Current Programs
Literacy Programs • Early Literacy Support Program • General Program Areas
Kane Schools Endowment Fund • Scholarships
Literacy Programs.
Online writing. In 2008, the Kane School District addressed is the need for a comprehensive writing improvement program to supplement the Kane District Literacy Improvement Program begun several years ago and began using the My Access online writing program. Writing has been identified as a major learning need across all school districts, and an important skill for success in life. It has been proven that an increase in the frequency of writing results in the growth of writing skills. The Kane Schools
Foundation paid for the program for two years. In 2010, the State contracted with a different online writing program provider, Measurement Inc., to provide Utah students with another online writing program called Utah Write.
Online writing programs such as these provide immediate feedback specific to the student's writing style, using artificial intelligence to score written pieces with accuracy and reliability greater than that of expert human scorers. They have been shown to dramatically improve the writing skills of students from grades 3-12, by providing immediate, constructive feedback with specific, helpful suggestions for improvement.
Dozens of grade-appropriate animated tutorials entertain as they teach writing skills. Each student's practice test scores are saved to a personal history page containing a table of all practice tests taken, graphs depicting score progress, and a breakdown of time spent on tutorials. Lastly, students write a lot more when online programs are used.
In keeping with its focus on literacy, the Foundation believes that having students use an online writing program will strengthen the overall language arts skills of students, as research shows that reading and writing are so strongly connected. Furthermore, research also shows that as language arts skills improve, so will all academic achievement.
Donors wishing to make a tax deductible contribution to the Kane Schools Foundation for Students to help pay the annual costs of the Utah Write program should contact Tracy
Hiscock at 435-644-2555 ext. #8
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Lake Powell school student enjoys new reading software
Foundation members accept big thank you note from Valley elementary students for their new reading rug.
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Renaissance STAR Reading assessment and Accelerated Reading Software. Since the fall of 2007, students at Lake Powell School have been able to participate in the Renaissance STAR Reading assessment and Accelerated Reading incentive software programs so popular with other students and teachers in the Kane School District, as well as nationally. The two programs work together to improve reading ability in students. STAR reading assessments are short, computerized tests that analyze each student’s reading capabilities, generating a detailed report that enables teachers and parents to better guide the students. They are given several times a year to measure reading growth.
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a computerized literature database which tracks reading practice for students. A student reads a book of his/her choice and takes a comprehension quiz on a computer at school, earning points. The computer adds the quiz results into a data base and generates a report for the student and teacher. AR has quizzes for tens of thousands of books on all reading levels, allowing the students to engage in large amounts of reading practice with high quality literature. Research shows that the increase in reading time which comes with AR results in higher test scores and learning for all students.
Lake Powell School, as the smallest and most remote school in the Kane District does not have the opportunities and resources available to other District schools. The Foundation was pleased to be able to provide this important software for the students of this school. The teachers and students have been thrilled with it, noting improved reading scores and increased enthusiasm for reading.
Big Books. The Foundation regularly purchases supplementary reading materials for the Kane County School District, such as Big Books, reading rugs, reading support software, as well as helping to fund teacher training programs in literacy, as part of the support of the Literacy Improvement Program of the Kane County School District.
Big Books are used for "shared reading" in the classroom, a method whereby teachers read the large books to smaller groups of children in a relaxed setting. Current research supports shared reading as an effective teaching method. It is an excellent way to introduce new concepts and to demonstrate the reading process. It promotes discussion, problem solving and critical thinking. It also promotes the exposure to quality literature by students who might not otherwise get that. Big Books also allow teachers to teach an integrated curriculum.
Reluctant Reader Books. At a local high school, a dedicated teacher is working with students who are known as reluctant readers. Many of these kids have slipped through the cracks in the system and have ended up in high school reading at third or fourth grade reading levels. This teacher, concerned about their prospects for success after high school, has implemented a secret book club to give them the opportunity to read and read, to improve their reading levels. She tracks each student's progress, gradually moving each one to a higher reading level at their own pace. This quiet program has helped each student raise his/her comprehension level, which then carries over to improved performance in classes, greater understanding of curriculum and the greatly improved self-esteem that comes from becoming someone who can read. It has saved several students from dropping out of high school.
The biggest challenge to this teacher's work has been finding books at the lower reading levels that teenagers will actually want to read, since many books at those levels are, plainly, childish. In 2010, with funding provided by the Kane Schools Foundation for Students, this teacher has been able to purchase a new set of contemporary, compelling, high interest (yet lower level) books that appeal to the teenage mind. The students in the program are devouring these books, which also incorporate the widely acclaimed Accelerated Reader program used in our District as a reading practice and incentive program. The important work of helping young people to develop and discover their potential continues with this important purchase by the Kane Schools Foundation.
You can help the Foundation obtain these valuable
books
for the students of Kane County in the following ways:
Its never too early to create
the spark that lights the fire!!
Early Literacy Support Program The Kane Schools Foundation for Students has early literacy materials for the distribution to new parents and the parents caregivers of younger children. The Foundation seeks to educate the public as to the importance of reading to babies and young children.
By Kindergarten, children should be able to:
| Grant for Technology Innovation |
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Beginning in 2011, the Foundation instituted a Grant for Technology Innovation competition for teachers, grade levels and/or schools in the Kane School District. The amount of the grant is $5,000. The grant's purpose is to support, at the classroom level, teachers integrating technology into their daily curriculum and to help expand or enhance their students' learning experiences using technology. The Foundation's aim is to encourage innovative thinking and empower 21st century learning in our local schools.
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Foundation Board members present 2011 Grant for Technology Innovation to Kanab Middle School teacher Lisa Johnson |
| Scholarships |
| The Kane Schools Foundation for Students annually awards various scholarships to graduating seniors in the District, helping them to pursue their higher education goals. Many donors in the community come forward to fund these scholarships.
The Foundation Board of Trustees is excited to be able to help our local young people pursue higher education, and appreciates the generosity of donors who make such things possible. Anyone wishing to sponsor a scholarship in any field of study, or for any purpose, should contact Tracy Hiscock at 644-2555 or foundation@kane.k12.ut.us
If you would like to help, please contact us |
Kane Schools Foundation for Students 2008 scholarships to Kanab High School Students.
From left to right- Justin Powell (Michael K. Alvey Memorial - $1,000), Jod Booker (Mosdell Mortuary $500), Danielle Johnson (Red Rock Homes- $500), Kaylee Quarnberg (Lamar & Carol Sullivan- $250), Kelsey Barber (Crescent Moon Theatre $1, 000) and and Tyler Robinson (Xpressweb $500) |
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Kane Schools Foundation for Students 2007 Scholarships to Valley High School graduates:
(l to r) Thempi Crofts - Kanab Center for Field Studies Science ($500), Peter Hoyt & Anna Bistline - Quarter Circle H Ranch Music ($500 each) and Austin Reese- Mona Reese Fullmer ($250) |
Make a donation to the Scholarship Fund!
| Kane Schools Endowment Fund |
| The Kane Schools Foundation for Students has established
a Kane Schools Endowment Fund to ensure the stability and future success of the Foundation in supporting the
students of Kane County. We invite you to invest in the future. |
Make a donation to the Endowment Fund!
General Program Areas The Kane Schools Foundation for Students intends to expand the programs and opportunities it supports. We welcome contributions for any purpose you designate and we invite your ideas.
Donate to General Programs!
The Kanab High School graduating class of 1980 celebrated their 30 year class reunion in 2010. This close-knit class decided to donate money to the Foundation to purchase books, in memory of three of their classmates who have passed on – Dee Judd, Kris Glover, and Wade Coleman. As with all Foundation memorial book donations, book plates will placed on the inside front covers, stating that each book is given "in memory of..." the person to be honored. We greatly appreciate the efforts of this class to celebrate their reunion by helping current students. 
