What is School Spirit?
School Spirit – two simple words that create a flood of memories – pep rallies, homecoming dances, best friends, broken romances, and a time where anything was possible and you were invincible.

Today, School Spirit is a way to give back to the schools that prepared you for life. School districts are facing challenges never before seen in the history of public education. Educators are being asked to do significantly more – with less resources.

In 2000, the Green Bay Area Public School District formed an educational endowment to support excellence in teaching and learning. Mini-grants are awarded to district staff three times a year to explore creative ways of delivering educational experiences. The most successful efforts can become the basis for district-wide programs, and serve as models for school districts across the country.

How School Spirit Makes a Difference

Annie Jackson Elementary School – “Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten”
Some students entering kindergarten are often two to three years behind in learning on the first day of school. Annie Jackson Elementary’s grant provided wipe-off books for each incoming kindergarten student and their parents to work on essential learning and readiness skills before the child comes to school.

East High – “At Risk Intervention” East High School’s
grant provides interventions for at-risk ninth grade students go help with study skills, social skills, anger management skill building, homework, and organizational skills.

Howe Elementary School – “Spanish Club”
Howe Elementary School’s grant has created a Spanish club for non-Spanish speakers. The club meets weekly after school to teach kids basic communication in Spanish. At the end of the semester, exchanges will have Spanish learners paired with Spanish speaking families for dinner.

Sullivan Elementary – “Playground Chess”
Research shows that chess improves kids’ thinking, problem-solving skills, and reading and math scores. Sullivan Elementary School’s grant helped the Chess Club paint a permanent life-sized chessboard on the playground, make 32 t-shirts representing each of the pieces on the board, and purchase a giant travel chessboard for classroom use.

Past projects
Educational Endowment Grant SummaryThrough Winter 2008 (pdf)