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  • December 29, 2024

The special education classroom was transformed into a welcoming and supportive space tailored to the needs of neurodivergent students with sensory challenges. Flexible seating, adjustable lighting, and fidget toys were introduced, creating an environment where students could feel comfortable, focus on their work, and thrive academically.

This classroom served as a safe haven where students could complete homework and receive individualized support. By addressing their sensory needs—such as offering alternatives to traditional chairs, providing low lighting, and ensuring access to calming tools like fidget toys—students were better able to concentrate and engage with the general education curriculum.

This grant fostered a more inclusive and nurturing environment, empowering each student to succeed. By prioritizing the physical and sensory needs of the classroom, the project enhanced students’ academic performance and overall well-being.

  • December 26, 2024

The young fives classroom was equipped with individual weighted lap pads for each student, providing essential sensory input to support emotional regulation and focus. Previously, the classroom had only one lap pad shared among students, but now every child benefits from having their own lap pad to use throughout the day.

Weighted lap pads are proven sensory tools that promote calmness, reduce restlessness, and alleviate sensory overload. By calming the nervous system and aiding in emotional regulation, these lap pads helped students build the foundational skills needed for focus and academic success. Additionally, the sensory input supported the development of nerve connections in the brain, fostering growth and learning in these early developmental years.

This grant ensured that all of the youngest learners had the tools they needed to thrive in the classroom, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for emotional and academic growth.

  • December 26, 2024

Our funding provided essential materials to launch the inaugural Marine Biology elective at Saline High School, a course designed to inspire a love of science in students across all learning levels, including English Language Learners and Special Education students. These “Marine Biology Starter Pack” materials allowed for hands-on, engaging experiences that aligned with the Saline High School Science Department Vision.

The materials supported key departmental goals by enabling students to represent and explain scientific concepts using models, analyze data, construct graphs, and draw evidence-based conclusions. Additionally, the course connected science knowledge to real-world applications and career exploration, helping students see the relevance of their studies beyond the classroom.

This grant laid the foundation for a dynamic and inclusive science elective, sparking curiosity and providing opportunities for students to engage deeply with marine biology while fostering critical thinking and practical skills.

  • December 26, 2024

With this funding, a Nintendo Switch gaming console was purchased to create a unique and inclusive opportunity for social and emotional learning. The console was used to host a bowling tournament that brought together general education and special education students, fostering connection and collaboration. The tournament culminated in a field trip to a local bowling alley, providing an exciting real-world extension of the activity.

This grant emphasized diversity, inclusion, and social-emotional development. Students learned to support one another, handle disappointment with grace, and celebrate the successes of their peers. By creating a space for meaningful interactions and shared experiences, the project fostered empathy, teamwork, and a stronger sense of community among students.

  • December 26, 2024

With FSAS funding, the school acquired a much-needed arsenal of student manipulatives, including lasers, resonance tools, and equipment for quantitatively analyzing sound and light. These resources also included highly engaging demonstration tools that could be used across a variety of science courses, including AP Physics C, Physics, Physical Science, and Astronomy.

The grant ensured that students in all levels of science classes, from introductory to advanced, had access to hands-on, interactive tools to explore complex concepts in sound and light. This inclusivity allowed every student, regardless of their course level or background, to benefit from engaging, real-world applications of physical science principles.

By fostering interactive learning experiences, this grant enriched science instruction, making lessons more accessible, exciting, and impactful. Students gained a deeper understanding of core scientific ideas, strengthening their skills and confidence in STEM fields.

  • December 26, 2024

With our funding, the first-year Astronomy course was equipped with essential lab materials that elevated the learning experience and brought Observational Astronomy to life. Students gained access to a class set of materials for two telescope labs, where they built and explored each of the main types of telescopes, and a spectroscopy kit that allowed them to analyze the wavelengths of light emitted by various sources.

These hands-on activities provided students with enriching opportunities to deepen their understanding of Astronomy while developing key scientific skills. Spectroscopy, a cornerstone tool in the field, enabled students to determine the elemental composition of distant stars and planets and even calculate the Sun’s temperature. These experiences allowed students to truly see themselves as astronomers, connecting theoretical knowledge to real-world applications.

The telescope labs introduced students to the principles of optics and engaged them in the engineering design process, where they designed, built, and analyzed their creations. This grant transformed the course into an interactive and engaging learning environment, fostering a deeper connection to science and inspiring the next generation of astronomers.

  • December 26, 2024

Through our funding, the computer lab was upgraded with new ergonomically designed keyboards that significantly improved the learning environment for students. The keyboards featured quieter keys, reducing the disruptive noise caused by typing on 30+ computers simultaneously. This improvement created a calmer atmosphere, benefiting all students, particularly those with ADHD and sensory processing disorders who were previously overwhelmed by the noise.

The quieter environment also mitigated the risk of excessive noise levels that could potentially lead to hearing issues. Additionally, the backlit keyboards enhanced visibility in the low-light classroom setting, aligning with OSHA recommendations to reduce eye strain during computer use. This feature allowed students to navigate the keys more easily without needing additional lighting, further improving their focus and comfort.

These enhancements directly supported the core curriculum taught in the lab, which includes Personal Finance (now a graduation requirement for Michigan students), Web Development, Game Design/Development, Animation, and business classes. This grant not only addressed ergonomic and sensory needs but also provided students with a more efficient and productive workspace, ensuring they could engage fully with their coursework.

  • December 26, 2024

With our funding, we introduced Sphero indi robots to the early elementary curriculum, allowing young learners to explore STEAM and robotics in an accessible and engaging way. These robots enabled students to create mazes and pathways using color-coded cards instead of relying on Chromebooks or iPads. By manipulating the cards, students controlled the robots to move forward, slow down, spin, stop, and turn, effectively becoming “coders with colors.”

The Sphero indi robots proved to be easy for young students to use while fostering critical thinking and foundational coding skills. The versatility of the color-coded tiles allowed for endless route and maze configurations, making each activity unique. Challenges encouraged students to incorporate specific moves, such as completing a U-turn, starting and stopping, and celebrating their success at the end.

This grant empowered students to develop high-level thinking skills through experimentation and play, fostering creativity and problem-solving at an early age. It laid the foundation for STEAM education, inspiring curiosity and confidence in our youngest learners.

  • December 26, 2024

Our funding supported the Heritage 4th grade Rube Goldberg design competition held on May 24, 2024, as a culminating project for the science unit on Energy Collisions & Conversions. This hands-on, collaborative project engaged students in using the Engineering Design Process to design and build Rube Goldberg devices meeting specific criteria. For example, students tackled challenges such as guiding a marble into a cup 10 feet away using pathways containing a loop, a hill, and two Hot Wheels track pieces.

The project directly addressed five Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the core framework for science instruction in SAS. Through this initiative, students applied their knowledge from the Mystery Science curriculum to solve real-world problems, designed and refined their devices, and communicated their processes and results to community judges. This experience fostered critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills, all vital for success in today’s world.

By participating in this competition, every student had the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of energy transformations and engineering principles, showcasing their learning in an engaging and meaningful way. This grant empowered students to connect their classroom knowledge to practical applications while gaining valuable feedback from the broader community.