Photo caption: Amidon-Bowen students give thanks to the Friends of Southwest DC.
Photo caption: Amidon-Bowen students with the Friends of Southwest DC.
This past summer, the Friends of Southwest DC (FOS) awarded close to $5,000 to the Amidon-Bowen Elementary School PTA to purchase iPads for early childhood education classrooms. These iPads are now being used by our young students to enhance early literacy and engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Amidon-Bowen had the opportunity to invite FOS board members to visit some of the benefiting students on Dec. 18, 2017, where three classrooms greeted the board with huge enthusiasm and thank yous.
The FOS grant gave more than 100 Amidon-Bowen students the opportunity to learn from engaging and interactive educational programs that otherwise would not have been possible given the school’s tight budget.
“These iPads are a great learning tool because they encourage independent exploration at differentiated levels in a fun learning environment,” said Principal TaMikka Sykes. They also allow Amidon-Bowen greater flexibility in selecting applications and software that support the school’s focus on STEM and can be catered to various learning methods.
Amidon-Bowen’s PTA seeks to engage the Southwest community in supporting opportunities and high student achievement for Amidon-Bowen students. The grant from FOS serves as an example of a community partnership that helps our students develop an early passion for STEM, achieve advanced literacy skills, and acquire technology skills.
“FOS is overjoyed to see our grant in action by the young children of Amidon-Bowen, using and sharing educational applications on these iPads” said Coralie Farlee, president of FOS.
Thank you to FOS for your continued support at Amidon-Bowen and your engaged interest in promoting the Southwest Waterfront community.
Since 1998, FOS has made grants totaling more than $210,000. More than 30 local organizations have been supported and benefited from their generosity. FOS is run by community members who want to make a difference in Southwest and their time is completely voluntary. Because of that, they are able to put 95% of all income toward supporting programs. To find out more information or donate to FOS, please go to http://www.friendsofswdc.org.
By: Alexis Tuttle