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Hillsboro Schools Foundation Innovation Grants 2019-20

Hillsboro Schools Foundation Innovative Grants 2019 - 2020

Poynter Middle School Career Exploration Labs $130,000 HSF Grant These funds will be used to fund equipment, tools, additional curriculum, and supplies for Poynter's Technology Shop, helping to transition it to a Career Exploration Lab for students.

The class is designed to familiarize students with a wide variety of projects that may lead to further education around careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The vision behind this initiative is for every student to leave middle school knowing they're good at something.

Lead supporters include First Tech Federal Credit Union and Genentech, providing $31,000 and $20,000, respectively, toward the initiative. Additional funds were donated by NW Natural and Epson Portland Inc., as well as hundreds of individual donors.


Books to Meet Benchmark From Becky Cisco and SMART for K-3rd grade literacy at W.L Henry and 6 other schools. Provides dual language, culturally specific, hardbound books for the library and paperback books for kids to own.  


‘Oui’ Readers: E-Readers for the Foreign Language Classroom From Reyna Land at Century High School. Kindle E-Readers for the Foreign Language departments for relevant, authentic and diverse reading material.


Feeding Future Bookworms From Maile Coad at Eastwood Elementary School.  Purchases Spanish language books and graphic novels to improve equity and diversity in the library.


Alaska, A Place to Chill- School Wellness Room From Tara Dolan at Brown Middle School. Provides a safe, quiet and calm space for students to de-escalate and re-focus to return to class to re-engage in learning. Math Growth Mindset For All from Roger Will for Brown Middle School. Students will complete a growth mindset journey to gain confidence in learning.


Bloxels: Build a Better Video Game! From Patrick Brittenham at Quatama Elementary School. Students will learn to build their own video games! Sponsored by New Seasons Market Orenco.


Comics Academy: Bringing Student Created Stories To Life For Noah Simonson at Quatama Elementary School. Creates a comic academy for writing, art, and storytelling. Sponsored by New Seasons Market Orenco.


Orca Live Goes Digital From Mike Futter at Orenco Elementary School. Upgrades student-led live news TV program in its 15th anniversary year. Sponsored by New Seasons Market Orenco.


Mastering Math Through Magic: The Gathering For Karen Murphy from Free Orchards Elementary School. Establishes an after-school card game club to improve computation skills and attitudes toward math. Students Water Instruction Month From Daniel Waterman at Free Orchards Elementary School. Provides formal swim and water safety lessons for students who wouldn’t have other access opportunities.


Project MADE - Musica Ayuda Desarollar Educación (Music Helps Develop Education) From Wendy Steele at Reedville and Butternut Creek Elementary School. Provides musical instruments with cultural significance attending Title 1, Trauma-informed and Bi-lingual elementary schools.


All the School’s a Stage from Miranda Lessler at McKinney Elementary School. Works with professional theater teachers and parent volunteers to prepare a production for the community.


Increasing College Readiness for STEM Careers through Advanced Physics From Theresa Alexander for Hillsboro High School. Enhances physics programs with the use of Vernier equipment with hands-on learning. Sponsored by Vernier.

  • Butternut Creek
  • Century
  • Eastwood
  • Henry
  • Hilhi
  • Orenco
  • Poynter
  • Quatama
  • Reedville