ADRIAN — Independent School District 511 in Adrian was awarded a $23,175 grant from the Worthington Regional Health Care Foundation, Inc. to begin a backpack program for students, as well as support social emotional learning efforts.
The focal points emerged after the district completed a weight room project with a $15,000 grant in the summer of 2021.
“With that grant, the district had a desire to build a culture supporting strength and conditioning for lifelong wellness,” shared Molly Schilling, ISD 511 superintendent. “We are pleased to see our physical education classes, athletic programs and after school student use in full swing utilizing the weight room and TeamBuilder app for detailed workout programs.”
With the new grant from the WRHCF, the school district has already brought in guest speakers at both the elementary and middle-high school. On Feb. 18, Adrian elementary students were visited by author, counselor and parenting expert Julia Cook. The staff engaged in professional learning in the afternoon with Cook on what she calls “GPS (good people skills) instead of SEL.”
On Feb. 24, middle and high school students worked in small groups with Tom Cody from Top 20 Training. The staff has previously worked with Cody as well as a group of students involved in student council and NHS on Sept. 1, 2021. The advising groups are learning and practicing skills from Top 20 on Wednesdays this year.
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Top 20 Training’s purpose is to provide effective strategies and practices to develop potential, eliminate negativity, address challenges, and enhance the culture in schools, at home and in the workplace.
The administrative team of Cate Koehne, Randy Schettler and Schilling, along with elementary school counselor Jordan Pater, middle-high school counselor Sharyn Story, and other staff analyzed the needs of the student body — reaching beyond academic support. The result was a focused need to reinvigorate our efforts to support students both in and out of school to be happy, engaged, cared for, and on the path to success.
Pater did the majority of the legwork to start a backpack program to further support families who may need a little extra help making nutrition ends meet over the weekends. With this grant money, the backpack program should be able to start in the fall of 2022.
“Thank you to the Worthington Regional Health Care Foundation, Inc. for the generous grant and supporting students at the Adrian Public School District,” Schilling said.
