- May 5, 2024
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Website allows donors to directly fund learning projects
Conducting experiments, building working models … many teachers say such things are the key to learning, bringing to life the theories students read in text books.
Unfortunately, normal funding of schools doesn’t allow teachers to buy the tools that are available these days, such as computer software that allows exploration of the universe.
There’s a way for individuals to help teachers acquire these items, however, through the Find It Fund It program, called FIFI, provided by the FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools.
Cynthia Ramirez, executive director of FUTURES, said people want to help schools, because they know funding is limited.
“We’re happy to provide a way for people to help schools,” she said. “We’re able to fund the creative ideas the teachers have.”
FIFI is online at finditfunditflorida.com/volusia. By visiting the website, a person can read about a project a teacher would like to have for their classroom, and contribute to the cost.
Brian Eschen, who teaches health and physical education at Seabreeze High School, hopes to acquire CPR manikins. He said he purchased manikin kits last year through a grant, and now needs more, because the class has been growing.
There’s a lot of interest among students, even those who don’t plan a health-related profession.
“I had a student say her sister was choking and she knew what to do,” he said. “Another recognized the signs of a heart attack and knew to call 911.”
Students see theory come to life
Bridget Bosco, science and biology teacher at Seabreeze, wants to purchase solar energy kits, so students can build such things as solar panels and windmills.
She said it helps students see how theory comes to life in the real world.
“The FUTURES Foundation is a great partner to help teachers succeed,” she said.
Chelsea French teaches science at Ormond Beach Middle School, and is seeking a subscription to a computer software, Gizmo Interactive Simulations, that provides understanding of subjects such as atomic theory, the universe and gravity.
“It’s hard to teach these concepts without them seeing it,” she said. “The simulation brings it to life.”
She currently has a grant for the software, but it’s going to run out at the end of the year.
She also wants to get funds to build an inflatable solar system and kits that allow students to put together materials to create moon sand.
Teacher sees ‘big jump’ in test scores
Angie Cox, also a science teacher at Ormond Beach Middle School, said FIFI is helpful in keeping up with technology.
She is seeking a grant for Gizmo for Greatness, used to simulate labs that would be difficult to practice in the real world, because the materials would be hazardous or hard to acquire.
“Students love this software and their current access to it will expire in December,” she said.
She said last year was the first year Gizmos were fully implemented across the eighth grade curriculum, and there was a “big jump” in FCAT test scores for science.
FUTURES has had a mini-grant program for 29 years and FIFI is an online portal for the program. Ramirez said since the mini-grant program began, 3,400 projects have been funded at a cost of $1.4 million.
The FUTURES Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was formed in 1985, as a way for the business community to be involved with the school system. Visit FUTURESvolusia.org.
Students named to Tomorrow’s Leaders Program
Five Seabreeze High School juniors have been selected to participate in the Tomorrow’s Leaders Program by the Futures Foundation for Volusia County Schools. Forty students from throughout the county are chosen.
During the next five months, the students will participate in monthly, day-long seminars coordinated by community leaders on topics such as the court system, manufacturing, education, government, leadership, ethics, health care and social services. They will also tour several facilities.
The local students are Rachal Poling, Christopher Ringue III, Olivia Squires-Propper, Haley Stewart and Nicholas Windham.
