In The Spotlight

Grant Awards Enhance Opportunities for the Burns School Community

At Robert Burns School, students, teachers, and families know the difference that grants can make for a school community. A total of seven grant and foundation awards now provide members of the Burns School community new opportunities to enhance both academic skills and physical fitness.

With support from the Kellogg Foundation’s Generation with Promise Program, Burns students took part in the University of Michigan’s Run Fit Kids Martian Marathon. Parents and children completed the Side By Side Nutrition Education program, and all middle school students now enjoy fresh salads from our new grant-funded salad bar.

As recipients of a State of Michigan Cultural Access grant, Burns students are enjoying first-time field trips to several of the State’s cultural institutions, including the Lansing Historical Museum and Flint’s Sloan Museum and Longway Planetarium.

Support from the Michigan Fitness Foundation’s Safe Routes to School initiative makes it possible for Burns students, teachers, and families to work effectively with community members to identify abandoned buildings, broken sidewalks, and other hazards that threaten the safety of our children.

Meanwhile, with CRYAmerica funding Burns staff members are offering Parent Workshops on academic support, effective discipline, and children’s health and safety.

Not to be left out, teachers, themselves, benefit from Good Schools funding for professional development, including a memorable workshop offered by Dr. Patricia Edwards, an internationally acclaimed scholar and family literacy advocate.

In the minds of many Burns students, however, favored status goes to the Rip Hamilton Foundation and Rip, himself, whose presence at Burns School sends a strong message of support for Burns children. The Rip Hamilton Foundation has renovated the Burns Media Center, and in March, the Foundation awarded middle school student, Asia Porter a $2500 scholarship for her essay on Good Sportsmanship. The Foundation has also partnered with IBM to provide Head Start students a Little Tikes Young Explorer Computer Station.

Through the commitment of a dedicated staff, the generous funding awarded to Burns School is transformed into programs and events that enhance opportunities for all members of the Burns School community.

Submitted by Debra Henning
For Charlene Harper, Principal

Student Art Exhibition

Art Work Created by DPS Students

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