Posted on November 16, 2011

Three Elementary Schools Honored as Meijer Good Schools

Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Meijer Recognize Successful Local Schools with $120,000 Cash Awards

Three elementary schools are receiving $120,000 in grants from Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Meijer Good Schools for Grand Rapids Program. This program recognizes Grand Rapids elementary schools that are demonstrating measurable success.    

 

The Meijer Good Schools for Grand Rapids Program examines area elementary schools ability to address nine benchmarks for student success that include excellent student achievement and attendance, school culture, family and community partnerships, and rigorous curriculum and instruction.

 

Meijer Good Schools grants can be used for any activity that enhances a school’s efforts to meet the program’s benchmarks for success, including professional development and training, parental and community involvement, and equipment and materials for students.

 

The 2011 Meijer Good Schools grant award winners are:

 

  • Burton Elementary School (2133 Buchanan Avenue SW) plans to use its $40,000 Meijer Good Schools grant to host a series of parent workshops designed to increase parent engagement around the key areas of oral language and parent interaction. 

 

  • Coit Creative Arts Academy (617 Coit Avenue NE) will use its $40,000 Meijer Good Schools grant to purchase supplemental materials for social studies and science instruction.

 

  • Shawmut Hills Elementary School (2550 Burritt Street NW) will use its $40,000 Meijer Good Schools grant to create an Intervention Room, which will expand on staff expertise in monitoring student achievement data and creating individualized lessons.  The school will also equip its Sensory Lab.

 

The Meijer Good Schools for Grand Rapids Program is an initiative of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and is funded by The Meijer Foundation, with support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the Mary I. and Robert C. Pew Donor Advised Fund.

 

Grand Rapids Community Foundation will hold special morning assemblies on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 at each of the three schools to celebrate their educational achievements.  For more information, please call Roberta King at (616) 454-1751 x119.

 

Grand Rapids Community Foundation supports Kent County nonprofits and leads the community in making positive, sustainable change. Its success is connected to the generosity of donors and the expertise of grantee organizations. For more information, please visit www.grfoundation.org.