May 10, 2021
Let’s celebrate our teachers and staff:
grants & thank you gifts
Buy a thank you gift for a teacher or staff member by May 14. More information below.
The link in yesterday's May 9 newsletter did not work. New link: https://one.bidpal.net/staffteacherappreciation/welcome.
Seven Dreams Awards 8 Hands-on Learning Grants

Every spring, Seven Dreams awards grants to District 281 staff. We are always impressed with the creativity of our staff. Because of the economic impact of the pandemic, Seven Dreams received fewer funds to fund grants but we are pleased to announce these 8 awards totaling $14,638! Congratulations!
Outdoor Greenhouse
David Rondestvedt, Armstrong High School
An outdoor greenhouse will be constructed and students will grow starter plants to sell each spring.
Mud All Around
Sarah Gillard, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
An outdoor kitchen will be created for preschoolers to bake mud pies and “cook” with dirt and sand.
A Space of Our Own: Little Hands, Big Ideas
Natalie Garcia, Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion
Kindergartners will create and problem-solve with materials from Blue-bot programmable robots to shadow puppets and magna-tiles.

Digital Drawing Tablets
Leah Dussault, Armstrong High School
In visual art classes, students can merge traditional drawing concepts with digital drawing. 

Writing Out Loud:
Developing a Sense of Self Through Writing
Sarah Moe, Sandburg Middle School
Students will work with a local spoken word poet and Loft Literary Center teaching artist to examine identity.

Sublimation: Creativity for the Community
Brad DeKanick, Sandburg Middle School
Students will use a heat press to create designs on coffee mugs and a sublimation printer to design t-shirts & fabric.
Representation Matters
Janet Gromek, ECFE
Multicultural dolls and doll houses to diversify preschool classrooms. To form positive self-concepts, children must honor and respect their own families and cultures and have others honor and respect them as well.
Social Justice and Science
Liz Kinville & Mary Schoeb, School of Engineering and Arts (SEA)
Diverse guest speakers will talk about their science and engineering careers and students will engage in a hands-on activity with speakers. The grant will also fund books about people of color in STEM fields.
Thank a special teacher or staff member and support Seven Dreams

Let’s thank our teachers and staff for their dedication to our students this year. The pandemic and distance learning created a lot of challenges for everyone. Express your gratitude. Deadline is this Friday, May 14!

Thank a special
  • teacher
  • principal
  • education assistant
  • nurse
  • bus driver
  • food service worker
  • coach
  • any staff member!

Order a Caribou Coffee gift card, write a personal thank you note and we will deliver it. Your donation will also benefit Seven Dreams so that we can fund educational opportunities for our students.
Click HERE! for information and to order. Deadline is this Friday, May 14.
Questions? Contact info@sevendreams.org.

DONATE to Seven Dreams
and support extra educational opportunities for our students!


To learn more about the Seven Dreams Education Foundation, visit our website at SevenDreams.Org. For information, contact Emily at info@sevendreams.org or 612-805-6418.