Intentional play areas, innovative STEM technology and high-energy reading competitions are making their way to campuses in the Irvine Unified School District, thanks to funding provided by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.
Last month, the 2024 Innovative Grant Program awarded nearly $200,000 in funds to 11 projects based on proposals from local educators. Since 1996, IPSF has granted more than $2.6 million to classrooms and campuses in the Irvine community.
IPSF aims to “equip students with hands-on experience and real-world skills to better prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Neda Eaton, the foundation’s president and CEO.
“Through these grants, we proudly stand beside IUSD educators who are driven to reimagine their approaches to teaching,” she said in a news release. “We are grateful for the generous contributions of parents, community and corporate sponsors that help ignite innovation in our schools by making these grants possible.”
IPSF hopes that the Innovative Grant Program will continue to empower IUSD educators to take on new approaches to teaching and improving their students’ educational experiences.
Below are the 2024 Innovative Grant Program recipients, with descriptions provided by IPSF and short videos from each school.
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Culverdale Elementary: Project Game On!
New outdoor playground equipment will diversify the play atmosphere during recess to encourage movement and increase connection through play. Creating games and playing in new ways will boost students’ imagination, risk taking, communication and self-regulation skills.
Greentree Elementary: Transformative Play
Thoughtful conversion of the current Pre-K/Kindergarten pod will create a purposeful play area to expose students to diverse environments and hands-on learning experiences, enhancing academic, language, and social skills through the power of play.
Irvine High School: Level Up! Irvine High’s Esports Lab
Establishing an on-campus hub for the Irvine HS Esports team, fostering inclusivity and improved access for more students to participate in this CIF sport through equipment and a centralized team headquarters.
IUSD Special Education: Creating Equity and Inclusion through Core Communication
Increasing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) support through portable communication posters that will promote equity and inclusion for special education students and families districtwide.
IUSD Vision Department: Maximizing Access Through Innovative Technology
The addition of specialized technology to support students with low vision and blindness, maximizing potential within each student by providing access to dynamic educational experiences.
Jeffrey Trail Middle School: Project Battle of the Books
A year-long reading competition promoting literacy, team engagement, and fun through a high-energy quiz-style tournament.
Northwood Elementary: Sami’s Circuit: A K-6th Interactive SEL Program
An interactive Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program for K-6th graders, Sami’s Circuit combines physical activity and fitness with self-esteem and confidence building activities. This grant is funded by IPSF in partnership with Assistance League of Irvine.
Portola High School: Project A Digital System for Positive Behavioral Supports
A joint initiative with Jeffrey Trail MS and Portola HS, this project creates a software system to gamify Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) programs including student recognition, data-backed feedback on behavior, and social-emotional learning to increase both student engagement and administrative efficiency. This grant is funded by IPSF in partnership with Chinese American Mutual Association (CAMA).
Portola Springs Elementary: Making Learning Accessible for Every Learner at Every Level
Adapting materials for all students and providing teachers with durable, reusable, individualized tools that support student learning in special education classroom. This grant is funded by IPSF in partnership with Amy & Rami Moussilli.
Santiago Hills: Brite Ideas
Introducing a large Lite Brite wall centrally located in the school library to serve as an inspiration for innovative ideas and creativity to create a new method of student engagement to further explore reading.
University Park Elementary: Project Kind Campus
Creation of a hand-painted kindness mural, a smartboard display for interactive storytelling, and kindness books to the library, fostering a school-wide culture of kindness. This grant is funded by IPSF in partnership with Assistance League of Irvine.
For more on the Innovative Grants Program, visit the IPSF website.