News
Local teachers earn grant
By BETH MOLAND
News-Gazette reporter
Thanks to the generosity of McDonalds, an extra-curricular program "Building Strong Girls" is available at Driver Middle School for eighth grade girls. Cathie Burton, on behalf of the Discovery Team, received a facsimile of a $500 check Tuesday from local McDonalds owner Rick Reichenbach to apply towards expenses for the innovative club. The real thing has already been cashed.
"We, the team, see the need to help build the confidence of girls," Burton said. "Middle school is hard. They are going through so many changes, so many pressures, worldly pressures that they have to deal with.
"We're going to bring in some guest speakers that will talk about different topics, like self-confidence and helping them understand that it's ok to be different."
Burton said monies will also provide refreshments for discussion times and topical DVDs. A "girls-night-out" might also be an option.
MAC grant stands for "Make Activities Count." The philanthropic program provides funding for teachers that supplement regular classroom curriculum with interesting and educational projects. According to the company's press release, McDonalds considers lessons often become more meaningful when demonstrated with hands-on experiences.
"This is, at least, the fourth time I've presented to Driver," Reichenbach said. "One reason is they fill out the application and they come up with some great ideas. I've never been part of the team to decide the winners, but we know that school budgets get tighter and tighter and we know teachers often take money out of their pockets to fill a need."
Reichenbach said the award is strictly for middle school participants and two dozen are given away annually. He figured the Winchester restaurant was one of 150 in the Indiana Central Co-op.
Thanks to the generosity of McDonalds, an extra-curricular program "Building Strong Girls" is available at Driver Middle School for eighth grade girls. Cathie Burton, on behalf of the Discovery Team, received a facsimile of a $500 check Tuesday from local McDonalds owner Rick Reichenbach to apply towards expenses for the innovative club. The real thing has already been cashed.
"We, the team, see the need to help build the confidence of girls," Burton said. "Middle school is hard. They are going through so many changes, so many pressures, worldly pressures that they have to deal with.
"We're going to bring in some guest speakers that will talk about different topics, like self-confidence and helping them understand that it's ok to be different."
Burton said monies will also provide refreshments for discussion times and topical DVDs. A "girls-night-out" might also be an option.
MAC grant stands for "Make Activities Count." The philanthropic program provides funding for teachers that supplement regular classroom curriculum with interesting and educational projects. According to the company's press release, McDonalds considers lessons often become more meaningful when demonstrated with hands-on experiences.
"This is, at least, the fourth time I've presented to Driver," Reichenbach said. "One reason is they fill out the application and they come up with some great ideas. I've never been part of the team to decide the winners, but we know that school budgets get tighter and tighter and we know teachers often take money out of their pockets to fill a need."
Reichenbach said the award is strictly for middle school participants and two dozen are given away annually. He figured the Winchester restaurant was one of 150 in the Indiana Central Co-op.
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