Students work on an artist-in-residence pottery project with Betsy Casper.
Fourth- and fifth-grade students demonstrate how to utilize their new wobble cushions.
The Sherman County Education Foundation has funded countless projects in the community since its inception, all thanks to the generosity of its donors and endowment funds.
The nonprofit organization was founded in 2017 and started fundraising in 2019 with a holiday newsletter celebrating its most recently funded projects at the time.
Over the past five years, the foundation has raised about $130,000 and contributed over $63,000 to fund 70 different projects to promote education throughout the county.
Among the projects funded most recently for Sherman County School District: Classroom sets of inflatable wobble cushions for fourth- and fifth-grade reading circles; STEM bins and activities for the second-grade classroom; an OMSI Assembly for K-5 students; artist-in-residence clay projects for K-8, and additional art projects for K-5; and travel expenses for four students and one coach for the FFA National Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma.
Teachers Jill Jones and Sheryl Wambold said their students used the sensory wobble cushions year round. Students no longer have to sit on hard floors for reading time, and some students even benefit from the sensory advantages of the cushions to help them calm down or focus better.
The OMSI assembly was a huge hit among elementary students.
"I heard students leaving the assembly saying this was the best day ever," teacher Ashley Macnab said. "The cheers of excited kids and quotes I would say measure the success of this project."
The foundation also grants funds to organizations promoting education outside the school district, including Sherman Kids Zone for puzzles, STEM activities, books and brain teasers for their Game Room expansion at the Wasco School Events Center.
"While our original Kids Zone play room is still very active and popular, our Game Room expansion has definitely opened up more opportunities for learning and play for older kids, even teens and adults," board chair Becky Brandenburg said.
The Sherman County Education Foundation has several dedicated funds: Pat Jacobsen/Dick Voll Memorial Art Fund, Bryan Peters Memorial Music Fund, Brenda Coats Memorial Reading Fund, Biglow Canyon STEM fund, Drama Fund, and Student and Community Leadership Fund. Donors can designate their preferred category for the funds they contribute, if they wish.
The foundation also has two endowment funds: one with the Oregon Community Foundation and one with the Gorge Community Foundation. The Sherman County Court donated $25,000 to help open the first endowment fund, said board member Janet Pinkerton. To apply for a grant, people can find a fillable pdf form on their website, http://www.wesupportshermaneducation.org.
"We usually meet the third Wednesday of the month, but we can consider funding requests between meetings, if there is a time pressure," Pinkerton said. "Our goal is to enhance education for all ages in Sherman County."
Reader Comments(0)