Wayne Township Education Foundation Inc

THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROVIDES COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO ENRICH, ENGAGE, AND STIMULATE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WAYNE TOWNSHIP BY SUPPORTING SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES, WHILE RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE.

LAST YEAR WE FUNDED JUST OVER 230 CLASSROOM PROGRAMS/PROJECTS/RESOURCES THROUGH OUR ANNUAL TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM. 168 TEACHERS BENEFITED FROM THE FUNDS AND IN-TURN PROVIDED NEW HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND MATERIALS TO ENRICH CLASSROOMS AND BRING THE CURRICULUM TO LIFE BENEFITING AN ESTIMATED 6,000 STUDENTS. ADDITIONAL INTENTIONAL GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO FUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. NEW FUNDING WAS AWARDED TO SUPPORT THE WAYNE UNIFIED GAMES, WHICH IS DESIGNED SIMILAR TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS, BUT FOR WAYNE STUDENTS ONLY.

SCIENCE SUMMER SAFARI IS A SUMMER CAMP THAT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 30 YEARS. WE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FROM LILLY ENDOWMENT FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM. FOUR SESSIONS OF CAMP WERE OFFERED AND 145 THIRD TO SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS ATTENDED ONE WEEK. CAMPERS EXPLORED, INVESTIGATED, BUILT, MADE OBSERVATIONS, AND PARTICIPATED IN HANDS-ON STEM ACTIVITIES AND DAILY FIELD TRIPS, INCLUDING AEROSPACE EXPLORATION WITH AIRPLANE MODELS AND AVIATION DEMONSTRATIONS AT EAGLE CREEK. AT EAGLE CREEK WE DID A POND STUDY, NATURE WALK, AND A BIRD STUDY USING THE FACILITIES AT THE EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER AND THE ORNITHOLOGY CENTER; CREEK WALK EXPLORATION WITH FISH, PLANTS, AND INDIANA CRITTERS IN MONROE/MORGAN COUNTIES; GEOLOGY AND NATURE EXPLORATION WITH HIKING AND EXPLORING AT TURKEY RUN STATE PARK; FOSSIL DAY WITH COLLECTION OF FOSSILS FROM ANCIENT SEAS IN BROOKVILLE, IN; AND A CAVE EXPLORATION IN MORGAN COUNTY. THE OVERALL GOAL WAS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LEARNING AND THINKING ABOUT SCIENCE THROUGH REAL-LIFE, HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THEIR CLASSROOM LEARNING.

IN 2022-23, WAYNE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY THEATRE WAS REVIVED IN THE POST-COVID WORLD. WTEF SUPPORTS WAYNE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY THEATRE WHICH PROVIDED 2 MAINSTAGE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES FOR THE COMMUNITY. WAYNE TOWNSHIP STUDENTS AND ADULTS, AS WELL AS OTHERS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL INDIANA, SERVE AS PERFORMERS, BACKSTAGE VOLUNTEERS, AND PRODUCTION VOLUNTEERS. WAYNE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY THEATRE IS A MEMBER OF THE ENCORE ASSOCIATION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT CELEBRATES AND RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY THEATRE IN CENTRAL INDIANA. WAYNE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY THEATRE HAS THE MOST DIVERSE PERFORMERS AND CREW IN THE ENCORE ASSOCIATION. IN JULY OF 2022, WE PRESENTED SHREK THE MUSICAL, WHICH ENGAGED 75 VOLUNTEERS AND MORE THAN 1100 AUDIENCE MEMBERS FOR SIX PERFORMANCES. IN JUNE OF 2023, WAYNE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY THEATRE PRESENTED DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID THE MUSICAL, AGAIN WITH 75 VOLUNTEERS AND MORE THAN 1000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS FOR SIX PERFORMANCES. TO REMOVE THE BARRIER TO ATTENDANCE, ALL WAYNE TOWNSHIP STUDENTS MAY ATTEND THE SHOWS AT NO COST. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS FIVE MUSICAL AND PLAY CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR ENGAGING CHILDREN PRESCHOOL THROUGH SEVENTH GRADE IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL CAMP PRODUCTION. IN 2022-23, 125 STUDENTS ATTENDED THESE CAMPS.