Brick sales launched to grow endowment
Since 1986, the Baler Education Foundation has been raising
money for San Benito High School to assist all areas of student
life. This year the foundation donated more than $3,200 to San
Benito High School programs through mini grants. The foundation
allows SBHS staff members to request the mini grants.
Brick sales launched to grow endowment
Since 1986, the Baler Education Foundation has been raising money for San Benito High School to assist all areas of student life. This year the foundation donated more than $3,200 to San Benito High School programs through mini grants. The foundation allows SBHS staff members to request the mini grants.
The mission of the foundation “is to provide resources, through community partnerships, to support and enhance educational programs and opportunities in the San Benito High School District,” according to a pamphlet about the organization.
Grants are given once a year at the beginning of the school year, usually at the school board meeting in September.
Elaine Kovanda, president of the foundation, said “teachers have to apply to get grants.”
Teacher Jim Ostdick requested $1,200 grant for the San Benito High School Science Department Earth’s Energy System Project.
“Many students pick things up in different ways, particularly if they have second language issues,” Ostdick wrote in his application. “Research shows that the use of games, models, and videos in student-directed group activities has produced good results in other content areas.
Ostdick’s motivation came from his desire to help his students improve their Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results, and to inform students about natural and human induced climate changes. STAR results have shown a need for improvement in meteorology, oceanography, climatology.
“I feel obliged to try my best to help the students,” Ostdick said.
He will purchase greenhouse models, ocean circulation models, and 14 sets of videos.
“We will be buying some board games to help students learn the carbon cycle,” Ostdick said.
The Riverbed Project also received grant money for the second year. The Riverbed Project is a three-year school-wide grant that was proposed by Ostdick and SBHS Principal Krystal Lomanto.
“The organization is designed to promote positive, responsible environmental stewardship in the Hollister area, to enhance academic achievement, and to teach hands-on professional development skills in the field of Earth Science and Environmental Science. These goals will be achieved by participating in a series of Saturday morning clean-up events and field trips on the local stretch of the San Benito River, the source of the community’s drinking water,” according to the grant application.
The foundation does not just give grants. It has a Wall of Fame at the high school “to recognize people who have done wonderful things in the community” Kovanda said.
These people are recognized at the Fame Fest that is planned for early spring at Ridgemark Golf Course and Country Club. The Wall of Fame is located in the main building of the high school.
Kovanda said the foundation is selling bricks for $1,000. So far 30 have been sold. Of the money, $900 goes direcly to the high school’s endowment. The endowment is part of the mission, and the goal is to reach $1 million by 2010. With that amount of money, the members of the foundation board would be able to grant $50,000 to students, faculty and administration each year.
For more information on purchasing a brick or to donate, e-mail
ba***************@ya***.com
or write to: Baler Education Foundation, Inc., PO Box 328, Hollister, CA 95024-0328.
