The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently announced new grants to Polk County schools from the “Learning Links” grant program. Local teachers will receive funding for “hands-on” activities designed to make required coursework fun and relevant for their students.
The Learning Links program offers grants of up to $800 to public school teachers in Polk, Avery, Graham, Jackson, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford and Swain counties so that they may provide creative experiences for their students. The goal is to increase students’ enthusiasm for learning and staying in school, ultimately through graduation. The grants are made possible by the Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
Grants to Polk County schools totaled $2,354 and included one for a program at Polk Central and two for programs at Polk County Middle School
Polk Central Elementary
Program: Plants
Preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 5 will learn about the elements and conditions needed for plants, people and animals to grow. The 54 students will explore wildlife and learn about the beneficial relationship between birds and insects.
Polk County Middle School
Program: Cultural Bridges, Ancient and Modern
In a school-wide initiative involving all grade levels, the students will learn about various cultures and create a labyrinth, an ancient archetype that reflects our shared humanity. They will design and install the geometric design, practicing principles of math, science, literature, art and social studies.
Program: Up, Up and Away
This multi-disciplinary seventh-grade science project explores the science, mathematics and history of hot air ballooning.  Each student will build a hot air balloon with their lab partner and attempt to launch it on Hot Air Balloon Celebration Day.
For more information, contact The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina at 828-254-4960 or visit www.cfwnc.org.
– article submitted by Lindsay Hearn