On Monday, Feb. 12, representatives of the North Branch Area Education Foundation (NBAEF) made their annual trip through the hallways of North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) to deliver good news to staff - grants have been approved.
This year the NBAEF, with a generous donation of $10,000 from ECMC Foundation (Educational Credit Management Corporation) Foundation, awarded nine grants to staff at the Sunrise River School, North Branch Area Middle School, the Norse Area Learning Center, and North Branch Area High School, totaling over $17,000.
The 2023-24 NBAEF grants will provide a wide variety of opportunities for students, including a “Zen Den” calming room and Outdoor Adventures field trip at North Branch Area High School, a classroom set of ukuleles, and a set of Sphero Robotics at the Sunrise River School, a mentoring and leadership program and behavior incentive items at North Branch Area Middle School, exercise equipment at the Norse Area Learning Center, classroom “clickers” for classrooms K-5, and recreation and field trip opportunities for the Chisago County Schools’ Life Work Center.
“We are so grateful, and so fortunate, to have the North Branch Area Education Foundation providing these incredible opportunities for our students and staff year in and year out,” said NBAPS Supt. Sara Paul. “Viking innovation is at the heart of how we become better every day, and the foundation provides the opportunity for creative ideas to be put into action!.”
Since 2010, the NBAEF has raised over $509,000 and awarded grants over $231,300. Here are the grant recipients:
Music teacher Taylor Neil received a grant for a classroom set of ukuleles.
Instructional Coach Joan Bense received a grant for classroom "clickers" for students K-5.
Teacher Alan Grund received a grant to provide his class with Sphero Robotics.
NBAHS Asst. Principal Andrea Thiner received a grant to provide a "Zen Den" calming room at the high school.
Teacher Marcee Schramm to host a field trip to Outdoor Adventures.
Teacher Mindy Lattimore received a grant to provide exercise equipment for Norse ALC students.
School social worker Anne Meyer received a grant for a student field trip to Basecamp for students in the middle school and high school leadership and mentorship programs.
NBAMS Principal Matt Lattimore received a grant to provide behavior incentive items at NBAMS.
Life Work Center teacher Deb Goodman (not pictured) received a grant to provide personal wellness, recreation, and leisure opportunities for LWC students. Accepting her grant was teacher Lisa Nowak.