Assistance League members understand that public schools have very little money to give to classroom teachers for supplies and enrichment activities. Our Operation Scholarships Committee is ready to send out teacher grant applications for classroom enrichment projects to the area school districts for the 2017/2018 school year. If their project is approved by our committee, they can receive up to a maximum of $500 to implement their project.
Many of the local schools in our communities, including Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, and Menifee Valley, are not considered “needy”, or “low income”. These schools receive no additional funding from the State of California for enrichment and support. If a school DOES qualify for additional state funds, the money may be given to a “program”, not the classroom. Often, money for classroom activities is paid for by teachers out of their own pockets. This unfortunate scenario is especially true for new teachers.
During the fall semester of the 2016-2017 school year, Assistance League awarded $13,050 in grants to teachers within the Murrieta and Lake Elsinore School Districts. Twenty-eight teachers, four from Lake Elsinore, and twenty-four from Murrieta, received a maximum grant of $500 to pay for supplemental materials and activities.
At the elementary level, grants were used to purchase books and hands on “manipulatives” to help with reading, writing, and problem solving.
Fifth graders at Monte Vista Elementary in Murrieta participated in a science project called “Light my Stars”.
Second graders at E. Hale Curran Elementary, Murrieta, created a zoo project, with exhibits, habitats, and dioramas.
Fourth grade students at Rail Ranch Elementary, Murrieta, built a Gold Rush town, and wore costumes from the Old West to re-enact gold panning and mining demonstrations for visitors.
David A. Brown Middle School, Lake Elsinore, built shelves and purchased books for a school library which they call the “Learning Lounge”. Children spend time after school in the Lounge, and can take home books to read.
Photography students at Warm Springs Middle School, Murrieta, attended a field trip to the highly acclaimed Museum of Photographic Arts, at San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Grants awarded to two Murrieta Valley High School teachers were used to purchase music for the school’s award-winning choir and band programs, and to fund supplies for a decorating project in the foods classes. A Grant was awarded to Temescal High Special Education teacher Valerie Vargas for a Chicken Incubation Project.
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