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2010-2011 Year In Review
    The 2010-2011 school year was one of our bigggest years yet.  We held three record breaking fundraising events, an extra grant cycle, and seven new board members join our ranks.  Watch this video to see some of the highlights of this amazing year.
WILO Radio
    In 2010, Lisa Rost and her second grade class introduced WILO Radio. Each week, children put on a radio show that, in addition to teaching them valuable resarching skills, allows them to practice reading fluency, which will enable them to improve their reading skills by leaps and bounds. Foundation 153 provided the funds to purchase the sound equipment and book bins, which turn a classroom exercise into a real live radio show.

H Is For Homewood
 

In 2009, Willow teachers Lisa Rost and Cindy Rosenstein worked with their second grade students to author an alphabet book called “H Is For Homewood.”  Through Foundation grants, they were able to publish the book, which is entirely written and illustrated by the students, and to sell copies to people in the community.  And now, they have a finished product that they can be proud of for the rest of their lives.
Travel the World
In 2008, second grade teachers Emily Larsen and Lisa Rost took their students on a virtual “trip around the world.”  With help from Foundation 153, they were able to purchase educational materials to help the children learn about different cultures.  Books, CD’s, videos and, of course, indigenous food all helped take the kids on trip they’ll never forget.
Bee Healthy Bee Smart
In 2007, Willow teacher Karen Schillings and school nurse Diane Lauterbach teamed up to teach the students at Willow how to make healthy eating choices.  Every day, children are exposed to junk food and fatty snacks, and Willow School decided to take a stand and offer their students a new, healthier option.  Through Foundation funding, they were able to offer a monthly “taste-testing’ opportunity to introduce the kids to different kinds of food.  From zucchini to apricots, the children’s palates were expanded and new foods were tested, with very satisfying results.

  SEEDkids
 

In 2007, District 153 teacher Jeanette Nichols introduced a revolutionary new program to third and seventh graders called “SEEDkids.”  SEEDkids is a program which introduces the children to some of the deeper issues associated with living in a diverse community.  Through honest dialog and fun activities, concepts such as stereotyping and cultural identity are brought into the classroom conversation.  With help from the Foundation, these important conversations can be started, and in a diverse community like Homewood, the benefits will be tremendous.