The Nebo Education Foundation board met this summer to discuss the many grants and needs across the district. The Nebo Foundation Board functions through generous donations made by individuals and businesses as well as fundraisers where all the money goes to educate students in Nebo School District.
One fund-raising effort is the annual “Green Fever” golf tournament that helps fund these various grants throughout the year. Thank you to all the businesses and individuals that supported this event on May 18, 2023.
Congratulations to the following teachers that continue to make a difference in the lives of Nebo students.
Santaquin Elementary – Misty Rindlisbacher
“Thank you so much for the grant to purchase books in Spanish for our school library! I am so excited to show these books to our students who will be able to read the same popular books their classmates are reading in a language they are comfortable with! This is such a gift to our school community and will bring the joy of reading into so many more lives. I can’t express my appreciation enough!” exclaimed Misty Rindlisbacher, the librarian at Santaquin Elementary.
Rees Elementary – Fourth-Grade Team
Fourth-grade teacher, Justin Craig, said, “This last school year, as a fourth grade team, we implemented a number of ways to increase student engagement in reading. One of the ways we did this was through book clubs outside of normal small group reading instruction. These book clubs gave students choice in what to read, and accountability to have a certain number of pages read each week, along with thoughts to share with peers. We saw a tremendous growth in reading engagement and reading ability. As a grade level, we went from 58% of students as proficient readers to 76% of students reading on grade level benchmarks. The growth also accounted for 15 students measured as at-risk readers at the beginning of the year, ending the year as approaching proficiency or meeting grade level expectations. More than all that, students read more books, more often. Most students read and reviewed books totaling 2,500 or more pages during the school year. This means that this grant will go to adding more books and more ways to ignite a passion for reading for many fourth-graders to come. Thank you to the Nebo Foundation for finding value in our project and finding value in the power of books.”
Spanish Oaks Elementary – Ariane Brown
Ariane Brown, a fifth-grade teacher at Spanish Oaks Elementary, said, “We are so excited to use the “We the People” curriculum at our school. This will better help us teach our constitutional government using a great resource that better utilizes critical thinking, cooperative learning, and primary resources. We are so grateful to receive this grant for the textbooks to use in our classroom.”
Park View Elementary – Brenda Marsh
“Thank you so much for your support with our grant. This grant will allow two second grade classrooms to purchase books, which will be used to enhance our literacy instruction. This will assist us as teachers to develop foundational reading skills which are essential to our emerging readers. We recognize that our students need targeted, focused, and explicit instruction to gain these skills. The books will also be utilized to expose our students to crucial background knowledge which will assist in academic achievement in our classrooms. Again, thank you for your support,” stated second-grade teachers, Sarah Warren and Brenda Marsh.
Principal Shanna Walker said, “Thank you so much for your continued support of our teachers. I personally am grateful for the additional funds you have provided our school in literacy, and for the new books that the teachers have been able to purchase. Our teachers are doing amazing things to teach students to be successful readers. The new science of reading that the district has implemented is phenomenal, but it does require many new resources. Thank you for helping that happen.”
Springville Junior – Michael Pouliot
“The grant funds will be used to purchase translation equipment for my classroom and five other teachers' classrooms. These devices will be used to help ELL students have lecture and printed material translated into their home language. This means so much to us, as teachers, because it is hard to engage these students in our classroom activities because of the language barrier. The ability to break down this barrier through the use of technology is vital to these students' success and learning in our classrooms. Thank you for providing the funds to purchase these items,” said Michael Pouliot, history teacher at Springville Junior.
Diamond Fork Middle – Robert Mundinger
“The Counseling Center at Diamond Fork Middle is pleased and wants to recognize the Nebo Education Foundation for the acceptance of their proposal, ‘Time to Model’ program, that will provide at-risk students the opportunity to improve their SEL and Self-Efficacy skills by building model kits,” stated Robert Mundinger, counselor at Diamond Fork Middle. “This program will enable students the opportunity to practice social skills and other self-efficacy skills by interacting with other students, counselors and proving to themselves that they are capable of completing academic and behavioral goals while building their model kit. The counseling department appreciates the matching grant and looks forward to helping students be all they can be in this coming school year.”
Foothills Elementary – Amber Kunz
“Thank you for approving my request! I am so grateful and excited about the opportunity that this grant will provide me and my students; as it will not only maximize the quality of my student's learning, but also the amount of classroom time they can actively be engaged in meaningful tasks, rather than transitions and wandering. Being able to purchase a quality storage unit of this magnitude will enable me to set up a system of morning tubs, math centers, and fast finishers (which the students will access and use independently each and every day, multiple times a day). It will be the main hub of the room. These centers will provide hands-on activities that are fun and engaging and allow for practice with literacy, math, and fine motor skills. Organized storage of these center materials will allow easy access by students; and therefore, a feeling of student independence and personal ownership of learning. Plus, a happy teacher who feels she is successful in providing an effective learning experience for her students!” exclaimed Amber Kunz, kindergarten teacher at Foothills Elementary.
Springville High – Jessica Kemper
“I am expressing my sincere gratitude for awarding me the Nebo Education Grant for classroom book sets for our resource English classes. I am honored to have been selected for this opportunity again. I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation for your support and belief in my vision for enhancing reading possibilities for my students,” said English teacher Jessica Kemper. “With this grant, I will be able to provide my students with a wide variety of engaging and diverse reading materials that will significantly impact their literacy development. The classroom reading sets will enable me to create a rich and immersive reading environment that fosters a love for reading and supports students in their journey toward becoming confident and proficient readers.
“I am truly excited about the possibilities that The Nebo Education Grant provides. The classroom reading sets will open doors for my students, igniting their imagination, and empowering them with the essential skills they need to succeed academically and beyond.
“Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude for your generosity and support. Your belief in the power of reading and education will significantly impact my students' lives. Thank you for investing in the future of our future generations.”
Spanish Fork Junior – Kelliann Wright
Kelliann Wright, a math teacher at Spanish Fork Junior, said, "Thank you so much for the grant for our math department to purchase calculators. As math teachers, having quality calculators for our students to use is so important to their learning and education. In the age where almost all students have calculators on their phones, giving students a chance to break from their phones and use a physical calculator has increased engagement and learning in our students. These calculators will be treasured and used by thousands of students for years to come."
Another grant given:
Westside Elementary – Kristie Bowers
#TheClimb #nebohero #NeboSchoolDistrict #studentsuccess #empowerstudents #engagestudents #focusonstudents #loveUTpublicschools #utpol #uted #ThankATeacher #LoveTeaching #NeboEducationFoundation
The Nebo Education Foundation functions through generous donations made by individuals and businesses. The Foundation helps enrich students’ education in Nebo School District. Anyone interested in the Nebo Education Foundation or who wishes to make a donation for education is encouraged to contact Seth Sorensen by email seth [dot] sorensen [at] nebo [dot] edu, by phone 801-354-7400, or mail 350 South Main, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.
Photos
Santaquin: Kristina Christensen, Keela Goudy, Brian Rowley, Christine Riley, Dale Phelps
Rees: Marla Bird, Stacy Nance, Susan Smith, Gayle Gammell
Spanish Oaks: Dale Phelps, Darlynn Menlove, Lana Hiskey
Park View: Kristina Christensen, Chris Riley, Keela Goudy, Brian Rowley
Springville Junior: Susan Smith, Marla Bird, Gayle Gammell, Stacy Nance
Diamond Fork Middle: Keela Goudy, Darlynn Menlove, Dale Phelps, Chris Riley, Brian Rowley
Foothills: Christine Riley, Brian Rowley, Kristina Christensen, Keela Goudy
SHS: Stacy Nance, Marla Bird, Gayle Gammell, Susan Smith
Spanish Fork Jr.: Darlynn Menlove, Dale Phelps, Lana Hiskey
Westside: Gayle Gammell, Susan Smith, Stacy Nance, Marla Bird