PTA Mini-grants
Chesapeake Bay Science Trip: The PTSA paid part of the way for 20 6th grade science students to travel to an island on the Chesapeake Bay for 3 days and 2 nights in late May. There, they had the unique opportunity to study science in the field and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, as it related to their Ecosystems and Chesapeake Bay science unit.
Hershey Park Band Festival: The PTSA paid the way for a few students to join the Parkland bands at the Music in the Parks competition in early May. The bands won several awards at this event.
ESOL/METS Summer School: The PTSA funded a summer school class for about 40 ESOL and METS students in cooperation with Loiederman Middle School. Students who are limited English speakers will have a wonderful opportunity to improve their English language skills before starting a new school year in the fall.
Safety Backpacks: This mini-grant paid for the actual backpacks that every teacher at Parkland now has in his/her classroom. It is filled with a variety of safety items in the unlikely event of a school emergency, such as a first aid kit, flashlights, trash bags for students to wear if it rains, attendance sheets, and procedures to follow.
PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support): This mini-grant funded various PBIS activities and rewards to encourage a culture of respect and responsibility within the school. Specifically, it funded a deejay for two PBIS dances and other prizes to reward positive behavior throughout the school year.
Parkland Plus: This mini-grant paid for school supplies for students enrolled in Parkland’s after school support program. Adequate school supplies have enhanced this program designed to improve the academic performance and test scores of students in this valuable program.
Maryland Student Assessment (MSA) Spirit Week/Testing Week: This mini-grant will fund a variety of incentives to help all students prepare for the MSAs during Spirit Week. It will also encourage students to attend school during MSA Week and perform well on the MSAs. These incentives really make a difference in the students’ attitude about, attendance for, and performance on these very important exams.
Science 7/8 Heredity Lab: This mini-grant funded an exciting genetics lab for 7th grade science students. It used Wisconsin fast-growing plant seedlings to help students learn to sort out Mendelian ratios of traits that appeared in these unique plants. The students planted the seeds, watched them germinate, then three days later, sorted the plant’s genetic traits. This mini-grant really enhanced the genetics unit of the science curriculum.
Girls’ Night Out: This mini-grant funded materials and prizes for a conference that Parkland held for its female students. The purpose of the conference was to address the socio-economic needs of the students, especially as it related to self esteem, relational aggression, and bullying. The conference encouraged positive relationships between mothers, daughters, and friends.
Boys on the Edge Conference: This mini-grant funded the attendance by one of Parkland’s guidance counselors at a one day solution-focused seminar designed to help understand and reach today’s troubled boys. The counselor learned gender-based insights and strategies for working with boys who struggle with academic failure, disruptive behavior, and bullying, etc. The counselor will report back to the administration and other staff at Parkland, so others can benefit from what the counselor learned at the seminar.
Eighth Grade Celebrations: This mini-grant funded a portion of the end of the year activities for 8th graders as they graduated from Parkland Middle School. It included a promotion ceremony, reception, and an 8th Grade dance. Students were recognized for the extraordinary work they had done during their tenure at Parkland with encouragement to continue their academic successes.
Guitars for the Music Department: This mini-grant purchased three acoustic guitars with cases for use in the new guitar class at Parkland. This enabled students who did not have their own guitar still participate in this very popular class.
Posture Chairs for the Band Room: This mini-grant purchased five rehearsal chairs for the band room, so all students could maintain the proper posture while playing their instruments