GRANT TITLE
The Great Kindness Challenge

GRANT AUTHOR, SCHOOL, IMPACT & FUNDING
Kara Bonin – Merrillville Intermediate School – 950+ Gr. 5 & 6 students – $553.17

GRANT PERIOD
Round 32 for Spring 2018; implemented in Fall 2018

GRANT APPLICATION
Every month, we create activities and projects to promote kindness, respect, empathy, and unity throughout the building. Our PBIS team, along with our Student Council and STAND club collaborate to create these themes and projects together, and staff members including the PBIS team, the Therapeutic Counselor and Social Worker, create monthly lessons focused on the theme.  Students are also able to write “Acts of Kindness” that are announced on morning announcements.

Research shows that kindness is learned not just be talking about or thinking about it, but by feeling kindness so we can reproduce that emotion and feeling to others by sharing kindness. The feel-good experience also produces endorphins in the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection and trust. When our brains are in this state, our students can learn better and concentrate more on schoolwork. This project will also help to teach relationships and meaningful connections with other human beings. By doing this, our peer acceptance will likely increase leading to a reduction in bullying and behavior referrals. Finally, being intentional in focusing on kindness, we will continue to develop happy, confident, well-rounded individuals who will be able to collaborate, cooperate, and accept differences in other human beings. These skills are needed for our children as they become adults to help change our world.

GRANT OUTCOMES
We have been working hard to create a Culture of Kindness at MIS.  So far, we have demonstrated 5,775 acts of kindness since the inception of the program.  Every month we set a goal as a school.  We celebrate every month with the “Act of Kindness MVP” award. When a staff member recognizes our students demonstrating acts of kindness, the students are given a Kindness Coin. The coin is turned in for an entry into a drawing.  Students and teams have been recognized for their acts of kindness with rewards and prizes. Every month, we draw one name for 5th grade and one for 6th grade as our MVP. That student receives a trophy, and they have their picture on our Kindness Wall of Pride.

GRANT TITLE
Family Engineering Nights

GRANT AUTHOR, SCHOOL, IMPACT & FUNDING
Kara Bonin – Merrillville Intermediate School – up to 120 people at each of three events – $895.00

GRANT PERIOD
Round 32 for Spring 2018; implemented in Fall 2018

GRANT APPLICATION
We will host a Family Engineering Night each trimester. Parents and students will be invited in to participate together in a variety of STEM activities. The purpose is to introduce our parents to the engineering process and the new Makerspace at our school.

Activities will include: Arches, Boxing Beans, Glue is the Clue, Inspired by Nature, Let’s Communicate, Make It Loud, Shifting Shapes, Who Engineered It, Domino Diving Board, Happy Feet, Solid Ground, Assembly Line, Launcher, Stop and Think, Team UP.

Students and families will learn the engineering process and be encouraged to participate in our Time to Invent Club as well as seeking interest in future STEM professions. This will also support our three STEM projects that we are incorporating throughout the school year. Students and families will learn collaboration, thinking, problem solving, and simply a great way to have fun as a family.

GRANT OUTCOMES
We have held two Family Engineering Nights. Approximately 100 families attended and participated in a variety of STEM activities.  The purpose of the program is to introduce our parents to the engineering process and the new Makerspace Room at MIS.  Students and families learn the engineering process, be encouraged to participate in our Time to Invent Club, and seek interest in future STEM professions.                                            

Families worked together in the Launch activity, designing a catapult with only a spoon, rubber bands, and popsicle sticks.  The Tower Activity challenged them to build the tallest free-standing tower with only pipe cleaners.  Throughout the challenge, different parameters were put into place such as no talking with team, one hand only for each team member, etc.  The final activity was the assembly line, where the teams had to create the most efficient and effective way to build something.  Students and families used collaboration, thinking skills, and problem solving.  Everyone enjoyed themselves, and this was a wonderful and fun family learning experience for all.

PHOTO GALLERY

GRANT TITLE
Robotics Club

GRANT AUTHOR, SCHOOL, IMPACT & FUNDING
Charles Seligman – Merrillville High School – 30 Grade 9-12 students – $1,000.00

GRANT PERIOD
Round 30 for Spring 2017; implemented in Fall 2017

GRANT APPLICATION
As the sponsor of the new Robotics club we are looking to expand our group to two teams for competition next year. These students will be exposed to a CAD program donated to all FIRST teams to develop their robot virtually before they start building one. This program gives our students a chance to work with real objects trying to solve real problems. It is one of the best STEM programs our students can participate in here at Merrillville High School. Each robot costs approximately $1,365. This price includes the phones, the controls, all the electronics needed to have the robot perform as directed, and the basic building kit to build the skeleton of the robot that holds all of the above and operates on the game field. Each year the “game” consists of five or six tasks the robot must perform in order to score points.

GRANT OUTCOMES
This year has started off very well for our team. We held a kickoff with the Hobart team here at the high school with about 70 people attending the event. The game for the year was officially released at that time.

In November we attended our first scrimmage of the year in St. John hosted by a local Christian school. We placed first in that event. In December we hosted another scrimmage here at the high school. Six teams and about fifty people gathered in our main cafeteria, and we finished second in this scrimmage.

Our first competition will be Jan. 6th in Crawfordsville, IN. Both teams are going to attend this event but only the varsity team will compete. We are thankful to the Merrillville Education Foundation for all they have done for us over the last few years in helping the Robotics Club get started and grow.

GRANT TITLE
The Mindfulness Project

GRANT AUTHOR, SCHOOL, IMPACT & FUNDING
Toni Blaszczyk, Nancy Fleming – Miller School – 400 students – $708.35

GRANT PERIOD
Round 30 for Spring 2017; implemented in Fall 2017

GRANT APPLICATION
The Mindfulness Project classroom will teach children how to build self-awareness, effectively handle their emotions, and empathetically manage their relationships. Self-awareness to students lead to social and emotional regulation. When students can effectively manage their emotions, they learn to identify feelings and emotions and how to handle situations or problems in a positive and effective manner. Empathetically managing their relationships will help reduce conflicts between students that result in a decrease in discipline referrals leading to less in-school and out-of-school suspensions. Students that are present and aware, are more productive and perform better academically.

GRANT OUTCOMES
We would like to thank the Merrillville Education Foundation for the grant that funded “The Mindfulness Project. Our Mindfulness room is open to all students and staff to use as needed. This room has been very beneficial for calming students that have anger issues, high anxiety, ADD, and ADHD. In time, we believe that the mindful room will aid in helping our students to learn how to self-regulate their own emotions and focus. It is our hope that our students and staff will use their mindful practice daily. Staff and student resources on yoga lessons, mindful breathing, guided meditation practice, guided mindfulness scripts, relaxation music, and art therapy are provided. We will continue to add to our room as needed. Miller students and staff receive a Mindful Minute lesson and practice every Monday over the intercom to help get their week started on a positive note, which helps guide their practice for the week. We are very grateful to the MEF for giving us the resources to help fund “The Mindful Project” at Edgar L. Miller School.