Batesburg-Leesville, SC - B-L Elementary School recently received a “Raising the Arts Academic Standard” grant in the amount of $18,000 from the South Carolina Department of Education. Art teacher Karen Wheeler and music teacher Kristin Pugh applied for the grant with the goal of improving the quality of the arts programs available to students at B-L Elementary School. The money will go a long way in enhancing education not only for students but also staff members at the school. Outlined below are the proposed plans for the funding:
A portion of the grant money will provide additional professional development learning opportunities for staff members to enhance their understanding of the new 2017 South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts.
A portion of the funding will allow students to participate in a dance residency with local artist Debi Stringfield, who owns Central Carolina Performing Arts Center.
A portion of the funding will provide a class set of ukuleles for B-L Elementary School’s 4th grade students and a class set of the Drums Alive Kit for all music students, both of which will be used during school performances and assemblies.
There are plans to purchase a sound system for the school cafeteria and a Bluetooth speaker system for the music room.
A portion of the funding will allow for the purchase of the Annie Jr. Broadway musical show kit and supplies needed for the production so students can produce the school’s first-ever musical in the spring of 2019.
In addition to this grant, several other teachers in Lexington County School District Three also recently learned that they were chosen as the lucky recipients of funding from outside agencies and organizations. Congratulations to:
Beth Kirkland (choral director) and Amber Bouknight (art teacher) from B-L Middle School on receiving an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grant in the amount of $1,000. The Allstate Foundation honors the community service of Beth’s daughter, Brittney Herlong, who owns Allstate Insurance Agency in Batesburg-Leesville. The money will be used to enhance the choral and art programs at the school.
Bridget Miles (first grade teacher) from B-L Primary School on receiving $500 and 500 Bonus Points from the James Patterson and Scholastic Book Clubs Giveaway. The money and points will be used to build a classroom library.
Jill Slapnik (media specialist) from B-L Middle School on receiving a $3,000 Walmart Community Grant. The money will be used to obtain books for the school-wide “read” event that is planned for later this school year.
Congratulations again to all grant award recipients.
