Thomas Paine Elementary School

Current Projects

Library Renovation: As of early 2009, Fox Development has been working with the elementary school to seek out specific needs for a library renovation.

Class Attends Obama Inauguration: The Illinois Conference Center invited a class of 4th grade students from Thomas Paine Elementary School to view a live, big screen showing of President Obama's Inauguration on January 20, 2009. Kay Grabow's class got to enjoy this historical moment in a one of a kind way and it was a great learning experience for the children.

Expert on Bees Gives Students Lab Tour: On Novemeber 7, 2007, A group of Thomas Paine Elementary School fourth-graders were some busy bees on Tuesday morning. Developer Peter Fox, who with his wife has "adopted" Thomas Paine School and already donated to it computers and a renovated teachers' lounge, gave funds for the bus trip and connected the class to his friend Robinson.

Teacher's Lounge Renovation: In October 2007 Thomas Paine Elementary was awarded the Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant to improve their Parent Teacher Involovement Center. Fox Development matched the $5,000 grant from Lowe's to offer additional funds for improving the space.
 

Past Projects

Stradivarius Violins: When the Stradivarius violins came to town in 2006, the opportunity was too wonderful to pass up. In partnership with the music department at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana, Fox Development Corporation sent two aspiring string musician students to attend the "Stradivarius Experience" at Krannert Art Museum with their families (and were treated to a fine dinner afterwards courtesy of FDC as well). Both students were inspired by the experience and hope to continue their music studies well into the future.

After School Program: After funding disappeared for a valuable after school program at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana, teachers and school officials wondered how they would provide the intensive ISAT program to students needing an extra push before the March ISAT exams. With an emergency donation of $2,000 in the fall of 2006, Fox Development Corporation helped save this educational program. Today, three teachers and volunteer interns spend time with 27 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students in this extended day program working on the students' reading and writing skills.

Krannert Art Museum : With the help of Fox Development Corporation, Thomas Paine students attended an exhibition at Krannert Art Museum displaying the work of Bill Traylor and William Edmondson. After the experience, the students created their own artwork collage inspired by the artists’ work, which is now on display in the lobby of a local medical building.

Museum of Science & Industry: Larger, out-of-town field trips can be important educational tools, but too often with school budget cuts, such field trips are no longer. For one 5^th grade class at Thomas Paine, though, a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago in 2005 was made possible by Fox Development Corporation.

Astronaut Visit: When Astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt came to town, Fox Development Corporation made sure he made a visit to the children at Wiley School to talk about his life as an astronaut and to engage them in a dynamic learning experience about space.