Community Grants Report

Community Grants Report
July 2020

Developmental Services
of Northwest Kansas, Kid Link Expansion

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fundl, $2,500,
Awarded 11/14/2019

Project Summary: DSNWK is renovating the Pioneer Developmental Center
in Russell, KS in order to more efficiently use the space. Current spaces used
by Kid-Link and College for Living staff are not large enough for necessary
meetings and other staff needs.

Use of Funds: The grant funds were spent on the cost of the renovations
at the the Pioneer Developmental Center in Russell, KS in order to more
efficiently use the space buy converting a large room into three offices and a
large conference room.

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Pioneer
Developmental Center Kid-Link Conference Room Furniture

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,500, Awarded 4/17/2020

Project Summary: DSNWK›s Pioneer Developmental Center in Russell
is in need of tables and chairs. These will be used in our current and new
conference rooms for Kid-Link staff to hold meetings and consultations that
serve the children (aged 0-3) of Russell County.

Use of Funds: The RCACF dollars will be used for the purchase of new
conference room furniture being placed in both the new Kid-Link conference
room and the current conference room in Russell.

Impact & Results: DSNWK is thankful for the office and conference space, as well as the table and chairs utilized
in the area. The additional space and seating allow Kid-Link to meet the specific needs of each child served. Our
specialists can meet and review individual needs, review challenges, develop options for goals, and provide a safe
and clean space for numerous potential testings that a child may be needing.

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USD 407, Kindergarten STEM

Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Fund, $850, Awarded 04/10/2019
Project Summary: We experimented a little bit with different STEM activities this year to determine what would
work best for kindergarten. In order to provide for all classes, we need to expand our inventory of the ones that will fit
our specific needs.
Use of Funds: The funds were used to purchase five different types of ‘building’ items (Lincoln Logs, Knex, Waffles,
Nuts/Bolts, Magnetics) for four kindergarten rooms.
Impact & Results: As you can see from the pictures, the students started off looking at some of the instruction ideas
that came with the items mentioned above, but soon veered off to build creatively on their own. Some worked with
partners, some worked in groups and some worked individually - depending on expectations of the teacher and
project assignment. All kindergarten teachers reported that these STEM tubs were favored by many students and
preferred during indoor recess time too. A big change we saw was that of communication for our littles. They began
the year arguing about who got to do what, but ended by working as teammates. They learned to problem solve
when something didn’t work (the windmill picture took several tries before it moved as did the car picture with two
boys). Fine motor skills improved and trouble shooting ideas flew out of their minds. In my class, when it was Fun
Friday and these tubs weren’t offered as a choice, I had 3-5 students who regularly pleaded their cases and I would
allow them time to build. We feel some behaviors in the mornings decreased when we used them as a soft start.
The grant exceeded my expectation of the idea I originally had in mind because many students don’t have access to
these items at home and as a kindergarten team feel that problem solving, communication and a bit of engineering
were successfully introduced. Here’s hoping to a normal school year so we can continue our experimenting with
these items with other children.

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