Parkland Foundation Awards Grants for Mural, Fish Hooks, iPads

The Parkland School District Education Foundation has awarded 57 “Celebrate Innovation” grants— totaling more than $86,000—that aim to enrich the Parkland curriculum and benefit students, staff and the community.

According to a prepared release, 11 awards were given to the district's eight elementary schools, 23 went to the district's two middle schools and 15 were awarded to Parkland High School.  

Also, eight grants will serve the district as a whole. 

The foundation, in awarding the grants for a second year, increased the amount over last year,

Among this year's recipients:

• Orefield Middle School 7th Graders, for Hooked on Science in the Parkland Environmental Lab. Students will be able to use barbless hooks to catch and release fish during a water study for hands on data collection using cutting-edge technology, $1,458.
• The Music Department, Parkland High School for a Music Technology Lab Update that will replace aging controller keyboards and sustain pedals, $1,330.
• Orefield Middle School Art, for a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Spirit of Hope" Mural Installation, $1,500.

A full list details the grants to all the district's schools.

Many of the grants focus on preparing students for the challenges of the new Pennsylvania Common Core curriculum standards, which call for more project-based learning and inquiry-based teaching approaches. 

The grants were funded by contributions from staff, businesses and the community. 

“I could not be more pleased with the widespread support of our programs, students and teachers," Superintendent Richard T. Sniscak said in the release. "We thank everyone who took the time to apply for a grant and all those that donated to the cause this year."