The District 113 Education Foundation is delighted to announce that it has funded over $30,000 for the following grants during the 2023-24 school year.  Thank you so much for the support of our community and to the innovation of our District’s dedicated and talented educators

DEERFIELD GRANTS

ARTS ALIVE:  This grant facilitates the enhancement of a new arts initiative at DHS, Arts Alive, celebrating the intersection of arts and academics during a biannual weeklong celebration. Over this weeklong celebration, professional artists from various disciplines will be brought into the classroom to present workshops, masterclasses, and interactive presentations. 

DRIVING SIMULATOR AT DHS – DESIGNATED AS THE FOUNDATION’s SIGNATURE GRANT: The driving simulator will offer a safe and controlled environment for students to experience realistic driving scenarios. It will provide a firsthand opportunity to comprehend the effects of drugs, alcohol and texting while driving, delivering instant feedback of the dangers of distraction. Importantly, the simulator is accessible to all students, including those in special education who might not have had this opportunity otherwise. 

GAMMA AI APP: This grant will allow for the purchase of the Gamma AI App. This cutting edge app provides a new medium for presenting ideas, powered by Artificial Intelligence, which will enable students in Social Studies classes with the additional tools to create beautiful, engaging content with none of the formatting and design work.

MEDIA LITERACY: This grant provides DHS World History Classes with a subscription to the magazine, Upfront. This New York Times magazine inspires critical thinking with world-class journalism for teens. In a world full of technology, this print magazine provides a screen-time break, promoting a healthier media balance for our students. 

SCHOOL AI APP: This grant facilitates the schoolwide acquisition of the artificial intelligence (“AI”) app, School AI. DHS recognizes the importance for educational institutions to adapt to this technology and School AI will enhance both staff productivity as well as student learning with tools such as lesson plans, worksheets, tutoring sessions and much more. 

 

HIGHLAND PARK GRANTS

DROP IN CENTER AT HP: This grant enables an enhancement of the crucial Drop-In Center at Highland Park High School as they continue their quest to become a trauma sensitive school. The update includes the creation of sensory spaces for students, offering a range of therapeuticsx tools and iPads which will be used for mindfulness applications. 

MEMORY MATES: This grant allows for the establishment of a new club at HPHS called Memory Mates, connecting teenagers with senior citizens in our community living with dementia. The aim is to cultivate empathy, combat loneliness and provide intergenerational understandings. Participating students will have the chance to develop leadership skills, compassion, and confidence through this meaningful initiative. 

OXY PROBES – DESIGNATED AS THE FOUNDATION’S LINDA GORDON STEM EDUCATION GRANT: This grant provides a classroom set of Go Direct Optical Dissolved Oxygen Probes (“Oxygen Probes”), advancing the students’ skills and knowledge of the curriculum with hands-on experience. Environment Science students will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with local organizations such as Trout Unlimited, raising trout in the classroom, conducting water quality testing in local water systems and ultimately releasing the trout into the Rosewood Ravine. 

 

DHS AND HPHS GRANTS

ENVOLVE: DHS Student Council and the HPHS Charity Drive Club, together, are inviting leadership trainer Scott Backovich to come for an all day leadership training. This innovative program will train our student leaders to engage the entire student body and promote inclusion through suggested activities that will take place all year long that are designed to engage and build community.