Good health and fitness is at the core of students being ready to learn! The Fitness Equipment project provided fitness and conditioning equipment for all students to use upon returning from distance learning. The new work-out room gives students the opportunity to train and get in shape after a school year of decreased activity due to distance learning. Feeling great physically will also benefit their mental health.
At Washington Colony Elementary, individual music kits were created and distributed to each student. These music kits were comprised of various small percussion instruments, including a castanet, movement scarf and rhythm sticks, in a colorful pencil container. This project was successful in continuing music education through distanced learning. The music kits were distributed to students right away and they were moving and making music during music class on Zoom!
The Innovation Grant helped fund new materials and instruments such as a guitarron, strings, rosin and oil. The Mariachi music program is continuing and just recently, students returned on campus to practice with masks and social distancing for the remainder of the school year. Students are excited and working hard to hopefully one day soon, play together for live audiences.
The goal of the Handwriting at a Distance project was to help special education students develop their handwriting skillset. This is a very hard skill to teach through distance learning on a typical laptop because of its vertical screen. This project provided a tablet for 10 students to practice writing with a stylus in a proper grip. Students often have occupational therapy goals that are served through handwriting practice - fine motor control, motor planning, and appropriate grip are some examples.
This year Firebaugh High School started the Early College Guided Pathway for 9th graders with 81 students enrolling in a West Hills College Student Success Course. The Innovation Grant helped with promoting the program with t-shirts to distribute to students in the cohort. Both parents and students were excited to receive their certificates upon completion and to continue on the pathway and the opportunities it will bring. The cohort will continue next year into another set of outlined courses.
This project gave students the opportunity to learn new art skills using their new art kit and three different types of art paper. Fridays were designated as art lesson day and each week they explored a different lesson. The students had a great time using the kits to expand their art knowledge. The students enjoyed exploring the use of all the items in the kit and the variety of ways to use them and discover their inner-art selves!
The Innovation Grant enhanced the development and quality of informational podcasts to enhance student learning and engagement. Podcasts are a series of spoken word digital audio files that cover a specific area of interest. They are a great way to give students information about teaching, employment, and other career opportunities after high school. New equipment was purchased that allowed for remote interviews of industry professionals and a more polished final product.
Sigue el Mariachi! was an expansion of Orange Center Elementary's Mariachi group that began in 2018-19 focusing on a Mariachi music program for students in grades 6-8. The project has been instrumental in introducing students to the Mexican culture, providing a learning experience of Mexican music for the entire school, and unifying the community.
The Innovation Grant awarded to Coalinga High School allowed Mrs. Aguilar to update and provide multi-sensory activities and resources in her sensory room. From oozing visual timers and therapy putty, to color changing blocks and a tactile interactive wall panel; these items have been used as positive reinforcements and have been incorporated into the student's individualized schedules.