The Webster County School District will begin the 2019-20 school year with two new exciting opportunities for students and teachers.
The WCSD applied for two Mississippi Department of Education state-funded grants, the K-8 STEM Initiative Grant and the Blended Prekindergarten Grant, in the spring of 2019. Webster County School District received word from MDE this summer that it was selected to be the recipients of both competitively state-funded grants.
The K-8 STEM Initiative Grant was written to target grades K-5 at both East Webster and Eupora elementary schools. The district will receive a total of $60,000 for the STEM Initiative with $30,000 being given to each school.
The grant funds will provide opportunities for students to build a foundation in the STEM aspect of the ever-changing college and career standards and goals for students. A classroom STEM lab will be established by purchasing STEM In Action Curriculum kits, virtual reality headsets, as well as a classroom set of Chromebooks for both fifth-grade science classes. STEM family nights are being considered for the fall of 2019.
Preregistration
is underway
The Blended PreK Grant was written for both East Webster and Eupora elementary schools. The district will receive a total of $100,000 for the blended PreK classes, with $50,000 being provided for each elementary school.
The grant will provide $20,000 the second and third year of the grant. The grant funds will be used for furniture and materials, curriculum and professional development, as well as a 1:1 Initiative with tablets.
Preregistration for the blended PreK is underway in the district. Students must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2019, to register. Students may be added to the list for consideration by calling each school’s office on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursdays from 9 a.m.–noon.
Registration is not confirmed until after students have completed a screener that will be district provided. Parents will be contacted late July for enrollment status for the 2019-20 school year. Transportation will not be provided by the district for the blended PreK students.
PreK opportunity
makes history
Sue Anne Boatman, director of federal programs, curriculum and student assessment, wrote and coordinated efforts for both MDE grants. She stated that the Webster County School District is humbled and honored to be selected as a recipient and excited for the opportunities that both grants will bring to students, as well as teachers.
Students will be given opportunities to ensure further success and expand knowledge in the world of science, math and technology. Boatman also added that the WCSD is eager to offer an education to its first-ever 4-year-old students, which is bringing the district to the competitive realm in reaching early childhood students.
The foundation of learning is an integral part in academic success for all students. The blended PreK opportunity makes history in Webster County by being the first-ever class for regular education 4-year-olds.
Brian Jones, superintendent of education in the WCSD, expressed continued support in the state-funded grants and is eager to see how these opportunities will expand a positive learning environment for all students and teachers in the Webster County School District.
