IPSF Innovation Grants Announced for IUSD Schools
Matthew Chang of Woodbridge High School helped a coalition of IUSD schools receive funds from IPSF’s Innovative Grants Program for the Irvine Climate Action Project.
Eleven projects pitched by Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) teachers, staff, and students will be funded thanks to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). The IPSF’s Innovative Grants Program accepts applications for new projects each year and selects those that will best improve the educational experience of students. An aquatic science lab, a new climate exploration elective, and even the addition of outdoor musical instruments are among the projects that will receive funding.
“We are proud to support IUSD instructors who are passionate about elevating student learning far beyond standard academic curriculum,” says Neda Eaton, President and CEO of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation. “We are also thankful to our community and sponsors who help make these grants possible for our students.”
This year’s Innovative Grants Program is sponsored by Google Fiber, with support from Assistance League of Irvine as well as parents' donations to IPSF’s Parents Appreciating Teachers and Staff (PATS) program.
See below for a complete list of grant recipients, the videos they submitted as part of the application process, and a description of the programs that they will launch.
2023 Innovative Grants Program Recipients
School: Brywood Elementary School
Name of Grant: Aquatic Science Laboratory
Program Summary: Students will study marine life and learn sustainable farming, wildlife conservation, and restoration through partnership with Aquatic Science Laboratory School.
School: Eastwood Elementary School
Name of Grant: Harmony Park Instruments
Program Summary: The addition of permanent outdoor music instruments for the Pre-K/Kindergarten playground will help students develop fine and gross motor skills, language, and teamwork.
School: Early Childhood Learning Center
Name of Grant: Together: Building Social Skills and Language Through Play!
Program Summary: Themed play bags will help students develop social and language skills through developmentally appropriate activities for a variety of learners.
School: Meadow Park Elementary School
Name of Grant: Empowering Young Minds Through STEM
Program Summary: STEM activity bins will provide students with opportunities to play, explore, and create using their imaginations and problem-solving skills while surf chairs support learning in a variety of flexible settings.
School: Northwood Elementary School
Name of Grant: Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine
Program Summary: A book vending machine will provide students books of all ages, cultures, and interests for students to have of their own. Tokens for the machine would be distributed to students on their birthdays and earned through positive behaviors
School: Northwood High School
Name of Grant: Interdisciplinary Climate Explorations (ICE)
Program Summary: New course offering that seeks to educate and empower students to address the challenges of climate change, locally and globally.
School: Rancho San Joaquin Middle School
Name of Grant: Launching & Connecting School Culture
Program Summary: A school-wide project composed of three parts - A Peer Assisted Leadership (PAL) program to foster student leadership, instruments for the school's growing jazz ensemble, and a large format printer to allow large scale printing for ASB. This grant is funded by IPSF in partnership with Assistance League of Irvine.
School: Sierra Vista Middle School
Name of Grant: Giving Bach - Your Support is Instrumental!
Program Summary: Instruments will allow students to participate in the Giving Bach program, a partnership with local elementary schools to provide a music exchange program with special education peers.
School: Solis Park School
Name of Grant: Reinventing Recess
Program Summary: Offers students alternatives to traditional recess activities, allowing them to explore, create, and engage with peers in other ways.
School: Woodbridge High School
Name of Grant: Makerspace is Going to College!
Program Summary: Beginning as a design lab to expose students to technical skills such as 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser cutting, the makerspace has quickly evolved into the building of guitars, animatronics, and the opportunity for students to earn college course credit.
Schools: Woodbridge High School + University High School, Venado Middle School, Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Solis Park School, Vista Verde School, Canyon View Elementary, College Park Elementary, and Meadow Park Elementary
Name of Grant: Irvine Climate Action Project
Program Summary: This student-led collaboration cross school-site initiative will transform youth involvement in environmental activism through education and hands-on projects. Funds will support the creation of 10 gardens and sound equipment to capture students’ voices as they prepare to become future environmental leaders.