Investing in Students
Every year, your generosity makes a world of difference for our students at Grand Island Public Schools and to the GIPS Foundation.
Remember that time a GIPS senior couldn’t afford their cap and gown? Or when a middle schooler needed new sports shoes? Thanks to your support, we were there to help.
Your impact is truly immeasurable.
Every dollar, every gift, brings us closer to a brighter future for our students.
Impacting someone's life is an incredible feeling.
For a first grader, the scale of the solar system can be difficult to grasp through a textbook alone. While we often look up at the night sky, light pollution and early bedtimes can make it hard for young students to truly witness the splendor of the Milky Way Galaxy that they learn about in class.
Recently at Newell Elementary, the gymnasium was transformed into a gateway to the cosmos. Thanks to a collaborative effort by first-grade teachers Asia Thoene, Abby Elsbury, and Renee Sutherland, the universe is now a down-to-earth adventure. The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation was proud to award these stellar educators a $475 Classroom Grant, bringing the Edgerton Explorit Center’s portable planetarium directly to their students.
Grand Island Senior High’s Show Choir program has built a reputation on musical excellence, but the secret weapon behind their success is the unmatched professionalism and precision of their student-led stage transitions.
To elevate this competitive edge, dedicated GISH educators Abigail Bloom and Jesse LaBrie sought support from the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) Foundation. The Foundation answered the call, granting $2,000 toward a Pageantry Innovations DK-20 Drum Kit Workstation—a total game-changer for the percussionists.
Engleman Elementary students are taking hands-on learning to the next level thanks to the "Safe Saws for Creative Minds" project. Led by SECA Instructor Megan Danner and funded by a Grand Island Public Schools Foundation grant, the initiative introduced child-safe electric ChompSaws to the classroom. These tools allow K–5 students to apply math, science, and literacy skills as they design and build 3D projects from cardboard. This week, the project came full circle as students hosted an art show during Parent/Teacher conferences, giving families a chance to see the impressive sculptures created through this collaboration. It’s a great example of how Foundation-funded resources are helping our educators personalize learning and spark student engagement across the district.
Stolley Park Elementary Kindergarten teachers Becky Waind and Katrina Moseman have been recognized for their commitment to personalized learning, securing a Classroom Grant from the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) Foundation. This significant funding will introduce cutting-edge Apple technology—including Apple TVs, iPads, and Apple Pencils—into their classrooms to support their belief in differentiated instruction.
