Wiley Elementary SchoolCurrent Projects 2006-2007Field Trips: Field trips are important educational tools, but too often with school budget cuts, such field trips are no longer a part of school curriculum. Fox Development Corporation feels that field trips play a vital role in hands-on, experiential learning. That is why this year, three lucky Wiley teachers will be taking their students on field trips to Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, and the Indianapolis Children's Museum. The trips will occur between January and June of the 2006-2007 school year. After School Program: Wiley Elementary School in Urbana is a Title I School-wide program with over 50% of its students living in poverty (half of the school’s students qualify for free or reduced lunches). Consequently, over half of the students there require intensive academic support in order to meet state learning standards. Until this year, Wiley School received financial support through state and federal grants to provide extended day instructional programming for students who needed it. And it was successful: in 2006, 95.2% of Wiley’s third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students met or exceeded state standards in math. In 2007, the school’s Title I funding was cut, leaving no support for the extended day program at Wiley. In January 2007, Fox Development Corporation made a $2,500 grant to continue the program. Five teachers run the extended day classes that meet for one hour three days a week for six weeks. Today, 50 students in grades three, four, and five are getting the help they need to meet state standards on ISAT test in March. Past Projects 2004-2005Playground Equipment Installation: Wiley's Parent Teacher Association purchased all new playground equipment for the school but found out that installation was not included in the amount they raised for the project. Fox Development Corporation steped in and donated $5,000 in labor and funds to get the new playground equipment installed safely and properly for the school's children. 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. Computer Donations: Schools without functioning, modern computers these days are a disservice to children growing up in a high-tech world and community. To allow local school children to experience high tech learning even while in grade school, Fox Development Corporation donated 20 new Apple computers to Wiley School, allowing kids the opportunity to be exposed to up to date technology on a daily basis. Krannert Art Museum: Along with students from other Fox-adopted schools, Wiley students visited the art exhibition at Krannert displaying Bill Traylor and William Edmondson's work. Each student was bought a book about art to pair with their experience. |