WCCF awards grants to area schools
WCCF trustee Tammy Hardy and Nan Campbell of Washington Financial meet with Yvonne Jones’ kindergarten class at Borland Manor Elementary School in North Strabane Township to learn more about the Science Matters program.
First-grade students and Superintendent Dr. James Walsh welcome Washington Financial branch manager Tiffany Presto to the Burgettstown Area Elementary Center Makerspace.
Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) recently awarded EIO Fund grants totaling more than $45,000 to seven Washington County school districts through the commonwealth’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. Funding for the grants was provided by Washington Financial with each school district receiving a $6,430 grant to support innovative educational programs.
Washington Financial branch managers, WCCF trustee Tammy Hardy and WCCF allocations and programs coordinator Jill Peth recently met with school district staff and students to present the grants and discuss the implementation of the programs.
• Avella Area School District plans to use its grant to purchase a laser engraver for the Innovation Lab which offers comprehensive science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics instruction to enhance the core curriculum.
• Burgettstown Area School District will use its grant to purchase laptops that will support the Lego WeDo Robotics Kits and other technologies used in the Burgettstown Area Elementary Center Makerspace.
• Canon-McMillan School District will use the funding to support the Science Matters program, a hands-on science program which delivers challenging science curricula in a problem-solving environment through themed activity kits.
• Fort Cherry School District plans to use its technology grant for laptops for the Fabrication Lab as well as additional access points to provide more efficient Internet access to the computer science lab.
• Peters Township School District’s technology grant will be used to support the Think Through Math program, a computer-based, individualized program in which the students can complete lessons at home that correspond to the curriculum.
• Trinity Area School District will use its technology grant to enhance the second grade curriculum and provide differentiated reading and mathematics instruction through the use of iPads.
• Washington School District was awarded a technology grant to purchase additional equipment for the Innovation Lab, a collaboration of Technology Education, Family Consumer Science, and Art classes.
WCCF has awarded more than $880,000 in EIO Fund grants to innovative programs at local public schools across the county. Local businesses who are interested in learning how they may receive tax credits of up to 100 percent for qualifying contributions are encouraged to visit www.wccf.net or call 724-222-6330.