Mini-Grants

Projects Funded

Since 2006, GNSF has awarded nearly 200 academic mini-grants to Grinnell-Newburg teachers for projects which enhance academic achievement for our students. Over $350,00 in mini-grant funding has been awarded to teachers among every school in the district. Visit the Mini-Grant Application page to learn more.

View Application Page
District Wide
Early Elementary
Upper Elementary
Middle School
High School

Special Projects

  • Fundraising Campaign: $89,125
  • Description: GNSF partnered with the Grinnell High School Fine Arts Alliance to secure funding for a Steinway B Grand Piano suitable for both educational and performance purposes. Through the generosity of a major private donor and the generous support from more than 150 additional donors and two grants, GNSF raised the necessary $89,125 in under four months in 2016.
  • Fundraising Campaign: $100,000 (Grants were received from Grinnell College, Lincoln Savings Bank, Prairie Meadows, and Walmart in addition to individual donations)
  • Description: The GNCSD worked with local first responders to identify key equipment necessary to help keep children and staff safe such as signal boosters to increase cell phone connectivity; repeaters so that radios can reach longer distances; state-of-the-art cameras and monitors at the entrances to every school; and new sets of radios for each building. These items are critical in instances of weather emergencies and medical emergencies in classrooms as well as identifying intruders on school properties.

District Wide

2018 Opening Day Speaker: George Couros

  • Award: $1,000
  • Applicants: Dr. Janet Stutz
  • Students Impacted: All
  • Description: Grant supports a portion of the speaker fee for George Couros, invited to speak on Opening Day on August 20, 2018, to encourage teachers to find new ways to inspire students and promote a positive culture in Grinnell Newburg Schools.

Choral Music Commission Project

  • Award: $2,500
  • Applicants: Roger Henderson and Jill Harris
  • Students Impacted: 250
  • Description: Funded in 2015, this grant helped hire a composer to write a choral piece suitable for the 6th grade and high school choirs to perform. The students generated poetic prose and melodic ideas centered on the program theme “Peace” which the composer then used to create an original piece.

Music Therapy for At-Risk Kids

  • Award: $5,800
  • Applicants: Dr. Janet Stutz, Sarah Seney, Mark Ernst and Brian Conway
  • Students Impacted: 50
  • Description: Granted in October 2016, this grant approves up to 66 sessions for small groups lead by trained therapists from Music Speaks for approximately 50 at-risk pre-K through 4th grade students. Therapy sessions are intended to help improve socialization, impulse control, self-expression, communication and mood stability through rhythm and sensory music activities.

Technology Transforms Learning

  • Award: $37,500
  • Applicants: Technology Task Force, Pam Ewell
  • Students Impacted: All elementary students in the district
  • Description: This request was made by the Technology Task Force on behalf of all of the teachers/buildings in the district. The funds will be used to purchase 6 laptop computers per building with the necessary hardware to run them as wireless machines. These laptops will allow teachers to receive training in order to help them gain the necessary skills and knowledge to incorporate more technology into the classroom. They will also be available for classroom and small group work by students.

Leveled Book Room

  • Award: $4,000
  • Applicants: Chris Coffman
  • Students Impacted: All elementary students in the district
  • Description: Funds will help develop consistency in the district reading program by creating a leveled library of books for guided reading. Each elementary school will have a centralized location for book storage and a check-out system to keep track of inventory.

Early Elementary Schools

Bailey Park & Fairview

Tiny Techies: Coded Robots in K-2

  • Award: $5,000
  • Applicants: Lisa York, Morgan Schmidt

Fairview

Special Education Level 3

  • Award: $1,000
  • Applicants: Kathryn Kauffmann

Bailey Park & Fairview

Tiny Techies: Coded Robots in K-2

  • Award: $5,000
  • Applicants: Lisa York, Morgan Schmidt

Bailey Park & Fairview

Decodable Readers for K-2 Learners

  • Award: $2,500
  • Applicants: Lisa York

Fairview

PK Early Literacy Enhancement

  • Award: $1,652.16
  • Applicants: Andrea Zhorne

Fairview

Let's Get Buzzing

  • Award: $600
  • Applicants: Rebecca Talk

Bailey Park & Fairview

Let's Glow and Grow!

  • Award: $1,606.14
  • Applicants: Dee Gibson

Upper Elementary Schools

Fluency Focus- Whisper Phones and Books

  • Award: $1,840.65
  • Applicants: April Gosselink-Lemke

Science of Reading

  • Award: $502.70
  • Applicants: Jennifer Hadenfelt

Fluency Focus- Whisper Phones and Books

  • Award: $1,840.65
  • Applicants: April Gosselink-Lemke

Science of Reading

  • Award: $502.70
  • Applicants: Jennifer Hadenfelt

Davis Music Curriculum

  • Award: $515
  • Applicants: Shareah Sharp

Calm Down Corner- Sensory Items

  • Award: $729.69
  • Applicants: Justin White, Brandon Sharp
  • Students Impacted: 250

Mindfulness in Schools

  • Award: $2,200
  • Applicants: April Gosselink
  • Students Impacted: 250

Freckle

  • Award: $3,949
  • Applicants: Farah Deppe

Middle School

From Conference to Classroom: Building Expertise in Disciplinary Literacy and Primary Source Instruction

  • Award: $1,926
  • Applicants: Danielle McDonough

Student Learning using Audio and Visual Technology

  • Award: $599.75
  • Applicants: Zach Ceresa

CPR/First Aid Equipment for Staff Training

  • Award: $700
  • Applicants: Kim Weber, Katelin Ferguson

Middle School Diverse Classroom Libraries

  • Award: $2,000
  • Applicants: Jen Culham

Classroom Library Diversity

  • Award: $4,500
  • Applicants: Jen Culham

Reaching Audio-Visual Learners

  • Award: $160
  • Applicants: Sarah Schull

Social Emotional Learning REthink Education

  • Award: $2,750
  • Applicants: Nicole James

High School

The Tiger's Den: Next Generation - Fueling Tigers One Snack at a Time

  • Award: $4,960
  • Applicants: Rhonda Scull

From Conference to Classroom: Building Expertise in Disciplinary Literacy and Primary Source Instruction

  • Award: $1,926
  • Applicants: Danielle McDonough

Professional Development at International Thespian Fest

  • Award: $500
  • Applicants: Jennie Flinspach

American Realities: A Research Study with Nonfiction Lit Circles

  • Award: $1,000.00 ($900.00 Grinnell College Mini Grant)

Industrial Tech 3D Printer

  • Award: $863.32
  • Applicants: Sam Watts, Kevin Hosbond

English 12 Inspiring Sports Books

  • Award: $921.80

Quilts for Kids - Literacy Connections

  • Award: $500
  • Applicants: Amy Skouson

GHS Robotics Team Youth Outreach

  • Award: $3,719.82
  • Applicants: Bill Gruman

Tower Gardens

  • Award: $5,050
  • Applicants: Michelle Barker

Books in Other Languages

  • Award: $1,000
  • Applicants: Chelsey Kolpin

Nonfiction Lit Circle Book Update

  • Award: $271.95
  • Applicants: Kevin Hosbond

CPR/First Aid Equipment for Staff Training

  • Award: $700
  • Applicants: Kim Weber, Katelin Ferguson

Industrial Tech Design and Products

  • Award: $688
  • Applicants: Sam Watts

English 9 Learning Centers

  • Award: $300
  • Applicant: Kevin Hosbond

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

  • Award: $1,030
  • Applicants: Janet Ahrens

Ag/Ed Potting Mix

  • Award: $1,000
  • Applicants: Ashley Wolfe

Mini-Grants support excellence in teaching and the learning process.

Visit the Mini-Grant Application page to learn more about grant guidelines and the application process.

Apply Now
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