This Year's Project: "Hands-on" Science Labs
About Our Organization
The Sioux City Public Schools Foundation mission is to provide innovative programs that increase student engagement and achievement that cannot be achieved through limited state and federal funding.
The foundation's three pillars are Arts & Culture, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Equity (or closing the achievement gap).
Educators and students exceed Sioux City Community School District's mission to educate students to believe in their talents and skills, achieve academic excellence and succeed in reaching their potential.
Current Project: "Hands-on" Science Labs
Our Sioux City Schools Science Department is currently in the third year of curriculum rewrite. This means teachers have spent the last two years building new curriculum, creating assessments, and creating a series of new science labs for middle school students to be active participants in their learning vs. being lectured to. Teachers want students to be curious about the world around them, to ask questions, and be engaged in the learning process through hands-on activities. Our teachers have been very intent on building a curriculum that will provide students with the types of tools they need to not only succeed in their science class, but also to be able to apply these tools to real world situations.
In the summer of 2022, a group of our middle school science teachers took part in a training session on different types of data collection tools from Vernier Science Education. These tools allow science lab activities to be taken to a whole new level. The students can collect real time data on the labs they are conducting. Based on the data they collect, students can immediately analyze their results, discuss potential areas for improvement, and make immediate changes to their lab design. The students are the ones that are responsible for driving the conversation, problem-solving, and brainstorming new solutions to make improvements. Our new curriculum is designed to make sure that our science education is not just "sit and get". The new technology will allow our students to be immersed in higher level thinking skills on a regular basis. Kids have access to answers on the internet. These labs ensure learning by applying the information to real life situations.
The equipment needed in our classrooms cost $6,000 per middle school ($18,000 for all three). Once we have the needed equipment it can be used for 8 to 10 years. The interactive science labs will impact 1,100 students each school year. Averaging the 9 years that is 9,900 middle schools’ students at a cost of $1.82 per child. Help us create curious minds in a world of instant answers by supporting hands-on sciences labs in real world situations.
Please help us "Support our students today while securing our Siouxland future tomorrow". Click here to donate to your Sioux City Public Schools Foundation today.
Hungry students in schools.
Project Details
Children experiencing hunger are more likely to have problems with memory and concentration skills. They do not have the energy to carry out these functions. Being hungry can tamper with sleeping patterns too. Many of our students receive their only meals at school. Want to give back? Instead of buying that car behind you a cup of coffee or a fast-food meal, donate to pay-off a child's lunch balance. The estimated costs for kids who do not meet the requirements of free and reduced lunches, but cannot afford them is as around $50,000+ How can your money help? A $30 donation as an example will pay for:
9 lunches - 1 high school or middle school student
10 lunches - 1 elementary student
15 breakfasts - 1 high school or middle school student
16 breakfasts - 1 elementary student
Adopt a Classroom
Project Details
Teachers, in these unprecedented times, are serving as a beacon lighting the way for their students to learn.
Therefore, teachers have requested additional assistance in purchasing the items below through the support of the Foundation.
Support our teachers and students today! Donate to the Foundation's "Adopt a Classroom" Campaign.
Your support is essential as our teachers continue to provide individualized instruction to meet each students’ needs.
ADOPT A CLASSROOM
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$20: minimum essential student supplies
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$30: minimum essential teacher supplies
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$ 50: 1 backpack of supplies for a student
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$ 80: 1 backpack of supplies for a student + essential teacher supplies
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$ 100: sponsor supplies for 1 new teacher
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$150: sponsor supplies for 1 new teacher and 1 backpack of supplies for a student
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$ 250: sponsor supplies for 1 classroom
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$500: sponsor supplies for 2 classrooms
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