La Crosse Public Education Foundation is proud to support students at all grade levels through 18 grant projects receiving $43,883 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 tiny home to give special education students opportunities to learn life-skills, a visit by a nationally recognized author, and key resources for early literacy development.

“The Spring Gold Star grants truly showcase the dedication and creativity of educators throughout the district, as well as the incredible opportunities available to students in the School District of La Crosse,” said Heidi Odegaard, President of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation Board of Directors. “The LPEF board is deeply honored to facilitate community support for public education, making these exciting projects a reality.”

All Gold Star Grants are made possibly by generosity from individuals and businesses in the La Crosse Community. 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 18 grants awarded today:

• Tiny Home ($6000) will provide special education students at both Logan and Central High School with opportunities to develop independent living skills and create a community business by supporting the construction of a tiny home at Logan High School by the Building and Construction class in collaboration with Western Technical College. Recipients: Ken Ortery, Samantha Bingen, Ryan Schreiner. This grant is underwritten in part by the Dr. Gunnar and Mary Baldwin Gundersen Memorial Fund of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• Meet a Children’s Book Author ($6000) will inspire students to read, write and imagine and will demystify the writing process by collaborating with the La Crosse Public Library to bring author, Angela Dominquez, to visit all elementary schools. Recipients: Kristen Martin, Carrie Wuensch-Harden, and Rachel Lysne. This grant is underwritten in part by the Heather & Stephen Ross and Maureen & Robert Freedland LPEF Fund for Diversity Education of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• Expanding Knowledge Through Paired Fiction & Nonfiction Books ($4800) supports early literacy by purchasing developmentally appropriate books sets for every 4K site in the district. Recipients: Jane Erickson. This grant is underwritten in part by the Judy and Dave Bouffleur Fund of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• Level Up with E-Sports ($4400) will engage a variety of Longfellow Middle School students in a competitive after-school team activity by funding equipment for an E-Sports program. Recipients: Lila Planavsky and Logan Teske. 

• Central High School-Based Enterprise ($4202) will give Business and Marketing students opportunities to learn about entrepreneurship, accounting, inventory, and other skills by supporting the formation of a School-Based Enterprise to make and sell t-shirts and hats. Recipients: Joanna Carman. This grant is underwritten in part by the Coulee Bank.

• Camp Wild Wonders ($2560) gives State Road Elementary 5th graders the chance to learn teamwork, environmental awareness, and outdoor skills while enforcing academic concepts in science, social studies, and physical education through the purchase equipment for the annual Camp Wild Wonders event. Recipients: Heather Struver-Gonyo and Kayley Novotny. This grant is underwritten in part by the Tyser Power of Nature Fund.

• Accessible Percussion ($2500) will allow Central Marching Band students of all sizes to participate comfortably with the purchase of percussion carrying equipment. Recipients: Josh Beron and Jason Harden. This grant is underwritten in part by the McGavock Family Fund and the Rachel Gundersen Endowment for the Arts & Humanities.

• Spence and Emerson Leadership Club ($2210) will empower confidence, responsibility, and a voice for 2nd – 5th graders at Emerson and Spence Elementaries through real-time leadership opportunities in their school communities to prepare for a seamless future merger. Recipients: Cindy Schofield. This grant is underwritten in part by the Randy and Lynn Nelson Fund.

• Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori Cub Scouts After-School Program ($2000) will give K-2nd grade students the opportunity to participate in a Cub Scouts after school program. Recipients: Jenna Anfang, Joe Carlson, Justin Holten. 

• Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori Jiu Jitsu After-School program ($2000) will support a structured, movement-based activity for 3rd- 6th graders at Northside/Coulee Montessori to improve self-regulation, focus, and confidence. Recipients: Walfsty Pierre, Jenna Anfang, and Chris Washington. 

• Bringing Letters and Sounds to Life ($1680) will give kindergartners across the district access to interactive, hands-on learning for letter and sound recognition and phonemic awareness by purchasing sets of alphabet puppets. Recipients: Jamie Vermes, Jenny Banse, AJ Mick. This grant is underwritten in part by the Duane and Carol Taebel Fund of La Crosse Community Foundation.

• Projecting Success ($1260) will support an inclusive and engaging learning environment at Hamilton Elementary/SOTA I during lunch, assemblies, and school community events by purchasing portable projection and sound equipment. Recipients: Carrie Wuensch-Harden. 

• Wonder in Wonderbooks ($1200) gives Northside/Coulee Montessori students access to enhanced literacy materials by purchasing a collection of books that combine print and audio for the LMC. Recipients: Rachel Lysne. This grant is underwritten in part by the Tom and Judy Sleik Family Fund of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• 7th Grade Social Studies Virtual Reality Holocaust Experience ($1000) enhances Longfellow 7th grade social studies students’ understanding of history through the rental of rent virtual reality headsets from the Illinois Holocaust Museum which share immersive stories of Holocaust survivors. Recipients: Annabelle Zawistowski, Courtney Kloss, Megan Barth, Gianna Fussell, Lila Planavsky, Courtney Vail, Misty Araguz. This grant is underwritten in part by the Maureen and Robert Freedland-LPEF Fund for Studies of the Shoah, and the Global Awareneess Fund, both of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.

• Central Dance Team Equipment ($815) gives the Central Dance Team increased flexibility in practice spaces by purchasing necessary equipment. Recipients: Joanna Carman. 

• Fitness Fidelity ($566) promotes a healthy lifestyle inside and outside of school by purchasing fitness equipment for Longfellow Middle School. Recipients: Tony Xiong, Holly Weinberger, Matt Johnson, Travis Starkey. This grant is underwritten in part by the Judy and Randy Eddy Sr. Fund.

• Indoor and Outdoor Golf Unit ($565) enhances physical education offerings for Longfellow Middle School students and teaches a life-long skill by purchasing golf equipment. Recipients: Holly Weinberger, Tony Xiong, Travis Starkey, Matt Johnson. This grant is underwritten in part by the Randy and Lynn Nelson Fund.

• Just Recycle ($125) supports a school-wide recycling program at Longfellow operated by 7th grade students to divert paper and plastic containers from the landfill. Recipients: Liz Ramsay.