New York, NY—The National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) is pleased to announce that it has awarded Outreach Fund grants totaling $12,000 to 13 member schools for use in the 2010-2011 school year. NAES received 29 applications for consideration this year.
Each school year, NAES designates 10% of its budgeted Annual Fund goal, but not less than $12,000, to be distributed in the form of grants of up to $1,000 each to members, associate members, and regional, state or diocesan Episcopal schools organizations. These grants support of projects commensurate with the mission and philosophy of the Association. Such projects include Biennial Conference attendance scholarships; mission focused activities; the strengthening and articulation of Episcopal school identity; and school outreach programs.
2010 Outreach Fund Grant Recipients
Biennial Conference 2010 Scholarships
These grants provide partial scholarships for attendance at the Association’s Biennial Conference 2010, this November 18–20 in San Antonio, Texas. Grant applications of this type are accepted and funded only every other year, in a Biennial Conference year.
- Coast Episcopal School, Long Beach, Mississippi
- Imago Dei Middle School, Tucson, Arizona
- St. Andrew’s School, Richmond, Virginia
- St. Anne’s School of Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
- St. Elizabeth’s School, Denver, Colorado
- St. James’ Episcopal School, Warrenton, Virginia
- St. Peter’s Episcopal Preschool, Conway, Arkansas
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church School, Whitehall, Pennsylvania
- St. Stephen’s Preschool, Santa Clarita, California
Creating a Field Guide for Our Schoolyard
Bishop Noland Episcopal School, Lake Charles, Louisiana, has received a grant in support of its environmental stewardship program. The grant will partially cover the purchase of Jane Kirkland’s No Student Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard and supporting materials for 36 homeroom teachers. The manual will help them develop grade specific guides that will connect environmental studies, science, history, language arts, art, and technology, and help students discover, observe, and record nature on the school’s grounds.
Digital Enhancements for Chapel
Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas, has received a grant in partial support of new digital and multimedia learning and presentation methods in daily chapel services. The overall project includes the purchase of viewing screens, audio-visual equipment, sound systems, and necessary infrastructure for the main campus’ chapel space.
Leveling the Playing Field for Inner-city Youth
St. Paul’s Episcopal Montessori School, San Antonio, Texas, serves a community in which 61% of families within a two-mile radius live below 200% of the federal poverty level. Over 50% of its students receive financial aid and/or are minority children. This grant assists the school in efforts to provide school readiness and language and cognitive skills intervention to its students.
Toddler Space Rebuild
St. James’ School, Houston, Texas, historically an elementary school program, has recently revised its mission to serve toddlers and preschool students. This grant helps support the purchase of appropriately sized furnishings and the replacement of toilet facilities in its school space.
About NAES
The National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) is an independently incorporated, voluntary membership organization that supports, serves, and advocates for the vital work and ministry of those who serve over 1,200 Episcopal schools, Early Childhood education programs, and school establishment efforts throughout The Episcopal Church. Chartered in 1965, with historic roots dating to the 1930s, NAES is the only pre-collegiate educational association that is both national in scope and Episcopal in character. The Association offers a variety of services, publications, resources, and conferences consonant with its mission and focused principally on Episcopal school identity, leadership, and governance, and on the spiritual and professional development of school leaders.