BCEF is pleased to announce the recipients of its spring grants to the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC). This biannual program by BCEF allows up to $5,000 to be awarded each fall and spring to projects selected by a committee of foundation board members, according to executive director Anne Wilson.

Grants awarded were:

• A supply of challenging board games, such as chess, Mancala, Battleship, and Racko for Batesville Intermediate School (BIS) students to use in tournaments during indoor recess. BIS teacher Julie Ryan’s grant application stressed that the games will enable students to apply critical thinking skills and techniques learned in class in a fun and engaging way. This grant impacts all BIS students.
• Hands-on enrichment activities to supplement the study of language arts, science, and social studies in third-grade classes at BIS. A variety of additional materials will be available to teachers to either assist struggling students or provide a challenge to others. Examples of items to be purchased include nature walk materials, classification sorting boxes, a human body magnetic activity board, and convex and concave optical lenses.
• Support for a BCSC Day of Wellness featuring speaker Dr. Lori Desautels to provide staff with techniques to positively impact students’ emotional, social, and academic health. Desautels is a sought-after speaker in the area of creating a supportive, wellness-oriented classroom culture. This day-long event will impact all staff, providing them with much-needed information.
• A donation to the staff of the Batesville Middle School (BMS) to improve the teacher lounge, fostering a team atmosphere. New teacher Sierra Corrn spearheaded this request to transform the lounge into a more efficient space.

“The BCEF board wants to thank the Joan and John Hillenbrand VISION fund for also supplying funds for the Day of Wellness and the BMS teacher lounge,” Wilson noted. “We always appreciate working with other non-profits in town to expand our impact in our schools.”