Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Classroom Grant Awards and Sponsorships for the 2020-2021 School Year

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) recently awarded almost $25,000.00 in grants to the Xenia Community Schools. The grants will fund projects that are innovative and provide enhancements to the standard school curriculum.

One group of awards focuses on science, including funds for a Chemistry Club project at Xenia High School geared towards science experiment instruction in the elementary schools. Funds are also being provided to Warner Middle School for the Warner Warriors Lego Robotics and a 7th grade Dissections course. A variety of science-focused grants were approved for elementary schools. Additionally, all of the elementary buildings will benefit from the S.T.E.A.M Day/Science Olympiad grant. Many of the science grants are being sponsored through the Dr. Jenene Washington-Stepter Science Grant, W. A. Hammond Drierite Co., Ltd. and Dr. Aleksandar Svager.

A variety of up to date nonfiction books will be purchased for the elementary school libraries and new genre books will be added to the Warner Middle School library collection. Altrusa International of Xenia, Ohio, Inc. and Barbara Stafford are sponsors for the elementary library grant.

The Foundation is funding several grants focused on improving school climate and student behavior. These include “WEB - Where Everybody Belongs”, “Project Linus” and “PBIS-Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support” at Warner Middle School and Xenia High School. Support for these initiatives comes from the Edwin Cox Family Legacy Grant.

The Muse Machine will once again come to Warner Middle School. Grant funds will be used for several interactive performances at the school. This will provide arts learning to connect students and teachers to artistic experiences. Included will be dance, theater, and music companies and independent artists. The XCSF will also fund the Educational Courtyards initiative at Warner Middle School. The furnishing of these spaces will provide additional flexible and quiet seating options both for instruction and lunch and recess.

The grants awarded by the Foundation would not be possible without the help of the community. The Foundation announced a new “Sponsor a Grant Program” three years ago. Individuals, organizations and businesses commit to providing funds to cover a portion of or an entire grant for a minimum of $500.00. Grants available for sponsorship have been selected by the XCSF Board of Directors from staff-submitted applications and an extensive application review and selection process conducted in conjunction with Xenia Community Schools.

Sponsors, to date, for this round of grants include:

Edwin Cox Family Legacy Grants - "WEB - Where Everybody Belongs" (Warner), "PBIS-Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support” (Warner and XHS), "Project Linus" (Warner), "Sharing is Caring Service Club" (McKinley), “Increasing Students Social Emotional Awareness through Literature” (McKinley), “Home and School Connection” (Cox) and “HeartMath/Smartlab” (McKinley).

Dr. Nodie Washington - Dr. Jenene Washington-Stepter Science Grants - "Science is Fun-Xenia Chemistry Club" (XHS and Elementary Schools), "Warner Warriors Lego Robotics”, "Dissections - An Introduction to Animal Biology" (Warner), “Butterfly Life Cycle” (Shawnee),”Science Experiment”((Shawnee), “Tools for Engaging, Empowering Science Experiments” (McKinley), “Science and “Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Day/Science Olympiad” (Elementary Schools).

W.A. Hammond Drierite Company, Ltd. – "Science is Fun! - Xenia Chemistry Club" (XHS), “Warner Warriors Lego Robotics”, and “Elementary S.T.E.A.M Day/ Science Olympiad” (Elementary Schools).

Altrusa International of Xenia, Ohio, Inc. and Barbara Stafford – “Bullseye!" (Elementary Libraries).

Dr. Aleksandar Svager is supporting “Incorporating Technology to Master Social Studies and Science” at McKinley.

Additional sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming school year are still available

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation awards grants to teachers and staff of the Xenia Community Schools. Any Xenia Community Schools’ staff or community member can apply to the Foundation to fund special projects in classrooms. Projects are geared towards enriching student learning. Some applications represent district-wide initiatives. All the grants for Xenia Community School students and teachers are beyond what regular school funding can provide.

Xenia Community Schools Foundation, formerly known as the Xenia Educational Endowment Fund, is an Ohio non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation. Gifts made to the XCSF qualify as tax deductible charitable contributions. The Board of Directors includes both local residents and staff of the Xenia Community Schools District. For information about the XCSF, visit the website (xcsfoundation.com), check them out on Facebook (Xenia Community Schools Foundation) or leave a message at the Chamber of Commerce at 937-372-3591.