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The Vigo County Education Foundation is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization committed to providing programs and projects that enhance and enrich public education.

For 35 years, the foundation has connected private dollars with public schools through community support from both businesses and individuals.

The VCEF is once again providing transportation funding for the summer enrichment and remediation program for students, which includes Math Magic/Writing Wonders and IREAD3.

These programs help children improve their reading and writing skills as well as learn problem-solving strategies to help them become proficient in math. Children from all 18 elementary schools and five middle schools attend these programs hosted at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

Throughout the academic year, the VCEF also funds transportation for numerous field trips: a special concert performed by the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra for fourth-graders, Fowler Park Pioneer Days for all second-graders and transportation and admission fees for all first-graders to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. The foundation also provides academic team competition support and is an active participant in the burgeoning Career Technology Education Department.

Last year, over $240,000 in grants were awarded across all curriculum content areas. These grants provide a multitude of hands-on learning experiences in math, science, literacy and the arts, as well as support programs that encourage good attendance and family involvement.

The VCEF is able to do this with the help of individual and corporate gifts, grants and fundraising events. Their largest fundraiser, the annual “Fore” the Kids Golf Scramble, is slated for July 26 at Rea Park. This event always sells out, so early registration is encouraged.
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For more information about events or the Vigo County Education Foundation and its mission, visit vigocounty educationfoundation.org. People can also contact Jane Nichols, executive director, at 812-462-4077. “Like” them on Facebook and follow on Twitter @TheVCEF and Instagram @vcef2018. Read more.

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Garrett Thomas and other elementary students used pizza boxes, plastic, black paper and aluminum foil to construct “solar ovens” that they placed on the sidewalk, in sunshine, near the Woodrow Wilson Middle School entrance.

Perhaps the best part of the science project was eating the final product — melted s’mores. Earlier in the day, the students in Lindsey Coons’ writing class used the science experiment for a writing project.
“The plastic traps all the heat in ... so it can melt the chocolate,” and the black paper “absorbs the heat,” said Thomas, who will be in fourthgrade next school year. About 15 minutes later, the chocolate melted, he and other students enjoyed their edible creation.

“I’m going to try this at home,” he said Wednesday.

Thomas is one of about 500 Vigo County School Corp. students in grades 2-12 participating in a variety of summer school programs taking place at Woodrow Wilson.

They include reading/writing and math enrichment programs for grades 3-8, called Math Magic and Reading/Writing Wonders; a foundational literacy program for second and third graders; and a high school Performing Arts Workshop. Read more.