Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Classroom Grant Awards and Sponsorships for the 2023-2024 School Year
The Xenia Community Schools Foundation (XCSF) recently awarded $30,283.00.00 for twenty-two 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. A variety of science-focused grants were approved for elementary schools including: the “Boonshoft Kindergarten Traveling STEM Program” at McKinley Elementary. Several of the science grants are being sponsored, in full or in part, through the Dr. Jenene Washington-Stepter Science Grant including: “Science is Fun!- Xenia Chemistry Club”, “Animal Discovery Grant” and a portion of “Science Under the 'Scope” project at McKinley Elementary. The W.A. Hammond Drierite Co., LTD. Is fully sponsoring: “Elementary S.T.E.A.M. Days”, “McKinley Math Club”, and a portion of “Science Under the 'Scope”. The S.T.E.A.M. Project is a district-wide elementary event for STEM activities, combined with art, that encourages critical thinking. All third, fourth and fifth graders in the district will participate in a one day event. Each grade level will participate in activities associated with flight.
A variety of updated non-fiction books will be purchased for the preschool and elementary school libraries. Barbara Stafford, Executive Director of the Xenia Community Schools Foundation, is sponsoring a portion of this “Blast Off to Learning” library grant.
The Foundation is funding several grants focused on improving school climate, leadership skills, citizenship and student behavior. These include “WEB – Where Everybody Belongs”, “Arrowood Sensory Path”, McKinley Sharing is Caring Club”, and a “Calm Down Room” project at McKinley, along with a “Shawnee Elementary Service Club”.
The Muse Machine will once again perform at Xenia High School and Warner Middle School. Grant funds will be used for several interactive performances at each location. 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 grants awarded by the Foundation would not be possible without the help of the community. The Foundation announced a “Sponsor a Grant Program” five 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.
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.
