MISSING: One Letter From The IPEI Spelling Bee

Specifically, 'U'!

We need YOU to join this exciting, once-a-year event as a member of one of 24 spelling teams in the competition on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. in Ithaca High School's Wellness Center Gym. The Spelling Bee is run like an official spelling bee, with rules, a pronouncer, an MC, a timekeeper, and three judges. Entry is limited to just 24 teams of three members each. The team entry fee is $375, or $125 per speller.

In addition to being fun and intellectually stimulating, the Bee is IPEI’s signature fundraising event. Thanks to event sponsors, all proceeds go directly toward funding IPEI grants for teachers. The Blue Ribbon Champion Sponsor is Chemung Canal Trust Company, and the Red Ribbon Finalist Sponsor is Wells Fargo Financial Advisors. Sciarabba Walker and Cayuga Radio Group are Gold Ribbon Runner Up Sponsors.

During the 2012-13 school year, funds raised by the 15th annual Bee supported enhanced educational opportunities for students in classrooms at all grade levels throughout the Ithaca City School District (ICSD). According to data collected from teachers and others who received grants last year, IPEI grants strongly impact student engagement as evidenced by verbal and physical participation and excitement in learning. In addition, teachers say that IPEI grants have assisted their efforts to give Ithaca students the best educational experiences possible.

Contact Spelling Bee Committee Chair Judy Stewart with any questions, and sign up to participate here. Bee there (or bee square)!

We're All Abuzz About the Bee!

Each year, we at IPEI look forward to our signature fundraising event: the adult spelling bee. With rules, a pronouncer, an MC, a timekeeper, and three judges, the event is held at Ithaca High School and run as an official spelling bee. There are slots for 24 teams of three to compete, and the entry fee for competing is $375 per team ($175 per speller). All proceeds from the bee will go to grants for ICSD teachers!

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to support teachers and have a blast with the community - sign up before February 10th!

IPEI is at the Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair!

For a few more hours, you can come support IPEI at the Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair!

Here are the gifts that you can buy to support IPEI this holiday season:

$5 -  Books for elementary students to take home that complement Kids Discover the Trail! activities

$10 - Fine Arts Booster Group brings artists to support literacy and creativity into the ICSD schools

$15 - IthacaSTEM supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities in the ICSD

$20 - IPEI Grants for innovative projects strongly impact student engagement in the ICSD

$Open Amount - IPEI connects school and community to enhance the education of every student in the ICSD 

We'll see you at the Fair!

Give Your Support to IPEI This #GivingTuesday

Today is Giving Tuesday! Giving Tuesday, like Cyber Monday or Black Friday, is an opportunity to get in the holiday spirit by donating to the non-profit organizations that work hard for your community year-round. This year, we think you should donate to IPEI, and we've got ten great reasons why!

10. IPEI's Kids Discover the Trail! Ithaca takes 2,900 ICSD elementary schoolers to eight Discovery Trail sites each year!

9. During the 2012-2013 school year, IPEI allocated more than $230,000 in grants, awards, and programs to Ithaca City School District teachers, schools and students!

8. Since 2001, the Fine Arts Booster Group has recycled 137 instruments, and granted over $144,000 to Ithaca City School District arts education, including 292 mini-grants!

7. This year, IPEI expanded with a new affiliate! IthacaSTEM Advocates provides teachers, parents, students, and schools with funding and opportunities for collaboration with Ithacans in STEM fields!

6. IPEI collaborates with many local Ithaca businesses. (Check out our honor roll!)

5. Each year, IPEI grants Red & Gold Grants up to $500 to bring interactive materials, special guests, and more to enhance the classroom experience of ICSD students! 

4. IPEI connects members of the Ithaca community to ICSD schools. And successful schools need community engagement!

3. The annual IPEI Spelling Bee. Need we say more?

2. IPEI helps make great kid-focused community events like Galumpha and Vitamin L concerts possible!

1. IPEI grants increase student engagement - and engagement matters!

So please, consider giving to IPEI this Giving Tuesday. We are grateful for all of your support!

Click here to give to IPEI for Giving Tuesday

Grants, Engagement, And Why IPEI Matters

Last year, IPEI allocated more than $230,000 to enhance the education of ICSD students through Teacher Grants, Red and Gold Grants, Community Collaboration grants; its two affiliate organizations; awards from special funds; and the Kids Discover the Trail! program. This year, we received research-based proof that IPEI initiatives are making a big difference for Ithaca kids.

Data from reports submitted by teachers who were awarded grants during the 2012-13 school year showed that student engagement rose by an average of nearly 50% following IPEI grant-funded activities. And for students identified as "performing below grade level," the average increase in engagement was even higher, almost doubling after participation in IPEI-funded programs!

So just what is student engagement? It's an important component of learning that can be difficult to measure. IPEI asked teachers who funded programs and activities with IPEI grants to observe students' body language, verbal participation, physical participation, independence, and excitement before and after the grant-funded activities.

We at IPEI are overjoyed to have what we have always believed officially confirmed. We are excited to continue providing resources to the amazing teachers of ICSD. But we can't do that without your  engagement - so consider donating to IPEI today!

Support IPEI - because engagement matters!

A Message From IPEI's Executive Director

I just completed my second month as IPEI's first Executive Director.  It's been a wonderful two months, and I am energized by the enthusiasm of all who are impacted by our work.

On my first day at IPEI, I had the privilege of attending the opening convocation for all teachers of the Ithaca City School District as they started the new school year.  As I was introduced around, each teacher I met expressed warm gratitude for IPEI's support of their ideas and dreams for their students.  It was so heartwarming. 

At the ribbon cutting for IPEI's first office at the Just Be Cause Center this fall, I heard a story that truly signifies what IPEI is all about.  A former Ithaca City School District student walked into our office to thank IPEI for a grant that allowed him, while in his senior year at IHS, to explore his dream for a career in music, a dream that is now becoming reality. 

I was so impressed by this testimonial. IPEI strives to engage our students in learning that will lead to their future success, to make their dreams come true.  And IPEI's commitment to partnering with teachers and community organizations creates the strong roots from which these successes blossom.

IPEI makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, in the classrooms of our teachers, and in the strength of our community. I look forward to continuing IPEI's work with the schools and the community to keep the dreams alive. 

IPEI Fall 2013 Grant Deadlines

It may seem hard to believe given last weekend’s heat wave, but it is already October! And with October comes deadlines if you’re a teacher, staff member, administrator, parent, or community member with a great idea for a grant. Here are some important fall deadlines to keep in mind:

• Teacher Grants, due November 1st - these grants of up to $1,500 are awarded to teachers for innovative projects that bring community resources into the classroom and selected through a competitive review process
• Red and Gold Grants, due October 21st - these grants of up to $500 are awarded to teachers and anyone else in the school community including students and parents for projects that strengthen and enrich the schools
• Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) Mini-Grants, due October 30th - these grants are awarded to support arts activities in the schools, including collaborations, visiting artists, and musical equipment
• Community Collaboration Grants - these grants of up to $3,000 are awarded to community organizations wishing to initiate curricular-enhancing projects with district schools. You can be apply for a Community Collaboration Grant at any time.

We have already received a number of great submissions, and can’t wait to see more!

For more information, visit our website or give us a call at (607) 256-4734.