June 2020
The purpose of the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation is to raise, steward and distribute resources to enrich the education of students in the St. Joseph Public Schools District.
The K-12 public education climate has been changing rapidly. The SJPS Foundation is working closely with school administrators to address these changes while remaining flexible in meeting the needs of students and teachers in our district.
SPONSORED BY THE SJPS FOUNDATION
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP NIGHTS GRANT
"Thank you SJPS Foundation for the opportunity to build stronger partnerships with families through Family Math and Literacy Nights last winter! We had amazing turnouts and great feedback. Students went home with materials and ideas to continue to practice learning at home."
~ Mrs. Appel, 2nd Grade Teacher - E.P. Clarke Elementary
Hands-on games and activities get students interacting with friends and family members, taking turns, persevering through challenges, participating in critical thinking, using mental strategies and enjoying learning!
Mrs. Appel and the 2nd Grade Team partner with parents to show them fun ways to support their child’s learning and development at home with reading and math.
The ultimate goal...demonstrating how learning can be fun!
SPONSORED BY THE SJPS FOUNDATION
SECONDARY SUMMER
SEND-OFF GRANT
"The middle and high school teacher librarians are extremely excited to partner with the SJPS Foundation and Forever Books on this project. Putting books in the hands of our secondary students during the summer months furthers the positive reading culture in St. Joseph Public Schools."
~ Mrs. Dirlam, Director of K-12 Media Services and
Instructional Technology
Reading Movement at SJPS!
There is a reading movement sweeping both Upton and SJHS. Building on the steps taken by Mrs. Dirlam, Mrs. Burnette and Dr. Culver including library genrefication, structured independent reading time and library carts in classrooms, the Secondary Summer Send-Off Grant extends book love beyond the school year and into the summer months. A book-swap is also being planned for the fall.
The chart above shows survey data taken from secondary students and indicates the work being done at each level is already yielding positive results.
According to Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and expert reading researcher, "Access to books and the ability to choose what you want to read are the two factors consistently linked to both reading achievement and the development of intrinsic reading motivation,” ​(School Library Journal.)
Now more than ever, we need your support.
View the No Show Ball 2020 Invitation and help us reach our goal. Any gift of any amount would be so deeply appreciated.
Prefer to write a check?
Make checks payable to SJPS Foundation
Mail to: 3275 Lincoln Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations Bailey and Leyla!
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
This photo submitted by Bailey Rank, Class of 2020, received the most online votes and will be featured as the cover of the 2020-21 school calendar. The photo features many students from the senior class who were dressed for Hawaiian Night at a St. Joe Football game.
CELEBRATION ON THE SIDELINE
Leyla Dumke's photo was voted Most Creative by our panel of judges including photographer Joshua Nowicki. Josh commented, "I have selected this image of the football player because of its immersive style. The framing of the photo brings the viewer into the moment and makes them feel a part of it.  Further, the composition with the subject's eyes and expression clearly visible and not obscured by the facemask adds to the quality of the image. Additionally, the slightly out of focus background provides a contextual understanding of the scene and enhances the candid nature of the moment."
We Can Offer No Greater Gift to our Children than to dedicate ourselves to educational excellence.
May Memorials
In Memory of Lupe Hopp
Dan Hopp and Family
May Honorariums
In Honor of Kathie Adams
Char Wenham
May Donors
Amazon Smile
Ren Baldwin
Sean and Kris Ebbert
Charles Grandy Family
Bill and Jane Marohn
Susan Stewart

No Show Ball Donors will be listed in our next issue!
May SJPS Teacher and Staff Giving
Michelle Allen
Julia Appel
Connie Bacolor
Kim Barron
Heather Bartz
Kristen Bawks
Tracy Becker
Lauri Berry
Greg Blomgren
Erica Brown
Dr. Thomas Bruce
Kristin Burnette
Gandalf Church
Andrea Confer
Jenna Covert
Lara Crawford
Deb Darr
Linda DeLapa
Amy Dirlam
Megan Dongvillo
Colleen Elkins
Ann Essig
Gary Etter
Melissa Foster
Kelly Gaideski
Chris Greissinger
Kevin Guzzo
Kathleen Hamilton
Sarah Hassenger
Joe Haydon
Jamie Huber
Jason Huber
Susan Hunnell
Joyce Hunter
Bean Klusendorf
Lisa Knuth
Carolyn Kodis
Laura Kovnat
Amber Lange
Stephanie Lear
Becky Lokey
Burke Lokey III
Anne MacDonald
Kalina McCormick
Angela Mellott
Mary Ann Milletics
Carla Morrow
Kara Nicholson
Kelly Nimtz
Tracy Olson
Amy Peterson
Natalie Rank
Karen Riggs
Sara Smothers
Alexandra Udell
Tina Uzelac
Joanne Vandermeulen
Brianne VanHekken
Susan Wade
Gail Wadel
Tracy Wagner
Amanda Wallace
Dana Walsworth
Katie Werdann
Ryan White
Caroline Wiley
Laura Wiltsie
SJPS Foundation | 3275 Lincoln Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085 | 269-926-3252 | sjpsfoundation@sjschools.org | www.sjpsfoundation.org