La Crosse Public Education Foundation is proud to support students at all grade levels through 21 grant projects receiving $51,138 in funding. These grants provide teachers with a chance to expand their skills, give students access to exciting educational experiences, and allow students, staff, and schools to collaborate on exciting new ideas. Among other things, awarded funds will support building a maple syruping shack, the exploration of educational standards through production of a short film, a collaborative mural, and a set of coding robots.

“Gold Star grants are truly inspiring as they bridge the generosity of our community with the innovative dedication of public educators and the immense potential of students in the School District of La Crosse,” said Heidi Odegaard, President of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation Board of Directors. “We are honored to contribute to providing students and educators with exciting educational experiences and deeply appreciate the community benefactors who make it all possible.”

Gold Star Grants are selected for funding based on creativity, collaboration, the ability to engage students, and the total impact or reach of the project throughout the district. Included below is a summary of the 21 grants:

• $6500 – Provides equipment and funding for SOTA II Charter School students to work with the La Crosse Film Academy to create a short film. Recipients: Erin Shmuck, Mel Hanson, Kellie Schmitz, Leigh Eck, and La Crosse Film Academy. This grant is underwritten in part by Mooresmiles.

• $6003 – Provides materials to construct a shelter to teach maple syruping at Summit Environmental Elementary School in coordination with the Logan High School Tech Ed department. Recipients: Nick O’Keefe and Reid Hansen. This grant is underwritten in part by Marine Credit Union.

• $5000 – Provides 20 Strider balance bikes for use in K-1 PE classes at Hamilton/SOTA I Elementary School. Recipients: Jordan Young. This grant is underwritten in part by Emplify Health by Gundersen.

• $4225 – Provides a large, movable interactive touch screen for use in 7th grade classrooms at Logan Middle School. These screens are used to increase student engagement, especially in math. Recipients: Scott Bagniefski, Tim Sprain, Christina Fenton, Jesse Martinez, Amy Kendall, Jenn Appel, Joelle Schreiner, Amy McDaniel, and Deanna Langrehr. This grant is underwritten in part by Trust Point.

• $4000 – Provides partial funding to hire local artist, Chase Gentry, to work with Longfellow Middle School students to plan, design, and create an interactive “living” mural for a new outdoor classroom. Recipients: Amoreena Rathke, Matthew Remus, and Clinton Grabhorn.

• $3888 – Brings a midwestern-based Haitian dance company to North Woods Elementary School to provide students with an immersive educational experience in Haitian culture, including learning about Haitian instruments, dance, music, and storytelling. Recipients: Katie Pierre, Mandi Wolfgram, Anna Auten, Gary Boisvert, and Chiana Valencia. This grant is supported by the McGavock Family Music Education Grant and the Global Awareness Fund of the La Crosse Area Community Foundation

• $3260 – Supports a pilot program for an advanced outdoor adventure Summer School class for more experienced Longfellow Middle School Adventure Club Members to take a field trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Recipients: Clint Grabhorn and Lila Planavsky. This grant is underwritten in part by Hydrite Chemical Co.

• $2698 – Provides Sphero robots and curriculum for use in programming classes at Logan High School to enhance student engagement and understanding of coding concepts through hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Recipients: Daniel Adler. This grant is underwritten in part by Altra Foundation.

• $5500 – Supports teachers from North Woods International School to attend Inclusive IB Training to continue learning about equitable and inclusive education. Recipients: Sara DePaolo, Brin Lawrence, and Kallie Hughes. This grant is a Brauer IB Adventure Grant.

• $2000 – Provides Yoto Players and supporting materials for use at Hintgen Elementary School. Yoto Players are screen-free audio players designed to enrich literacy, creativity, and independent learning. Recipients: Emily Juneau, Delane Swanson, and Amanda Pfiffner. This grant is underwritten in part by Hanson & Associates.

• $1900 – Supports five teachers from the School District of La Crosse to attend the Viterbo Holocaust conference and sends all 7th graders in the district to see the main speaker at this conference. Also supports sending some Logan and Central High School students to the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL. Recipients: Tammy Gruen. This grant is supported by the Maureen and Robert Freedland-LPEF Fund for Studies of the Shoah of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• $1500 – Brings Hmong artist, Shoua Yang, as an artist-in-residence to Central High School for a printmaking workshop that explores cultural connections through a curriculum of Hmong history, folklores, and mythologies. Recipients: Lori Aschenbrener.

• $1500 – Provides a variety of sensory tools to build “Calm Kits for Classroom Success” at Emerson Elementary School. These tools help students self-regulate, stay focused, and manage strong emotions in the classroom. Recipients: Cindy Schofield, Summer Elston, and Nancy Weaver. This grant is underwritten in part by Mayo Clinic Health System.

• $1244 – Provides a Wonderfold wagon and accessories for use in Special Education classes at Hintgen Elementary School. The wagon will allow all students to participate in outdoor field trips. Recipients: Emily Juneau, Emma Kossiski, and Jessie Rooney, Katelyn Koehler.

• $1140 – Provides three, 20-inch Strider balance bikes for use by third-grade through high school age students. These balance bikes will help students who are not yet able to ride a bike independently learn the skills, to be able to participate in P.E. biking units, and to become confident bikers for life. Recipients: Lisa Boyer. This grant is underwritten in part by Dairyland Power.

• $900 – Provides materials for second grade students at Spence Elementary School to learn entrepreneurship by starting their own business and selling their products/services at a Market Day open to families and school staff. Recipients: Maureen Jones, Stephanie Schmitt, Elizabeth Roberts, and Dana Eide. This grant is underwritten in part by Fowler & Hammer.

• $680 – Provides materials and tools designed to grow reading and regulation for neurodiverse and autistic students and students with cognitive delays at Northside Elementary. Recipients: Kadie Koepke, Tracy DeLong, Jenny Leren, Emily Lagerman, Tyler Leadholm, Gwen Holley, and Makayla Nettesheim. This grant is underwritten in part by Altra Foundation.

• $600 – Provides materials to develop fine motor skills in PK and Kindergarten students at North Woods International School. Recipients: Becky Misch, Tarah Schuttenhelm, and Tanya Dagendesh. This grant is underwritten in part by Fowler & Hammer in honor of School District of La Crosse retirees Christine Kjos, Jennifer Ruetten, and Paula Krings.

• $600 – Provides a rolling stereo for the Dance Team at Central to use during practices and events. Recipients: Joanna Carman.

• $550 – Supports 5th grade art students at Hamilton Elementary School to take two field trips to All Glazed Up to learn to make 3D objects with clay. Recipients: Grace Tester and Heidi Hanneman.
  
• $450 – Provides a full electronic piano and dolly for use in Coulee Montessori Charter school music classes. Recipients: Jessica Ingvalson, Rhiannon Baasch, Kim Shively, Anna Taylor, Isabel Hoff, and Josh Shively.