BYRON – Mary Morgan Elementary 1st grade teacher, Cammie Henkel, was awarded a Grant of $470 from the Byron Foundation.
She purchased student dry erase boards and numerous books to build her classroom library.
Having individual, hand-held dry erase boards, allows all students to be visibly engaged in lessons. Utilizing boards saves significantly on paper, allows immediate responses and confirmation in small guided groups, learning centers and whole group instruction. These are used for every subject and help make lessons for fun and effective.
A yearlong Rooted in Reading Program is currently utilized by the entire Mary Morgan First Grade Team. This program coincides with the district curriculum and is aligned with Common Core. Each story has non-fiction text that incorporates vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and interactive pages. The books associated with the Rooted in Reading program are an additional expense.
“I am so grateful for this grant and the continued support from Byron Foundation,” Henkel said. “It is heart-warming to know our community makes education a priority. The books our classroom received will supplement the reading program. They augment our curriculum with fun, engaging stories that have rich text and robust vocabulary. Research has proven time and again that reading is one of the best ways to develop vocabulary, improve writing skills, and build fluency.”
The Byron Foundation, 501c3 non-profit, established in 1993, is an independent organization, founded to provide the Byron School educators access and opportunity to impact learning that empowers students and provides an enriched education beyond the district tax dollars. This volunteer Team of parents, educators, and community members are committed to supporting children with unique experiences to help broaden their education, expose them to enriched opportunities and to cultivate leaders. We are a cohesive group of people with a mix of background and talent, with a shared vision.
The Board of Directors meets every 4-6 weeks, host two annual fund-raisers, accept and process grants that average $5,000 a year, and manage scholarship funds for other individuals and organizations. Over the past 24-years, more than 40 community members have served as board members, raising funds and granting over $104,000 to the Byron School staff for use in their classrooms.
We recognize and celebrate the history and value of the Foundation’s work. The focus on long-term planning and sustainability has led to a recent partnership with Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and the creation of a new Byron Foundation Endowment Fund. The Byron Foundation Endowment Fund establishes a financial reserve, provides a reliable source of income in perpetuity and shows the solidity and permanence of The Byron Foundation in our community and our commitment to continued educational excellence in the Byron School District.
If you are inspired to give of your time and talents or a tax-deductible gift to the Byron Foundation Endowment Fund, please contact Byron Foundation President, Michelle Albert: Malbert6@comcast.net or 815-985-5102.
