Paulding Education Foundation awarded $7,500 to winning Paulding schools on Wednesday as a result of their School Grant Program.   Grants are awarded yearly to support innovative projects, classroom instruction, and programs that enhance the school curriculum and enriches the learning experience for students.

Each application was reviewed on a rubric and must focus on student achievement, be innovative, appropriately aligned with School District Goals and the School Improvement Plan, have measurable impact and results regarding student achievement and be cost effective.

South Paulding High School, with Principal Keith A. Rowland won the high school grant award with their Reality Fair program.  This event is for rising 9^th graders to visualize their career choices and how these choices will affect their economic well being.  Over 500 students are involved in a simulated experience of managing personal finances through real life stations set up at the school.  After attending the Reality Fair, students have an  opportunity to attend the Pathway Fair to determine course placement.   Many components of this program are managed by current SPHS students.

Austin Middle School, along with Principal Gary Plunkett  , accepted the middle school grant for Visual Thesaurus: Using Digital Tools to Help Students Acquire Academic Vocabulary Across Disciplines.  This program will be used across the entire school as a way to implement intense vocabulary usage.  The Visual Thesaurus is an interactive
dictionary and thesaurus which creates word maps that blossom with meanings and branch to related words. Its innovative display encourages exploration and learning.

Poole Elementary School and Principal Angie Capobianco will implement the eReading- Comprehension and Vocabulary Instruction through Content Areas of Science and Social Studies program as a result of the elementary school grant.  This program allows for and electronic library for school and home, filled with leveled science and social content books.  eReaders also provide assessment
and data analysis and additional parent training is available at monthly meetings and family nights.

The Paulding Education Foundation seeks to see that the schools in Paulding County remain among the best in the state and that our community maintains its reputation for supporting public education.  Financial support from the united effort of the entire community provides quality these educational opportunities for Paulding students. 

In an effort to raise additional funds for similar programs, the Paulding Education Foundation is hosting the MembersFirst Credit Union Autumn Golf Classic on October 15 at Creekside Golf Course.  More information can be found at www.pauldingeducationfoundation.com.   Registration if $125 per player or $75 for seniors.   Contact Amy Mollohan at pauldingedufoundation@gmail.com or 770-443-8000.