(Image: Grant-funded mural created by the M.E.Ch.A. student group at Fort Vancouver High School and displayed at the Vancouver Police West Precinct.)
During 2016-17, the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools invested over $130,000 to fund more than 50 enrichment activities and 9 mentoring programs, which benefited over 20,000 students at all VPS schools.
To better align with the strategic efforts of Vancouver Public Schools and to provide more flexibility to each school, the Foundation for VPS has announced the expansion of the school grant program for the 2017-18 school year. Beginning this fall, the new Foundation for VPS “Engagement Grant” is available to every school in the district.
Engagement Grants serve to strengthen the engagement of our students through enrichment opportunities that open new windows onto the world, provide new and unexplored experiences that spark their interest, and help them envision and plan for their future success in college, career, and life. The grants can also be used to fund mentoring for students who can benefit from the involvement of an additional adult in their lives to help them stay in school and focus on the path to graduation. In addition, the grant can be used to help schools increase parent/family engagement, which has shown to be crucial to student success.
The Foundation for VPS began accepting applications October 1, and has awarded grants to 10 schools. Projects funded include an author visit, books for a “One School, One Book” project, makers space supplies, transportation for field trips, equipment for Playworks classroom integration, and parent engagement programs.
Applications for the 2017-18 school year will be accepted until January 31, 2018. Any school staff member can submit an application. However, all applications must be approved by the building principals. Applications without the principals’ approval will not be considered. The Foundation for VPS will accept one application per school. One application may include several separate projects. If the request is within the grant parameters, applicants will be notified within 2 week of submitting the application. Projects falling outside of the grant parameters will require further review.
For additional information, please contact Grants Manager, WenLyn Richter, at 360.313.4725 or wenlyn.richter@vansd.org.
Click here to be directed to the Engagement Grant website with access to forms and information.
Overview of 2016-17 Enrichment and Mentoring Grants:
In 2016-17, the Foundation for VPS invested over $115k in enrichment activities benefiting over 20,000 students at all 36 Vancouver Schools through over 50 enrichment activities including school grants, Summer Theatre and After School Dance programs; Green Eggs & Ham literacy; Safety Patrol Oaks Park trip; GEAR Up, College in the HS; and Scholarships for Summer Credit Recovery.
Additionally, the Foundation for VPS provided $15k of support for mentoring programs. Twenty elementary schools participated in Lunch Buddies, supporting 280 students. Programs included: Fort Vancouver High School MEcHA club, Hudson’s Bay High School & Clark College Ambassadors, Ballet Folklorico at Hudson’s Bay and Fort Vancouver high schools, Prospere (a Police Activities League lunch mentor program at Hudson’s Bay), McLoughlin Middle School lunchtime mentoring and Saturday Academy after school classes and mentoring; Discovery Middle School Police Activities League lunchtime mentoring.
Family-Community Resource Centers tracked a total of 6,940 hours of mentoring and enrichment activities offered to students at 18 schools with a site-based center. FCRC Coordinators stretched Foundation for VPS funds and built partnerships to impact even more students. FCRC coordinators successfully leveraged support from Clark County Public Health (Bike to Leadership), faith based partners (Cooking Classes), Policy Activities League, and Fort Vancouver High (public service announcement project) to expand coordinated mentoring and enrichment opportunities for our students.
Click HERE to view a list of funded projects.
