$27,000 in Grant Funding Awarded for 2017-18 Year

A multi-sensory outdoor classroom, manipulatives that bring math concepts to life, interactive learning software, and a collaborative STEAM experience to build a functioning hovercraft are among nine projects on tap for Pine Street School next year, thanks to a $27,000 investment in teacher grants from the Pine Street School Foundation (PSSF). The grant awards were announced at a year-end reception honoring all Pine Street teachers on Thursday, May 25, 2017. They bring the Foundation’s total grant awards to $223,000 since its inception in 2009.

“We are impressed by the thoughtful creativity put forth by every teacher who submitted a grant proposal,” said Ashley Reynolds, chair of the PSSF board. “Gifts from 176 donors enabled us to fund the selected projects, and we thank them for the incredible impact their gifts will make across all grade levels.”

Funded projects include:

• The Show Must Go On! Musical Production Rights – Janna McClure (all grades)
• Nearpod for Pine Street School – Lori Patterson (all grades)
• Laboratory for Learning: Creating an Outdoor Classroom – Wendy Cont, Kelli Hardigree, Alicia Fulmer, Stephanie Seay, Bailey Taylor (kindergarten)
• Scholastic News Subscription for All First Graders – Brooksie Berry (1^st grade)
• Holy Cow: Mooing through Second Grade with Moveable Math Manipulatives and Cart – Tiffany Anderson (2^nd grade)
• Learning with Osmo – Tricia Liollio (2^nd grade)
• XL Software for Math, Language Arts and Science – Susan Hoffman (3^rd – 5^th grades)
• BrainPOP Subscription – Susan Hoffman (3^rd – 5^th grades)
• The Hovercraft Project – Lori Patterson, Susan Hoffman, Shannon Bradford, and Susan Gilstrap (5^th grade)

Principal Anne Chapman Jeter thanked the PSSF for its ongoing support: "Projects like these are not only beneficial to the students, but also represent the collaboration between the school and the Foundation. We appreciate parents, grandparents, and other friends who contribute in such wonderful ways so that the PSSF may fund a variety of creative, innovative and stimulating experiences for our students. All of these experiences serve to strengthen our school program and remind us that Pine Street School is indeed a Fine, Fine School." 

The two largest-scale projects provide exciting bookends to the Pine Street experience by impacting all kindergarten and fifth grade students.

The kindergarten patio area, which is adjacent to the amphitheater, will be transformed into an outdoor learning space where children can:

• build musical and math intelligence by exploring ground bongos, a xylophone and other musical instruments;
• create large-scale paintings on clear panels;
• build gross motor and STEM skills by manipulating blocks, chutes and balls;
• explore with garden tools and an animal habitat observation area;

Teachers will incorporate the new classroom into their daily instruction, working collaboratively to develop instructional strategies and assessment practices.

“The kindergarten teachers collectively submitted this grant proposal, and the Foundation board was motivated by their vision to build upon the recent playground renovation by incorporating learning-based play that is essential to cognitive development,” said Reynolds. “Our kindergarten teachers designed this space to create opportunities for students to investigate, problem-solve, think, rethink, and refine their notions and understanding of how the world works. It will not only benefit all Pine Street kindergarteners, but also other students and families who visit the playground.”

Additionally, the entire fifth grade will participate in a collaborative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experience in which they will work in teams to create, design and build a fleet of functioning hovercrafts. Considered an in-school field trip, The Hovercraft Project takes one full day to complete. Each student team is composed of a team leader who is responsible for managing his or her team members, each of whom have been assigned their own unique roles for the building process. The teams will work together to solve problems, analyze data, and communicate as they build. Then, students will take turns riding in their hovercrafts to enjoy their work. 

The Hovercraft Project is a nonprofit initiative founded and facilitated by former fifth grade science and math teacher Mathew Chase of Chase Education Consulting. He travels to facilitate the project for approximately 20 schools per year nationwide.

“The Foundation is thrilled to provide our fifth graders with this high-impact experience to help them develop skills of teamwork, leadership, applied math, applied science, sociology and group dynamics,” said Reynolds. “These building blocks will serve them well as they transition to middle school the following year.”

Each spring, the Pine Street School Foundation campaigns for funds and awards them for projects that will be implemented the following school year, creating an immediate and direct impact with its resources. The grant application process is open to Pine Street School faculty and staff, and includes a proposal submission and an interview with the Foundation’s grants committee. With the goal of enhancing the overall educational experience at Pine Street School, the Foundation has awarded $223,000 in grants since its inception in 2009. 

Support from friends and family of Pine Street students, and from those in the community beyond, enables the Foundation’s impact. Please join our effort by making your gift today.

Foundation Aims for Landmark Year with 2016-2017 Campaign

Funding for the Pine Street School Foundation's teacher grants for the coming school year will be determined by dollars raised during this year's fundraising campaign, which ends May 1.

Building upon steady growth since its inception in 2009, the Foundation aims to surpass 200 donors to this year's annual campaign and reach the historic milestone of $200,000 in funds raised over the life of the Foundation. The fundraising goal for this year's campaign is $30,000.

Join our 2015-2016 campaign to make an immediate and tangible impact on the lives of our children.

Over the last six years, the Foundation has awarded more than $115,000 in grants to teachers of grades K - 5. Teachers apply for grants each April and recipients are announced by the end of May so that projects can be implemented in the following school year. Gifts to the Foundation received by May 1 of each year determine the level of funding to be awarded for the coming year.

The Pine Street School Foundation is a 501c3 organization; all donations are tax-deductible.

Gifts may be made online or mailed to: Pine Street School Foundation, P.O. Box 7213, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

Pine Street School Upper Playground Dedicated

Principal Anne Chapman Jeter, Dr. Russell Booker, PSS Foundation and PTO leaders, and children cut the ribbonThe Pine Street School Foundation, Pine Street School PTO, and Spartanburg County School District 7 celebrated the opening of the new Pine Street playground with a ribbon cutting and dedication on Sunday, January 24, 2016. Hot chocolate and sweet treats topped off the fun for children who filled the playground and enthusiastically demonstrated every new feature to be enjoyed at the facility.

Complete with an outdoor classroom and safe, modern equipment, the playground was a priority focus for the Foundation during its 2014-2015 campaign and marks its highest-impact project to date.

"Pine Street School has been transformed with an outdoor classroom and safe, state-of-the-art equipment that facilitates active lifestyles and sparks creative play."

“Children learn through play. Pine Street School has been transformed with an outdoor classroom and safe, state-of-the-art equipment that facilitates active lifestyles and sparks creative play,” said Foundation board chair Emma Harrill. “Not only do Pine Street children benefit, but all of Spartanburg's children are welcome after school hours and on weekends—the playground is full of life seven days a week.”

“Communities and public schools truly are partners in education.”

Thanks to funding from the Foundation, PTO, and District 7, the project took shape in record speed. The lower playground opened just one year after planning began, and the upper playground a year after that.

“This is a story of what is possible when one teacher speaks up about a need, and a group of passionate parents and community members spring to action working in partnership with the school and the district to make it a reality,” said Harrill. “Communities and public schools truly are partners in education.”

2015 Pine Street School Foundation Grant Recipients Announced

Thirteen innovative projects designed to awaken new interests and spark interactive learning for students will become a reality next year through The Pine Street School Foundation grants program. The 2015 grant award recipients were announced during the annual year-end gathering for Pine Street School teachers, administrators and counselors.

The funded projects, totaling more than $51,000, will benefit children in kindergarten through 5th grade at Pine Street.

The funded projects, totaling more than $51,000, will benefit children in kindergarten through 5th grade at Pine Street. They cover a wide range of initiatives including the much-anticipated playground project, various science and math initiatives, grade-level specific literature and non-fiction books, a First Lego League team, interactive software, and production rights for a school-wide musical.

The Foundation’s primary focus during its 2014-2015 campaign was to raise funds for, and increase awareness about the need for, the upper playground renovation—a project that includes an outdoor classroom in addition to safer equipment and kid-friendly turf. Thanks to the generosity of PSSF donors, and a distinctive partnership with Spartanburg County School District 7 and the Pine Street School PTO, construction of the playground will begin in June.

Thanks to the generosity of PSSF donors, and a distinctive partnership with Spartanburg County School District 7 and the Pine Street School PTO, construction of the playground will begin in June.

Each spring, the Foundation campaigns for funds and awards them for projects that will be implemented the following school year, creating an immediate and direct impact with its resources. The grant application process is open to Pine Street School faculty members and involves the submission of project proposals and interviews with the Foundation’s grants committee. With the goal of enhancing the overall educational experience at Pine Street School, the Foundation has awarded more than $176,000 in grants since its inception in 2010.

Your support enables the Foundation’s impact. Please join our effort by making your gift today.

Pine Street School Foundation Announces 2013 Grant Recipients

Teachers, administrators and counselors at Pine Street Elementary found out on Thursday afternoon if they received a grant from the Pine Street School Foundation.

After an intensive application and interview process, the Foundation agreed to fund 22 projects which will benefit children in kindergarten through 5th grade at Pine Street. The grants, totaling more than $28,000, cover a wide range of projects including various science and math initiatives, grade-level specific literature and non-fiction books; interactive CDs and DVDs; and rights to a school-wide play/musical production.

“We were impressed by the number and variety of grant requests we had this year”

“We were impressed by the number and variety of grant requests we had this year”, says grants co-chair Linda Mullen. “These projects will add to the learning experience of many of the children at Pine Street.” Grants co-chair Charlie King concurred.

“We strive to put donations to work in the classroom as soon as possible after the grants are awarded, so that students and teachers can quickly benefit from the generosity of our donors,”

“We strive to put donations to work in the classroom as soon as possible after the grants are awarded, so that students and teachers can quickly benefit from the generosity of our donors,” says Emma Harrill, Foundation President. “The Foundation campaigns for funds and awards them to grant recipients within the same school year.”

Pine Street School teachers and other faculty members apply for grant funding in the Spring of each school year by completing an application and interview process. With the goal of enhancing the overall educational experience at Pine Street, the Foundation has awarded more than $85,000 in grants since its inception in 2010. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.

2013 Grant Recipients