Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School fifth-grade teachers Theresa Shankland and Bethany Grunewald led their students in a yearlong course of writing narratives, friendly and business letters, fables, persuasive pieces and poetry.
The course was made possible by funds from the Shawano County Area Retired Teachers Association.
“We are so grateful for all the association’s help,” Shankland said.
The students practiced presenting their writings before the senior citizens at the Wittenberg Community Center throughout the year. Their work was then showcased at Lemonade Limelight, made possible by the SCARTA grant of $250, for family members, administrators and SCARTA Education Committee members at the Best Western Inn in Wittenberg.
The senior citizens surprised the students by also attending the show.
Retired teacher Shirley Krueger, chairperson of the committee, said the group each year helps teachers whose applications show their intended activity will be innovative and educationally sound and wouldn’t be funded in any other way.
“We do this every year,“ Krueger said.
Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School students were also able to hear about the Holocaust from a speaker with a SCARTA grant of $200.
“We give what we can afford,” Krueger said.
Kasey Keup, school counselor at Hillcrest Primary School in Shawano, got a grant of $150 for sleds and snowshoes to promote exercise and positive behavior modification. The students at Hillcrest used the items in the winter months as a reward for good behavior and to develop social, emotional and physical skills.
“These teachers and students are to be commended for their dedication and hard work,” Krueger said. “The members of SCARTA understand how difficult but rewarding projects like this can be.”
Applications for the grants will be sent to all schools in the fall along with letters for the principals to distribute as soon as school starts. The application deadline is Nov. 1. A committee then decides which proposals to fund.
“Being retired teachers, we know how important this is as a motivation for the teachers and the students,” Krueger said. “We want to express our appreciation for the hard work the teachers and students put in each year.”
Other committee members are Karen Baker, Lorna Dumke, Jean Belke, and Fran Johnson.
For more information, call Krueger at 715-526-3995.
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