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The Tippecanoe Valley School Board accepted three grants that totaled $2,790 during its Monday meeting.
An Indiana Suicide Prevention Network grant for $400 made it possible to have a Wall of Hope in each TVSC building. The Wall of Hope is designed to promote hope and optimism for each student.
For the National Suicide Prevention Week, TVSC partnered with the Tippecanoe Valley Community Mental Health Task Force to provide activities for all of the approximately 1,800 students.
According to Superintendent Blaine Conley, they want to ensure that all of the corporation’s counselors are fully trained in handling suicide by teaching them to use the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, as well as Question, Persuade, Refer.
TVSC mental health therapist Dan James applied for the grant.
Tippecanoe Valley High School received an equipment grant to start a second competitive robotics team. The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation donated robotic equipment ($1,250 value) for the team to use. The donation will be used for the 2018-19 Girl Powered VRC Team.
According to information provided at the board meeting, studies have shown that girls and boys show equal interest in science and math in elementary school; however, girls tend to lose interest in middle school
The grant was prepared by Jennifer Roden, TVHS science teacher.
A grant of $1,140 from Children’s Mental Health will mean the high school will be able to purchase additional supplies for its art program.
Last year students from the school submitted artwork for the “Your Health Matters” student art competition and showcase that resulted in the donation.
Additionally, the board approved seven donations.
Darren Bickel, United Way of Kosciusko County president, thanked TVSC for the $6,120 employee donation that was an 8 percent increase over last year. Because the amount exceeded a 5 percent participation level, they became eligible for a 1-to-1 matching grant from the Lilly Endowment. The matching grant brought the total to $12,240.
“The new dollars will drive United Way’s efforts with Working Families,” Bickel said. He praised TVSC for offering a preschool program and after-school tutoring.
Cargill donated to the FFA at TVHS and the Boomerang Backpack Program. A donation of $1,000 to the FFA program will be used for judging competitions fees and travel expenses, Conley said.
Conley also expressed appreciation for Cargill’s donation of $3,500 to the Boomerang Backpack Program that provides meals for students after school hours. “Cargill’s goal is to create growth that will improve living standards and promotes vibrant, stable communities. “ he said.
Cathy Olson, TVSC special education teacher, explained how donations help her students. She said a Donors Choice donation of $453 was used for a Dollar Can Motor Robot kit that allows students to use hands-on activities that they can take into the work force. She said that students use the kit to build four designs by following the directions. “These projects will give students the stamina to complete a difficult task,” she said.
An anonymous donation of $500 is being used to allow students to experience therapeutic horseback riding at Magical Meadows. The program is designed to build confidence, ease muscular atrophy issues for some and reduce anxiety.
The cost per session per student is $15. Olson said it would take between $1,500-$2,000 to offer the activity to all students who qualify from all the schools.
In August, WNDU’s Tricia Sloan and Ty Martin of Martin Super Markets presented TVSC with $1,000 in support of Project Valley Safe. The project was created by 2018 graduate Donald Bradley. Conley said they have ordered the emergency-type items that will be placed in bags and placed in every classroom in the corporation.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Mentone Elementary.
