Education Foundation Awards Over $13,000 in Grants & Scholarships

Mercersburg, PA: The Tuscarora Education Foundation Board of Directors approved six grant requests, totaling close to $6,000 for the 2017/18 school year; which will benefit students throughout the Tuscarora School District. The board also granted $7,500 in scholarships for graduating seniors at the James Buchanan High School, including awards for graduates planning to pursue higher education in vocational/technical fields and the arts & humanities.

At James Buchanan Middle School, TEF approved a grant to purchase supplies for a newly formed club, the Maker Club. The club consists of 7th and 8th graders who choose to expand their understanding of technology through learning activities using 3D design and printing, reverse engineering, and the engineering design process. Activities will stimulate self-directed learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), among other content areas.

Concerning the arts and humanities, TEF funded an Arts in Education program titled “Danza Antiqua”. The overall objective is to give students a complete immersion into the arts, history, life and culture of the 18th & 19th century using social dance as a basis to enhance their American History curriculum. This grant has been an ongoing partnership between TEF and the Tuscarora School District. The Foundation also funded a SmartMusic grant at James Buchanan High School, with the intention of eventually funding it throughout Tuscarora School District schools. SmartMusic is the award winning software used by music educators around the world to enhance their programs and provides a way to dramatically improve their students’ skills. Student practice is focused because they receive immediate feedback while listening to their performance and seeing the correct and incorrect rhythms and pitches onscreen.

Other approved grants include: Additional supplies for the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) at the middle school. The Elementary Science Days grant was also funded again, which allows AP Chemistry students from James Buchanan High School the chance to work with 2ndand 3rd grade students in the district’s elementary schools. The high school students perform experiments with the younger children, teach them about relevant science concepts, and also teach them about electric circuits and currents. The James Buchanan High School Chemistry Department received a grant for wet/dry inquiry labs, which will assist students with experimentations in the AP Chemistry course. The Foundation also approved the purchase of owl pellets for the James Buchanan Middle School so that students may better understand owl’s behavior, feeding habits, and the complex nature of the food chain and relationships amongst organisms (predator-prey). Students will also identify and understand the processes of digestion and nutrient extraction.

“On behalf of TEF’s Board of Directors, we would like to thank our numerous donors and volunteers that help make these grant opportunities possible for the students in the Tuscarora School District. In partnership with TSD, we are able to do some awesome things for kids.” –Chris Ardinger, President