Grant & Award Recipients

Florida DKG Educational Foundation

Meet Our
2023 Educational Grant Recipients

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Racquel House
Hollywood Park Elementary
Hollywood, Florida

Project: “SEL & Mindfulness Game Room”

Racquel House is a member of the SEL (Social Emotional Learning) team at Hollywood Park Elementary school. The school staff is working to help their students develop better interpersonal skills when interacting with peers. Racquel will use the funds awarded through the FLDKGEF to purchase a variety of board games for her project: "SEL & Mindfulness Game Room" to establish a “game room” for students. Through the use of board games, students will learn a variety of skills such as problem solving, communication, turn taking, as well as practice their math, reading and science skills. Access to the game room will be implemented on a schedule before and/or after school hours. The project may be expanded to include participation during Physical Education, or as an incentive for students who will be rewarded with a ticket to the “game room”.
The project is designed to build better interpersonal skills so that students will learn to problem solve more effectively with the goal of fewer referrals school wide.

UPDATE:

This is Our Game Room!

~ Photos of game room provided by Racquel House

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Patricia Johnson
Satellite Beach United Methodist Church
Satellite Beach, Florida

Project: “Energizing Pre-Schoolers With the
WONDERS OF SCIENCE”

Patricia Johnson, a retired teacher received funding from FLDKGEF for her project; “The Wonders of Science – Rocks and Minerals (Sand)” to teach preschool (3-4 year old) children about sand. Patricia will have the classroom teachers read a book titled: "Sand" by Ellen Prager as a prelude to the project. Then Patricia will set up three stations.
Station 1: Microscopes so that students may look at the composition of sand.
Station 2: Samples of different samples of sands that students can touch.
Station 3: Plastic clear balls so that students can make ornaments with sand & shells for the student to keep.
A separate project will incorporate Play-Doh for students to make their own rocks to take home.
What a great introduction to STEM!

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Mary Keip
Dunnellon Elementary
Dunnellon, Florida

Project: “Touching Lives by Teaching Music”

Mary Keip will use the funds awarded from FLDKGEF to purchase 100 recorders and music books for the four (4) 5th grade music classes at Dunnellon Elementary. The music teacher, Mrs. Bonnie Litterine, will be able to give instruction on the use of the recorders after years of not having access to them. Students will now each own their personal recorder and music book to be able to practice not only at school, but also at home.
The music teacher will be playing and practicing with the 5th grade students at least one time each week for the entire school year. At the end of the year, a classroom presentation will take place during school time for the students, parents and staff to attend.

UPDATE:

~ Notes of appreciation provided by Mary Keip

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Bobbi Kelley
Sleepy Hill Elementary
Lakeland, Florida

Project: “Explorers' Corner Reading Center”

Bobbi Kelley will use the funds awarded through FLDKGEF to implement a reading area in the Sleepy Hill Elementary School Media Center for students to sit and read. The area will contain a child sized couch and two chairs. Bobbi will purchase two Brand New World™ Enviro- child chairs and a child-size sofa in deep blue. The reading corner will create an encouraging and inviting atmosphere for students to sit and read. The area will be away from the main book stacks and located by a window to allow students to have a quiet space with adequate light.
The goal of the reading corner is to create a positive school culture and a supportive learning environment. The corner will be accessible in the fall of 2023. Students will be able to enjoy the space before school while they are waiting on their school day to begin, during their regularly schedule media center time, or by student pass. The reading corner will be called the Explorer Corner, named after their school mascot, an Explorer.

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Patricia Layton
Dunnellon Elementary
Dunnellon, Florida

Project: “Classroom Libraries for Young Readers”

Patricia Layton was awarded funds from FLDKGEF for her project: “Classroom Libraries for Young Readers”. The project will provide books for classrooms that support developing readers at Dunnellon Elementary School. The classroom library will contain age appropriate, leveled books for students in grades 1 & 2. Students will have access to “just right books” to read in their classroom every day and the opportunity to practice the skills they are learning in class.
The classroom libraries will be designed to support the curriculum’s Daily 5 Program (Center Time) and promote independent reading.

UPDATE:

This is Our Classroom Library!
It’s on wheels so everyone can share the books. The cart is 2 sided! We have lots of books.

~ Photo provided by Pattie Layton

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Susan Peters
PossAbilites Plus
Atlantic Beach, Florida

Project: "Curtain Up! Light the Lights"

Susan Peters of PossAbilities Plus was awarded funds from FLDKGEF for her project: Curtain Up! Light the Lights!". The project goal is to build self-confidence, social skills, body language and communication skills with young adults who have social and intellectual diversities. Participants work in partnership with a local community theater group “Players by the Sea” and incorporate Educational Drama Club Enhancing Social Skills (EDCESS) which uses acting to accomplish individualized social skills goals. The young adults see the courses as fun and interactive. This summer, the module will be adding video recording so that students can see their growth with each lesson.
The project will be a true “Lights, Camera, Action!” moment as students collaborate with their team in critiquing how one shows emotion and appropriate reaction to the directions given by their stage director. The Summer module (May-July 2023) will culminate in a showcase production at the Players by the Sea Theater.

UPDATE:

Video Link: EDCESS Drama Performance: PossAbilites Plus Goes Camping

PossAbilites Plus Video

~ Video provided by Susan Peters

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Dr. Precious Symonette
Miami Norland Senior High
Miami Gardens, Florida

Project: "Miami Norland Senior High School's INTERNATIONAL Poetry FESTIVAL"

Dr. Precious Symonette will use the funds awarded through FLDKGEF for her project: “Miami Norland Senior High School’s INTERNATIONAL Poetry FESTIVAL” which celebrates National Poetry Month during the month of April. The project will include the entire school enabling everyone to experience poetry in a variety of formats and allow students to become more involved on their school campus as well as in their respective neighborhoods. Students will participate in school-wide poetry writing activities, perform “pop-up poetry performances around the school, write original poetry on posters that will be displayed on the school grounds and around the community. The FESTIVAL will culminate with students hosting an in-school Poetry Showcase and a Chat book of poetry.
Participating in the Poetry Festival will allow students to learn and practice 21st Century Skills (Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Information literacy, Media literacy, Technology Literacy, Flexibility, Leadership, Initiative, Productivity, Social skills), promote the Miami Date County Public Schools Values Matter Initiative, and develop a love for poetry. The project will improve the culture and climate of the school and help students to develop public speaking, writing and networking skills that will help them to be successful on an academic, professional, and social level.

UPDATE:

Photos from "Miami Norland Senior High School's INTERNATIONAL
Poetry FESTIVAL"