Teaching Grants

"The Middle School Building Design Competition was a great experience for our students. They were able to build models of office buildings in the Kansas City area. The students also participated in soil quality experiments, shoring of trenches, and cost analysis projects. On the day of the competition we were able to travel to Union Station, where students interacted with many adults in the construction industry. During the entire project, I heard comments from students, "This is fun!" "Hey, Ms. Dowell, watch what I did!" etc. This competition was a valuable real world project and the Raytown Educational Foundation helped to make it possible. My students and I appreciate your support."
    -- Melanie Dowell, Raytown Middle School, for Building Connections to the Real World Through Work and Community, 2003-2004

"REF has funded educational activities that support reading and that EXTEND beyond the standard library budgets. These grants to the school libraries have made an impact on hundreds of Raytown children over the years, making many good stories and memories."
    -- Cathy Betz, Library Media Specialist, for READ: Reading Enrichment and Direction, 2003-04

"Getting students excited about reading improves their education. Research has shown that the key to becoming a proficient reader is to do a great deal of reading. The more a person reads, the better he or she reads, and the more he or she likes to read. Thanks to the Raytown Educational Foundation, Raytown South High School students have been given extra opportunities to get excited about reading. Grant money provided extra copies of library books popular with students so they did not have to wait weeks for the book to become available. Grants also provided audio books used for literature circles by English, reading, and special education teachers. How wonderful it is when a student comes to the library and asks, 'Do you have another copy of this book we are reading in class--it's so exciting that I just can't wait to finish.' Or, when a student says, 'My friend is reading this good book and I want to read it, too. Do you have another copy?' REF grant funds make it possible to put these books into students' hands!"
    -- Sondra Hull, Library Media Specialist, for Multiple Books/Multiple Formats for Diverse Readers, 2003-04

"Grant monies helped fund our after-school reading program, the Cardinal Book Club. The group's school-wide focus encouraged both adults and teenage readers, faculty, staff, and students to meet monthly to share the pleasure we had in reading a title selected by the group. Library personnel and I used to use our personal library cards to call in additional titles from the Mid-Continent and Kansas City Public Library systems to meet the readers' demands. With additional grant money, we could have additional copies in our school....

We also started a program of taking books directly to our students. With a portable electronic scanning device Library Media Specialist Sondra Hull and I could take a cart of books to our cafeteria, decorate a table, purchase some inexpensive "book gifts" (pencils, posters, book marks) and entice students to our table to look over our selections. We often promoted specific authors we knew the students enjoyed and gave mini book talks to promote other titles. Our busy students would take the time to drop by the table, and we check out dozens of titles during lunch!"
    -- Sally Frederick, RSHS English teacher, for Multiple Books/Multiple Formats for Diverse Readers, 2003-04

The Raytown Educational Foundation.
Exceptional Schools....Exceptional Community.
Office: 816-478-0974 | E-mail: refguy1@comcast.net