The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation, the PAWS or Parents at Work in our Schools, and the Corvallis School Foundation have all partnered with Corvallis School District to get students hands-on materials to support our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education.
Like PAWS, the Great Ravalli Foundation works hard and is dedicated to serving the youth of Ravalli County and the Corvallis School District. They provide matching funds that enhance STEAM learning at both the Corvallis Primary School and the Corvallis Middle School. These learning experiences are invaluable and very much appreciated.
By working together during COVID this past year, hands-on materials were purchased for use in the classrooms. The rationale behind this specified support this year came as an idea from the Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Board who knew students were staying at home more and using technology or screen time more than normal. They wanted students to work with their hands using STEAM materials and resources. The grants also made it possible for each student to have their own materials. During COVID the sharing of school supplies was limited and even prohibited in many cases without them being sanitized before each use.
Jon Konen, Superintendent of Corvallis School District stated the importance, especially this year with our COVID protocols, “The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation has made a substantial impact on education here at Corvallis. This year they donated in several ways. At the beginning of the year, they delivered a $25,000 check to go towards teacher’s classroom supplies for students. Then they partnered with our PAWS group with a matching grant for hands-on materials and resources to support STEAM education. They gave teachers in each grade level $1000 this year to purchase equipment necessary to expand our STEAM activities throughout the school. The funds have been used to purchase a variety of equipment including Making & Tinkering projects, Breakout EDU kits and digital games covering a variety of physics topics, a full-sized light cart for conducting plant growth experiments, earthquake shake tables and supplies, DNA extraction lab equipment, and thin sections of rocks & minerals to use with microscopes we recently purchased thanks to these grants.”
Lisa Nagel, Corvallis Primary School Principal, stated, “The support we receive from the GRF and PAWS each year is invaluable to our teachers. Since the Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation teamed up with PAWS a few years ago, the teachers have had a chance to build up their classroom STEAM supplies. This has given the teachers an opportunity to provide science, engineering, and math enrichment activities that are both hands-on and cognitively engaging for our students.”
Corvallis Middle School Principal, Rich Durgin, stated, “The support we receive at the middle school from the Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation and PAWS is invaluable, and the STEAM funds provided have helped us continue to offer a top-notch science program at the middle school. Our science and math teachers are constantly looking for ways to incorporate hands-on activities into their classrooms that encourage students to experiment with problem-solving and use higher-level thinking skills. STEAM lessons and activities naturally do this, but we are often limited by older equipment and lack of necessary supplies to make hands-on activities available for all students. These STEAM funds have enabled us to continue to offer top-notch science and math experiences to our middle school students.”
Jon Konen, Superintendent, stated, “It is partnerships with the Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation, PAWS, and Corvallis Schools Foundation, that make Corvallis School District the best place to work and learn.”
Here is how the Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation, PAWS, and Corvallis School Foundation (CSF) have teamed together to provide grants for our schools, and amazing impact on education:
2017/2018 school year - Was the 1st year of the PAWS STEAM program - Corvallis School Foundation gave a $1500 grant to help PAWS with their match. The STEAM program was only in the Primary School for its first year. School District contribution was $460. The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation match was $2200. PAWS fundraising included a homecoming school spirit and goodies sale, and a classroom sponsorship program.
2018/2019 school year - The PAWS STEAM program was expanded to serve both the Primary and Middle schools. - CSF gave a $700 grant toward the expansion of this program to the middle school. PAWS fundraising included homecoming school spirit and goodies sale, a yard sale, and classroom sponsorship program. School District contribution was $900. The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation match was $4500.
2019/2020 - The PAWS STEAM program served both the Primary and Middle schools. PAWS fundraising included a homecoming school spirit and goodies sale, consignment sale, and classroom sponsorship program. School District contribution was $900. The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation match was $4500.
2020/2021 - The PAWS STEAM program served both the Primary and Middle schools. PAWS fundraising included a consignment sale and classroom sponsorship program. School District contribution was $900. The Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation match was $4500.
Corvallis Schools hopes to sustain this program in the future to continue STEAM education for the students. PAWS will request a Stock Farm Greater Ravalli Foundation match again in September 2021.