The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
The Westlake Educational Foundation (WEF) is once again demonstrating its commitment to student enrichment, announcing the award of five grants totaling more than $22,000 to staff members of Westlake City Schools. The grants are set to implement creative learning opportunities and enhance student experiences across all grade levels.
The awards span the district, focusing on critical areas such as science literacy, mental health support, and modern learning environments.
At Westlake Elementary School (WES), Hannah Ahrens, Stephanie Mavis, and Kim Tucker secured funding for their project, “Making Science Move.” This grant will provide all second-grade students with a dedicated one-day STEM experience featuring COSI’s hands-on “Build a Rocket” kits.
Meanwhile, at Dover Intermediate School, Katherine Vecchio received a grant for “The Movement Minded Classroom.” This initiative addresses the need for active learning by purchasing flexible seating options, allowing students to release energy quietly and non-disruptively while remaining engaged in lessons.
A joint grant focusing on school libraries will benefit both intermediate and middle school students. Cathy DuBois, the librarian for both Lee Burneson Middle School (LBMS) and Dover Intermediate School, received support for “Read, Relax, Renew.” Her project aims to transform both library spaces by installing comfortable, welcoming seating to promote a student-centered environment conducive to reading and focused study.
LBMS will also add to their unique outdoor space thanks to a grant awarded to Lela Bakos and Julie Milkie. Their project, a continuation from their grant from last year, will create a permanent, versatile outdoor learning environment with convertible benches, Adirondack chairs, and large outdoor games including Yahtzee/Farkle and Tic Tac Toe/Checkers. This space is specifically designed to promote positive mental health, creativity, and academic performance for all 7th and 8th-grade students and staff.
At Westlake High School (WHS), teachers Ellen Hurley, Jessi Donnelly, Katie McGlynn, and Rachael Kane received a significant grant for “Pathways to Independence.” The funds will enable the purchase of specialized equipment for the WHS sensory room, including a squeeze machine, a calming bubble tube, and a wall-mounted sensory panel, crucial tools for supporting students with diverse sensory needs.
The Westlake Educational Foundation operates with the mission to “Educate for Excellence,” enhancing educational opportunities and experiences for the city’s students. The foundation is reliant on the generosity of the community, raising money through donations and various fundraisers to award these staff grants.
For more information on the foundation’s mission and details on fundraising initiatives, interested readers are encouraged to visit wlake.org.
