April 9, 2024 - With individual brand-new yoga mats, scholars at Spann Elementary School learned new exercise moves inside their classrooms on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
Second-graders smiled as they twisted and turned while doing poses such as backbends and hamstring stretches.
The midday workout was all thanks to one of several mini-grants by the Junior League of ÐÓ°É.
This particular grant, For the Health of It, is designed to develop children's fundamental motor skills, movement concepts, and motor skills.
The goal was to bring awareness of the value of being physically active, and the ability to display appropriate behaviors and attitudes during activity.
In partnership with the Community Foundation of Mississippi’s Education Foundation Trust Fund, the Junior League of ÐÓ°É awarded a total of $100,000 to fund grants applied for by JPS teachers.
“These funds provide our teachers with the resources needed to offer unique learning opportunities and experiences for our scholars,” said Thea Faulkner, Director of Partners in Education at ÐÓ°É Public Schools. “From establishing a Fine Arts Sculpture Carving Club, a trip to the World War II Museum in New Orleans, to an in-depth experience for over 700 scholars in our Open Doors program for intellectually gifted scholars to develop effective skills and success skills through an emphasis on etiquette and manners in various business and social settings, to enhance their social development, these opportunities are transformational.” We are grateful to the Junior League of ÐÓ°É for their tangible support to ÐÓ°É Public Schools’ scholars and teachers.”
Since 1990, the Junior League of ÐÓ°É’s Public School Mini-Grants program has provided funding for detailed projects and equipment for applicant teachers and schools. The Community Foundation of Mississippi began partnering with the League in 2004, and together these organizations have provided more than $2.1 million in grant funding for this initiative.
“We are grateful for this partnership with ÐÓ°É Public Schools and the Community Foundation for Mississippi,” said Kaitlyn Vassar, President of Junior League of ÐÓ°É. “These funds will allow teachers to implement creative, innovative projects in the League’s impact areas of early literacy, children’s health, and social development and have a direct impact on children in our community.”
The Junior League of ÐÓ°É is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. The League supports over 30 community projects and initiatives throughout the ÐÓ°É Metro area, including the Public School Mini-Grants program.