St. Margaret’s Parent Teacher Fellowship announced at its General Membership Meeting last week more than $215,000 in educational and student program grants from requests by the professional community this school year, which will enrich the learning of the entire student body and support the school community for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond.

 

Grants awarded this year include support for the Library, new resources for visual arts, athletics equipment, Lower School classroom resources and much more.

 

PTF Grants are funded through the success of annual PTF events and programs that engage Tartans in community building and fundraising, which this year included Forever Plaid: We’re Still Cookin’ and the One Epic Auction, as well as the 40^th Library Luncheon, the PTF Book Fair and more.

 

“These grants were made possible by the extraordinary generosity of the school community at PTF events throughout the year,” PTF President Amy Ainsworth said. “It was a total community effort, from the tireless work of PTF volunteers to put on unforgettable events, to those who came and supported the school and our students. We are thrilled to be able to enhance student learning and student life through these grants.”

“The PTF Grants program deeply enhances the vibrant learning environment central to the growth of every St. Margaret’s student, and these grants will make a positive impact for years to come,” Head of School Will Moseley said. “We are so grateful to the PTF for their partnership with the school, and all their hard work in implementing programs and events that make these grants possible.”

 

The PTF invites members of the professional community to submit requests to fund learning resources and tools and explain how they will improve and expand the academic and student program. The PTF Grant cycle includes unique requests each year, as well as recurring annual standing grants and restricted funds the PTF allocates for specific school program needs.

 

 

 

One of the new general grants was awarded to the library and technology departments, which will be used toward enhancing the Library and its adjacent emerging technology lab. A living wall will be installed in the commons area of the Library frequently visited by students, as a way to bring nature indoors with all of the research-backed benefits it brings—reduced stress, as well as increased productivity, well-being and creativity.

 

The emerging technology lab in the Library will be receiving four Verb Active media tables, which are a staple at many colleges and universities with dynamic screens at each table to better follow teacher instruction as well as collaborate in group settings. 

 

Some other classroom PTF grants include: 

 

Visual Arts

 

Athletics

 

Upper School

 

Middle School

 

Lower School

 

The PTF continued funding for the PTF Parent Up Speaker Series for the 2022-2023 school year, which brings prominent authors, educators and experts to St. Margaret’s who complement the school’s mission and strategic initiatives. This school year’s focus was mental health and well-being,

 

Many standing grants were continued for the 2022-2023 school year, including grants to the teacher classroom fund, the St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Fund, ASB programs in Middle School and Upper School, Lower School Core Council, Special Camp, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano and more.

 

In addition to the general and standing grants, the PTF made a $30,000 donation to the school’s Endowment as part of this grant cycle.