Glendale Education Foundation Announces Grant Winners
(October 25, 2021)
(COALPORT) - The Glendale Education Foundation began their October 25th dinner meeting with an introduction of the two newest members of the board of directors: Patty Kimberly and Kelsey Troxell. Mrs. Kimberly, recently-retired Glendale Elementary School reading instructor, was asked ahead of time to come ready to discuss some ideas for “Literacy Initiatives,” and she didn’t disappoint. With an overall goal of “putting books in the hands of kids”, she came up with nine possible opportunities—ranging from: author visits, book swaps, book giveaways at local community events, providing copies of a particular book title that would be highlighted monthly to a grade level, Book Bingo, encouraging Glendale’s Cambria County resident families to register with the “Imagination Library” for children to receive a free book-a-month for kids 0 to 5 years, creating a new character that kids could identify every time with “getting a book”, and a few other ideas. The board approved focusing their efforts and finances for this school year in two literacy areas: (1) hold a GEF’s version of “PA One Book” (researching a children’s book for K-1 grade level students and developing a multisensory presentation around the theme), and (2) purchase books for a giveaway to elementary students during the March 2, 2022, week of “Read Across America.”
The directors passed a motion to formally approve funding for a total of $7,663 for eleven “Challenge Grants for Teachers” for 2021-22, which involve sixteen Glendale instructors. From the high school, the 5 teachers and projects are: Anthony Moore – “Sublimation machine,” Alyse Gittings – “Cooking with Class”, Kimberly Kozak – “Citizenship Day,” William Damiano – “Gettysburg Battlefield Guide Presentation,” and Cassandra Irvine – “One September Morning—How it Changed Us All.” These 11 teachers were awarded grants at Glendale Elementary School: James Haney, Stephanie Kasaback and Jeannette Williams – “STEM Fridays”; Lauren Madonna and Zachary Krug – “Class Garden”; Brenda Hewitt – “Live Theater of Hyronomous A. Frog”; Jill Klezek – “Revamp Playground Basketball Hoops”; Jodi Chilcote and Shannon Dudurich – “Punxsutawney Weather Center”; and Becky Link, Amy Abram and Susan Coakley – “Fit and Fun—Playground Painting.”
This was also the first year of the new “Venture Grants”, earmarked for funding more extensive projects up to a $1,000 maximum limit. The four professional staff members to receive funding for these inaugural grant proposals are: Amy Snyder – “Individual Fitness Equipment”, Lawrence Putorek – “Restore the Music”, Lindsay Kallas – “School Spirit Store”, and Edward DiSabato – “Appreciation Shirts for Staff.”
In other news, the board:
The next meeting of the Glendale School District Education Foundation is scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2022, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”, Coalport.
The directors passed a motion to formally approve funding for a total of $7,663 for eleven “Challenge Grants for Teachers” for 2021-22, which involve sixteen Glendale instructors. From the high school, the 5 teachers and projects are: Anthony Moore – “Sublimation machine,” Alyse Gittings – “Cooking with Class”, Kimberly Kozak – “Citizenship Day,” William Damiano – “Gettysburg Battlefield Guide Presentation,” and Cassandra Irvine – “One September Morning—How it Changed Us All.” These 11 teachers were awarded grants at Glendale Elementary School: James Haney, Stephanie Kasaback and Jeannette Williams – “STEM Fridays”; Lauren Madonna and Zachary Krug – “Class Garden”; Brenda Hewitt – “Live Theater of Hyronomous A. Frog”; Jill Klezek – “Revamp Playground Basketball Hoops”; Jodi Chilcote and Shannon Dudurich – “Punxsutawney Weather Center”; and Becky Link, Amy Abram and Susan Coakley – “Fit and Fun—Playground Painting.”
This was also the first year of the new “Venture Grants”, earmarked for funding more extensive projects up to a $1,000 maximum limit. The four professional staff members to receive funding for these inaugural grant proposals are: Amy Snyder – “Individual Fitness Equipment”, Lawrence Putorek – “Restore the Music”, Lindsay Kallas – “School Spirit Store”, and Edward DiSabato – “Appreciation Shirts for Staff.”
In other news, the board:
- received a $250 donation from the Ashville V.F.W. Post #4315
- approved a $1950 request from the high school English department for a performance of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” for grades 9-12, contingent on the PA Shakespeare Festival developing a COVID policy in case of school closure and subsequent reimbursement of funds.
- announced that this year’s “WineFest III” fundraiser will be in 2 two-hour sessions on Saturday, February 12, 2022: 12 – 2 PM and 2:30 – 4:30 PM. Cost is $15 / ticket for anyone 21 years and older. Five popular wineries and four other vendors are secured and there will be a huge basket raffle along with 50/50 chances and food being sold that day.
- will be providing a hot breakfast from Nutrition Group for every Glendale staff member on the in-service day Friday, October 29th.
The next meeting of the Glendale School District Education Foundation is scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2022, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”, Coalport.
Glendale Education Foundation Adds Board Members
(September 27, 2021)
(COALPORT) - In his beginning remarks, Glendale Education Foundation president Rick Holes spoke to the board of directors at their September 27th meeing, that, as they begin their eighteenth year of operation, the organization has grown so much not only monetarily—but especially in continuing the positive impact on the Glendale students and staff. “We’ve made adaptations to our allocations and have tried to revamp to projects to how best to improve and enhance the students of the district,” Holes explained.
One of the first items on the agenda involved voting to revise and reword the Glendale Education Foundation ByLaws to increase the number of board directors from nine to eleven--reflecting the need for more personnel to handle the augmented work and development of potential new committees. As recommended by the executive committee, two candidates who bring a lot of experience, unique expertise and community leadership-- Patty Kimberly and Kelsey Troxell--were unanimously elected to fill these new posts.
Acknowledging there’s sometimes a hardship for high school students to pay for the “dual enrollment” classes at Glendale for credit (from Penn Highlands Community College), the board voted to budget $4,000 currently to reimburse students who take any of the five full time or semester courses.
Students need to enroll in the course for credit at PHCC, sign the GEF student contract, pass the course and make a request for reimbursement within ten days of finishing the course satisfactorily. In a related move, the Foundation ratified a similar reimbursement to repay students who sign up to take the final exams for Advanced Placement (AP) classes held at Glendale High School—which can also earn them college credit.
As far as scholarships, the board passed the motion to donate $1,000 to the Dr. Edward B. Turchick Memorial Scholarship” to match funding from an anonymous donor, making this as not only one of the more lucrative scholarships at now $2,000, but it should consequently increase the numbers of quality community/school projects from student applicants that is the main criteria of this award. In addition, the Foundation board voted to gratefully accept two more $500 scholarships (for students intending to matriculate to trade/technical schools) into their repository: The Mike and Linda Sukala Scholarship and The Tradesman Scholarship.
In other news, the board:
The next meeting of the Glendale Education Foundation board of directors is scheduled for Monday, October 25, 2021, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”.
One of the first items on the agenda involved voting to revise and reword the Glendale Education Foundation ByLaws to increase the number of board directors from nine to eleven--reflecting the need for more personnel to handle the augmented work and development of potential new committees. As recommended by the executive committee, two candidates who bring a lot of experience, unique expertise and community leadership-- Patty Kimberly and Kelsey Troxell--were unanimously elected to fill these new posts.
Acknowledging there’s sometimes a hardship for high school students to pay for the “dual enrollment” classes at Glendale for credit (from Penn Highlands Community College), the board voted to budget $4,000 currently to reimburse students who take any of the five full time or semester courses.
Students need to enroll in the course for credit at PHCC, sign the GEF student contract, pass the course and make a request for reimbursement within ten days of finishing the course satisfactorily. In a related move, the Foundation ratified a similar reimbursement to repay students who sign up to take the final exams for Advanced Placement (AP) classes held at Glendale High School—which can also earn them college credit.
As far as scholarships, the board passed the motion to donate $1,000 to the Dr. Edward B. Turchick Memorial Scholarship” to match funding from an anonymous donor, making this as not only one of the more lucrative scholarships at now $2,000, but it should consequently increase the numbers of quality community/school projects from student applicants that is the main criteria of this award. In addition, the Foundation board voted to gratefully accept two more $500 scholarships (for students intending to matriculate to trade/technical schools) into their repository: The Mike and Linda Sukala Scholarship and The Tradesman Scholarship.
In other news, the board:
- voted to revamp their junior high “Viking Achievement Awards” by dropping the award for perfect attendance, and increasing the amounts of cash awards to $200 for student winners of Highest GPA, Most Community Service Awards, and those individuals named “Most Improved Students” as nominated by their teachers.
- agreed to award the new one-time $1,000 “Charles Glasgow Memorial Award” to be bestowed to a senior Glendale student also enrolled at the Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center.
- funded “The Dictionary Project” for 50 third grade students again this school year.
- learned that the members of the scholarship committee has already visited the high school twice to work with the 12th grade students using the popular new online application process.
- announced that this year’s “Winter WineFest III” Foundation fundraiser will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the Glendale Fire Company’s social hall in two sessions: 12 to 2:00 PM and 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Five wineries and four vendors have already signed up to be there. Tickets are still $15.00 per session for the wine tasting, with a large basket raffle as well as 50/50 chances for sale.
The next meeting of the Glendale Education Foundation board of directors is scheduled for Monday, October 25, 2021, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”.
