Foundation Focus
Quarterly Newsletter of the Vigo County Education Foundation
ISSUE 5, SPRING/SUMMER 2011
Grant Feature: Small
Town Goes Global
Counselor Monica Tener-Smith knows
the role that multicultural experiences
play in the lives of her students. At the
beginning of the school year, she
designed a yearlong effort that would
develop and enrich the perspectives
Sugar Creek Consolidated students
have of our global society.
She kicked off their global adventure
th
by inviting a
this issue
Chinese instrumental group, Beauty
Small Town Goes Global pg. 1
Business & Bagels pg. 2
Jill Bolte Taylor pg. 3
Upcoming Events pg. 4
on September 29
and Melody, to present several musical
selections to the entire school. The
school also collaborated with the
Indiana State University Link Program
(English as a second language) in
on language, culture, and food. The school cafeteria
VCEF Fundraisers
October. Sugar Creek Consolidated
was involved by including special food items on that
hosted
who
week’s menu and labeling food selections with the
provided fifth graders with interactive
country of origin. The library also displayed their
Find out how you can make a difference
in the life of a child by contributing to
one of these VCEF Fundraisers.
activities from five different countries.
multicultural reading selections during the week,
Activities
sticks
and students were exposed to global lessons in
demonstration, Korean game, Middle
both art and music classes. Students were also
Eastern Language and Fashion Show,
allowed to try traditional international games in the
students name’s written in Arabic, and
school gymnasium during recess.
nine
ISU
included
students
a
chop
Japanese language and artifacts.
As a conclusion to the program, the school held a
Then
in
February,
Consolidated
talent show in April called “Arts Around the World
challenged its students and their
Showcase”. Students participated in a performing
families to explore their ancestry.
arts program linked to the school’s literacy fair
Information sheets were sent home
entries to present folk dances, musical selections,
with students and results were plotted
and demonstrations from around the world.
on a large map displayed in the main
hallway.
Jenny Thomas, Vigo County Education Foundation
Executive Director, visited Consolidated to observe
The culmination of the program was
the program and says that “these types of activities
International Week, which took place
which widen students’ horizons and enrich their
in mid March. Each grade studied a
cultural understanding are opportunities which the
different country with lessons focusing
Foundation is pleased to provide.”
Thank-a-Teacher
This program allows parents, students, or
loved ones to make a contribution to the
VCEF in the name of an outstanding
teacher, coach, or school employee. In
return for their hard work and
dedication, the honoree will receive a
special pin and certificate. The donation
given to the VCEF will return to the
schools through classroom grants
awarded to teachers.
Payroll Deductions
Generous contributions are made by Vigo
County School Corporation employees
who want to support the VCEF.
Employees who enroll in the payroll
deduction program have a small amount
of money withheld from their pay each
period. The resulting funds help the
Foundation grow and expand its granting
capacity. Just consider this: If 100
teachers gave $2.00/pay, we would have
$5,200 more to grant!
VCEF Hosts Business & Bagels at Franklin Elementary
Area business and community leaders spent
tardies are a particular challenge for her
a few minutes of their valuable time with
students and she believes this incentive
the
program reinforces the discipline required to
Foundation
at
Benjamin
Franklin
Elementary School in March for a Business
and Bagels breakfast. They were there to
see the Every Minute Counts Superstore and
to hear a presentation about that project
Superintendent Danny Tanoos
at Business and Bagels
Mini-Grants Awarded for
2011-2012 School Year
The Vigo County Education Foundation
has approved mini-grant funding for
the 2011-2012 school year. The VCEF
will fund 90 mini-grants totaling
$53,863. 84 percent of all proposals
received have been funded including
projects from every school that applied.
A check awards ceremony for minigrant recipients is tentatively scheduled
for August 24, 2011.
Excellence in Education
Winners Honored
from Counselor Karla West.
Congratulations to these recipients:
Deborah Ann Anderson, Gail Artis,
Melinda A. Athey, Erin Beeler, Teri
Bennett, Bill Blankenbaker, Amy Bosley,
Scotia Mae Brown, Brian Carty, Rachel
Cox, David Drake, Ryan Easton, Glenda
Favre,
Shannon
Foltz,
Melvin
Gastineau, Nelda Gates, Greg Gauer,
Angi Granda, Carla Haley, Kristi Higham,
Michelle Jahn, Suzanne Jones, Liz
Kauffman, Beth Kindy, Laura Margason,
Stacy Mason, Sheri Montgomery, Amy
Papinchock, Jacki Secrest, Christy
Sherman, John Stephens, Donna
Wilson, Wade W. Winston, and Amy
Wollowski.
Nearly 50 community members heard the
wonderful program that was put together by
Franklin Elementary School. In addition to
learning about Counselor Karla West’s Every
Ms. West has taught the students at Franklin
Minute Counts program, participants listened
that their attendance and their timeliness at
to Mrs. Garrett’s fifth grade class sing the
school have a tremendous impact upon their
“Star
performance in the classroom. To emphasize
presentation
her instruction, she has created an incentive
teacher Rachel Cox. Cox received a VCEF
program to reinforce that behavior.
The
funded grant for the 2010-11 school year
students earn one “frank” per week if they
that provides each Franklin student with a
are present and on time each day. Students
book on his or her birthday. Participants also
are then allowed to visit the Every Minute
heard from Principal Tina Horrall and
Counts Superstore each Monday where they
Superintendent Danny Tanoos and then
can spend their earned “franks” or save
viewed the attendance store.
them for bigger and better prizes. The store
offers a variety of school supplies, toys,
snacks, and gift items to students.
On May 11, 2011, the VCEF hosted the
th
25 annual Excellence in Education
Banquet
to
honor
outstanding
educators in the Vigo County School
Corporation. The event was held in
O’Shaughnessy Hall at Saint Mary of
the Woods College and honored one
educator from each school with two
educators honored from Terre Haute
North and South High Schools. In
addition, an educator from the Covered
Bridge Special Education District and a
member of the Retired Teachers
Association were also honored.
arrive at school on time every day.
The
Spangled
Banner”
from
Foundation
and
Franklin
would
like
heard
first
to
a
grade
thank
Sackrider & Company and Comfort Keepers
for sponsoring the event for the second time
When they do not receive their franks,
this school year. A special thanks also goes
students meet with Ms. West so that she
out to the many local leaders for their time
can help alleviate the issues that are keeping
and support of the valuable behavior
them from school.
reinforcement programs in our schools.
Ms. West noted that
David Mitchell, Bill Foraker, and Cary Sparks chat during Business and Bagels at Franklin Elementary.
Jill Bolte Taylor: Her “Stroke of Insight”
On April 29, 2011, the Vigo County Education
weeks later, Taylor spent the next eight years
Foundation, Partners Advancing Literacy Skills,
recovering her abilities.
and the Vigo County School Corporation
hosted an evening with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a
world-renowned neuroanatomist, to raise
money for the Math Magic, Writing Wonders
Program, a summer enrichment program that
The experience served as inspiration for
writing her own book entitled “My Stroke of
Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey.”
The book accounts Taylor’s experience the
morning of the stroke, describes her recovery
period, and helps readers
serves third, fourth, and fifth grade students.
A sold out crowd filled the
understand
Country Club of Terre Haute to
victims need in order to
hear Taylor’s presentation of
recover.
what
VCEF Board Member:
Beverly Perdue
Beverly Perdue is no stranger to the
Vigo County Education Foundation. She
joined the VCEF Board of Directors in
1996 and has served the Foundation in
many capacities. She has been both
President and Vice President of the
board and chaired the allocations,
finance, and strategic planning
committees.
stroke
“The Wonder of What We Are”
She
through which she described
has
received
such
accolades as one of Time
the inner workings of the brain.
Magazine’s
100
Most
Jill Taylor is no stranger to
Influential
Terre Haute. Taylor grew up in
World for 2008 and has been
People
in
the
the area attending Thornton,
Woodrow Wilson, and Terre Haute South Vigo
featured on The Oprah
Winfrey Show. In addition, her book is now
High School. She earned degrees from Indiana
being made into a movie with acclaimed
and Indiana State Universities and then went
director Ron Howard signing on to the project.
on to perform post-doctoral research at
Dr. Taylor concluded her talk at the Country
Harvard Medical School.
Club with a plea for brain donations on behalf
But in 1996, Taylor experienced a major
of the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
hemorrhage, caused by a congenital disorder,
by singing the Brain Bank jingle. Taylor wrote
in her brain’s left hemisphere. Within a few
“I-800-BrainBank” before her stroke as a light-
hours, the stroke left her without the ability to
hearted way to communicate the need for
walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life.
brain tissue donation to her audiences.
Beverly currently works as a Vice
President of Terre Haute Savings Bank,
serving as the branch manager at the
South Branch. She has been with Terre
Haute Savings Bank for five years, but
worked for First Financial for 15 years
and Indiana State Bank for 12 years
before that.
Bev has volunteered in various roles for
the United Way, Altrusa, the high
school DECA program, and Junior
Achievement. Bev has one daughter,
Melissa Chambers, who lives in Hilton
Head Island, South Carolina with
husband Ben and daughter Lola Grace.
After undergoing major brain surgery two
Make a Contribution
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Upcoming Events
“Fore the Kids” Golf Tournament
Save the date! The annual Fore the Kids Golf Tournament has been
th
set for August 5 , 2011 at Rea Park. If you are interested in
sponsoring or participating in the event, please contact the
Foundation at 462-4077.
Benefit Bowl
nd
The 2 Annual Vigo County Education Foundation Benefit Bowl will
be held on Tuesday, September 13 at the Terre Haute Bowling
Center from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go
toward the Jerod Lawrence Memorial Fund at the Education
Foundation and also allow VCSC second graders to visit the Terre
Haute Children’s Museum.
New Look For
Education License Plate
You can help support the Vigo County Education
Foundation and local schools by purchasing a “Committed
to Education” license plate. The original design, featuring
Garfield the Cat, has been updated to feature the new Read
On, Indiana! initiative beginning in 2011. The plates can be
purchased from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the
VCEF will receive $18.75 for every “Committed to
Education” license plate purchased.
Funds generated from the education license plate program
will help fund teacher created programs throughout the
Vigo County School Corporation.
To purchase an education plate, ask for the “Committed to
Education” plate at your local license branch. Make sure to
indicate that your contribution should go to the Vigo County
Education Foundation.
Major Saver representatives Chris Ary and Kelly Osborne presented a check
for $56,295 to Dave Piker, development committee chair of the Vigo County
Education Foundation. This donation represents the proceeds from a
corporation-wide sale of restaurant discount cards.
Would you prefer an electronic copy? Sign up for our eNewsletter online at www.vigocountyeducationfoundation.org!
Permit No. 86
Terre Haute, IN 47803-0703
Vigo County Education Foundation
686 Wabash, P.O. Box 3703
Terre Haute, IN
U.S. Postage Paid
Organization
Non-Profit