance and add new components to East’s multi-year Link Crew Transition program from freshman students to increase the sense of community for freshmen, resulting in improved academic performance.
- Modernizing SME Band Music Library: The concert band, symphonic band and two jazz ensembles will have access to 31 new pieces of music for study and performance.
- Adaptive PE: Special education students will work with “cadet teachers” from the general student population utilizing new yoga equipment, Wii games, tv and Dance Dance Revolution music videos.
- Hands On, Minds On Physics: This successful program, initiated at SME in 2004, will be expanded to a second physics classroom where special equipment can bring the difficult concepts of motion, electricity/magnetism and sound/light to life.
- College Counseling Professional Development: SME counselors will attend different professional education conferences to enhance their expertise and effectiveness in the college counseling process and return to share their new knowledge through in-service training of their colleagues.
- Soap Box Cars: Two soap box car kits and entry fees for competitions will expand woodshop skills, promote school pride and connectedness, and expose woodshop students to the areas of auto tech, engineering, journalism, art and photography.
- SHARE: Funding will support operational costs for this SME student program that teaches leadership, organizational skills, time management, people management and community responsibility while serving our friends and neighbors through active volunteerism.
- Labquest Chemistry Data Collection and Analysis Technology: Chemistry 1, Chemistry 2, AP and IB Chemistry students will all benefit from the purchase of 28 portable high-tech chemistry data collection stations that will be used with software and lab books in the classroom and complementary lab sessions.
- Mathematics Block Scheduling Tools: With the introduction of block scheduling, algebra and geometry classes will have more time for the comprehensive teaching of applications that will utilize 50 graphing calculators and 60 scientific calculators. Additionally, 300 individual white boards will actively engage students in learning and give teachers immediate feedback on comprehension.
- Large Format Camera for Photography Classes : Enhancing the fine art (v. commercial) approach to photography, this large format field camera and accessories will provide experience in historical processes, encourage creativity with the enhanced resolution and enlargement options it provides, and expand chemistry applications through the film developing processes.
- Block Schedule Contigency Funds: In anticipation of possible last-minute requests for funds to support student success in the transition to block scheduling, limited funds will be available for professional development or equipment. Streamlined access to these funds will be available only upon approval by a special East Fund committee between May 1 and September 1, 2008.
Volunteers
The East Fund is an entirely volunteer organization and it needs your help! Please contact Volunteer Chairperson Ann Harlan, 913-831-9780, annharlan@kc.rr.com.
Donations
The East Fund is made possible by donations from people like you. Large or small, without your donations there would be no grants. Be part of the East Fund by donating annually. Your gift really does make a difference and is welcome at any time of the year. Please mail your check, payable to Shawnee Mission Education Foundation with The East Fund on the memo line to The East Fund, Shawnee Mission East High School, 7500 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS 66208. For more information about The East Fund, visit www.TheEastFund.org.
Posted 6/24/08