We ask that you consider contributing to our 2023-2024 Aquinas Teach Grants. These grants provide financial support for excellence in teaching that improves student learning. Your financial support of these projects will improve resources available to our students and faculty.
Resource Room Flexible Seating
This project is geared toward updating the seating options in the Resource classroom. Research shows that, when used correctly, giving students a choice in their seating options helps with student engagement, behavior and positive learning outcomes. In addition, research shows that productivity and behavior improved among students with ADHD or similar disabilities when they used therapy balls or seating that allowed for some movement, rather than traditional chairs.
The resource classroom services students who have a variety of different learning needs. These needs are a combination of academic, organizational, and social-emotional. The resource class is set up so the teacher can work individually or in small groups with students throughout the day on a variety of educational concerns. In addition, students often work independently.
Rarely do the students choose to sit in the regular desks to work, but opt to stand, sit on the floor, or sit at the one small table in the classroom. The resource class has a very diverse assortment of learning needs, but has been unable to support diverse seating options.
The goal of this project is to have a complete flexible seating classroom that can provide students with alternative seating options that can better support their learning and social-emotional needs. In addition, a room with desks and chairs that are unattached to each other and can more easily be moved around will increase the ease of mobility around the room and the seating options for students with physical disabilities.
FACS Lab 2.0
The FACS Lab Update 2.0 would continue the Family & Consumer Science lab updates that were so generously funded last year. Needed items include two freezer/refrigerators, Whirlpool upright freezer, five Kitchen Aid mixers, three blender systems, as well as books for continued learning.
This lab update would allow for more hands-on classroom activities that involve critical thinking and problem solving. Additionally, students in FACS classes participate in service projects that involve cooking and baking, and these updates would allow for more opportunities for community involvement.
Writing Lab 2.0
The Communication Arts Department would like to use Aquinas Teach Grant funds to continue the writing lab for the 2024-2025 academic year. This lab functions as a way to help students gain extra help with writing assignments during lunch hours from an additional Communication Arts teacher.
Continuing the Writing Lab is important for academic success, as it will allow students to gain extra help with written work during the school day. Because of the finite parameters of the daily schedule, students may still have unanswered questions or need extra help after the class period ends. A Writing Lab will provide an extra opportunity for one-on-one assistance during the school day, while still allowing students to meet with their classroom instructor after school.
Tanks, Now Fish
Last year, funds from the Aquinas Teach Grants made it possible to replace the school’s old fish tanks with new freshwater, brackish water & salt water tanks. Now that we have reliable and diversified tanks, we need fish, plants and corals to fill the tanks, as well as maintenance supplies.
We would also like to add an automatic tank monitoring system. This system will allow students and teachers to monitor the tank remotely. For example, teachers will be able to pull up the chemistry of the tank in real time in class, allowing the students to see how the levels in a fish tank change and react to different circumstances. This system will also allow monitoring of any leaks or problems with the electrical systems. This could prevent damage to the school as well as extra protection for the fish, corals and plants.