Over $1.5 Million in Grants Awarded

The implementation of a Therapy Dog Program at LMS will result in a reduction of anxiety, intense behavior outbursts, interruptions during instruction, and symptoms of trauma. In addition it will help support our Multi-Tier Support system at LMS and will also result in increased morale, student attention/engagement, instructional time and academic gains. The dogs will visit LMS two times a month.

Ms. Casey has created an adaptive music program where students with special needs can participate freely and grow in their understanding of music as a language and in their literacy skills. This program will be implemented at LMS.

We currently have 16 students involved yearly at LMS, and over 20 students at LHWHS who want to continue with VEX Robotics at the high school level. Each year that number at LHWHS will grow by at least 4 or 5. By allowing more student access to VEX robotics, more doors open for students to get involved in STEAM career pathways. Because the teams in VEX Robotics are small (between 3 and 6 max per robot), ALL students who join a VEX Robotics team will be part of the Engineering Design process for that robot.

The Meachum Scholars program is an extension program for 8th graders interested in learning more about race and racism in our country. Students will complete extension activities for each unit in the 8th grade American history curriculum, attend discussion groups where they explore these activities with peers, and then organize community action projects that apply what they learn in the community.

The theatre department will purchase an ETC ION XE lighting console for the Black Box Theater. Currently, we share the one with the PAC and someone must unplug it and move it to the Black Box anytime we want to use it. Going forward, we will be able to teach lighting in the Black Box and do shows simultaneously with the PAC.

1st grade students will apply what they learn about biodiversity, native plants, and pollinators to design a native plant garden for the "backyard" of Reed Elementary. This outdoor learning space will be complete with educational signs created by the students to teach about the plants, their pollinators, and the creatures who rely on those plants for food and habitats.

In anticipation of growing the middle school theatre program, a new sound system will be purchased to build up the technical abilities including microphones.

Our industrial technology program needs to update to modern equipment/technology. With this grant funded by a restricted donation from the Josh Seidel Memorial Foundation, 3 hand held CNC router systems will be purchased. These will enable students to build every thing from robots, custom woodworking joinery, furniture, musical instruments, packards, signage and trophies just to name a few uses. The system allows all students to have 100% control of design, drafting and fabrication.

Ladue’s Strategic Plan calls for us to develop our students to be agents of change. This grant will provide an opportunity for our Family and Consumer Science (FACS) students to use choice and their developing sewing skills to support their community with needed items.

Bobby Norfolk will give two presentations to Conway students. Bobby brings current topics and insights to the stage, all backed up by a long and illustrious career as an award winning storyteller and three time Emmy Award winning performer.

The high school is adding a new course called Construction Innovations and this grant will help fund start-up costs. Students will participate in the construction of a Tiny House. Students will learn basic construction skills in carpentry, use of power tools, all aspects of proper job site safety, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, planning and scheduling, estimating, blueprint reading and CAD design using new Shaper Origin Technology. The Tiny Home will expose students to the construction/installation of foundations, framing, insulation, decking, sheathing, siding, roofing, finish carpentry, furniture design, kitchen/bathroom build out and NOAA home inspection requirements.

This grant will help create a functional and educational sensory garden for the students, faculty, and community of Old Bonhomme. It will be designed and researched by first-grade Idea Lab students and then executed by the students and community members in partnership with Green Schools Quest, Olivette in Bloom, and other community contributors.

Spoede is working to rebuild our outdoor learning center. Our old center consisted of students, staff, parents, and community members working together to create and present science lessons across Spoede's grounds. With the help from this grant award, the new center will include a garden that focuses on Missouri native plants that will be harvested throughout the school year, and an outdoor learning center that can be used by all.

With this grant award, a Zero Waste Box from Terra Cycle will be purchased which will allow students, staff, and families to recycle pens, mechanical pencils, markers, highlighters, and caps. This will keep a large amount of writing utensils from ending up in the landfill. When it is full, we can send it back to the company using pre-paid postage. They will recycle all of the contents.

The Starlab: Portable Planetarium project will provide an unmatched opportunity for immersive learning experiences in Astronomy; and cultivate excitement for science, especially astronomy, within the school and district learning community. The portable learning dome and projection system lets you deliver stunning 360-degree learning experiences.