At the December BCEF board meeting, the following grants were selected for funding this semester:

• Just over $2,000 was awarded to Batesville Middle School for the purchase of a new Bulldog mascot costume. The athletic department and school counselors plan to use the costume for school spirit events, as well as in the classrooms.
• BPS Mandarin teacher Guili Zhang’s proposal to establish a professional development materials library was awarded $1,000. These materials will allow teachers to learn about new research in the area of education, as well as work at their own pace to explore professional growth opportunities.
• BMS science teachers Tara Mills and Jennifer Russell submitted a $870 grant application for new dissection kits for sixth grade, which was funded. The teachers explained how the cow dissection unit shows students how light travels through the eye.
• Teacher Travis Smith received $750 to purchase an adjustable horseshoe-shaped table and five stools for his classroom at BMS. This will enable him to work with a small group of students for certain activities, encouraging participation from students who may feel more comfortable doing so when not in the full class setting.
• BHS family and consumer science teacher Barb Hartman received $300 for craft and food items when her child development classes visit the first grade classrooms at BPS. The high schoolers engage with the younger students, providing academic help and helping them with crafts. The funds will enable Hartman to purchase craft or food items for the activities.

“Eleven applications were evaluated this semester and these five were selected for funding,” explained Ann Vincent, grants chair. “It’s not an easy task making these decisions, as so many of the proposals were worthwhile. We want to thank all of the staff who submitted proposals.”