Sembler-Refresh the Media Center

School:: Blanton Elementary School
Subject:: Other
Teacher:: Shannen Paetzold
Students Impacted:: 480
Grade:: Pre K - 5
Date:: December 1, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Sembler - $2,500.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 480

On behalf of Blanton Elementary, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for acting as a sponsor for our project, Library Refresh. With your financial support we were able to provide the media center with updated tables and chairs for our staff and students. We purchased the new furniture items to assist our staff and students in the media center.

The idea of this project is to update the environment in the media center. The media center is used for staff and students though the year for meetings, testing, and library lessons. This newer furniture will be used to create a more engaged audience during media center lessons, schoolwide trainings, and staff meetings. With increased engagement comes a more successful learning environment. As a school community we hope to provide a learning environment that meets the needs of every child as well as the staff. Our school is a Title One school and has students from various economic backgrounds. While staff and students are at school, we hope to create a comfortable learning environment that everyone wants to come to everyday.

We are truly grateful for your support. It is because of the support from sponsors like you that we can provide the extra care for our students’ academic needs in the classroom!

Thank you,

Shannen Paetzold

grant photo

library 1

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library 2

Original Grant Overview

Goal

The goal is to provide students with a library environment where students feel safe, secure, and ready to learn. These areas will allow a student to have a choice, and feel more comfortable, in the library. It will increase their engagement in independent learning which will in turn increase their overall academic success.

What will be done with my students

The funds from this grant would be utilized to allow students the use of flexible seating and flexible seating areas to have better access to areas in the library. Allowing students to have a variety of choices in their seating will help them feel more comfortable in their learning environment. Having options other than the traditional chairs will help them become, and stay, engaged in their learning. We know there are different types of learners, and many students learn in different ways. If you take two students of the same age, gender, and race they both can approach their learning differently. There are people within the ergonomics community that have research that shows that sitting can be as complicated as our learning style. While we are told to sit still, our bodies are still moving. Flexible seating will give students options throughout the day. For instance, they might want to sit on the floor on a wobble cushion when they are reading to stay focused. Perhaps while completing their math work, they might need to stand to get movement. This can help them think straight, while remaining engaged with the learning task.

Benefits to my students

With this funding I hope that we will be able to develop a learning environment that works best for the individual needs of staff and students. Giving students the ability to make a choice that works best for their learning will give students potential to create positive learning situations. Learning will be very different and based on the individual needs of a student. Allowing them to take ownership, and make a choice that fits their individual needs, that will benefit their ability to stay focused, and engaged, in their learning. Students should take pride in their learning, and giving them a choice, even as small as a chair, or a cozy carpet will help aid ownership of their work. Flexible seating areas will also allow for those students with sensory needs an individual outlet while working.

Describe the Students

Blanton Elementary is a Title One school and provide 100% free breakfast and lunch to all students.
Blanton is a Title One school and has students from various economic backgrounds. We have a total of about 480 students at Blanton in Prek-5. K-5 is a total of 408 students. Our population includes 44 Asian/Pacific Islander students, 85 Black students, 102 Hispanic students, 26 Multiracial students, and 151 White students. With as additional 30 students in our Alpha program.

Budget Narrative

Once the grant is funded, I will reach out to the media specialists for a needs assessment. The money is going to be used to shop from approved school vendors.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Media Center Refresh Items	$2,500.00
	Total:	$2,500.00

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