LAHS Homecoming Court members, from left to right, Zoe Butler, Ogden Berry, Ariel Edkin, Alex Moulton, Cory Liechty, JD Carson, Maddie Ovaska, Hunter Swavely, Ellie Oldham, Luc Chavez and Ona Gartz are starting a new homecoming tradition. Not pictured: Jacob Majors. Photo Courtesy LAPS Foundation
LAPS FOUNDATION NEWS
All the schools are a buzz this week with Homecoming activities. There are the usual spirit days, a Homecoming parade, football game and dance, but this year there will be a new Homecoming tradition. Members of the Homecoming Court, voted on by their LAHS peers, have decided to give back to their schools, and so they are starting an initiative called Court for a Cause.
“The 2019 Homecoming Court wanted to start a new tradition, similar to other schools nationwide, called Court for a Cause,” said member Maddie Ovaska. “This is a chance for the students who have been recognized to come together and give back to the community. There is no better cause than our own schools!”
As their way of giving back to the schools and teachers who have supported them, the students are encouraging members of the community to donate to the LAPS Foundation, specifically to fund teacher mini-grants.
Last year, the LAPS Foundation realized that while it was impacting many teachers with its bigger grants, there was a real need for smaller grants that would allow teachers to quickly implement a new idea or introduce a new resource in the classroom. “Basically what was happening,” explained LAPS Foundation Executive Director Laura Loy, “was that teachers were spending their own money just to get their idea off the ground. We saw this as an opportunity to offer mini-grants, up to $100 each, and the concept has really taken off.”
Last year the LAPS Foundation offered $1,000 per semester in mini-grants on a first-come-first-served basis. This year it increased the amount to $1,500 per semester.
“Already the money for fall mini-grants has been allocated, and more won’t be available until spring” said Loy. “It’s become a very popular part of the support we offer to teachers and schools.”
The Homecoming Court has set up a page to collect donations that will be used to offer more teacher mini-grants this fall. To contribute to Court for a Cause, visit lapsfoundation.com/court-for-a-cause.
Ovaska added, “we are excited to participate in this week’s festivities and help make the school better through this new tradition.”
The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation is an independent organization that invests in a successful future for all Los Alamos public school students. Since its inception in 2005, the LAPS Foundation has raised more than $1 million for Los Alamos public schools. The Foundation raises money through generous contributions from individuals and organizations who share the Foundation’s core values. To learn more about the LAPS Foundation and how to get involved and/or make a donation, visit lapsfoundation.com or call 505.500.6501.