Kindergarten children at the Deming Early Learning Center are learning about emotions and how to manage their feelings using a program called Little Spots of Emotions. The social emotional curriculum uses children’s books and educational materials, including colorful “spot” mini-plush characters. On Thursday, transition kindergarten teacher Katrina Thompson led children through several activities, one in which they walked in a circle physically demonstrating different emotions.
When Thompson put a pink “love” plush on her head, they demonstrated love with smiles, hand hearts and joyful movement.
When she placed an “angry” red spot on her head, they followed her lead by growling and stomping their feet (with a few giggles interspersed).
Green stood for peaceful; yellow happy; blue sad; gray anxiety and orange confident.
Later, Thompson played a short video that included a sad song with the blue sadness spot.
“Sadness needs love. So how are we going to show our love?” Thompson asked the children. Their responses included: hugs, hand hearts, sharing, smiles and rainbows.
At one point, a child said she was sad, and Thompson gave her a hug.
Both Thompson and Chrissy Jarvis, Deming Early Learning Center principal, say the program is making a difference.
And now, thanks to a Vigo County Education Foundation grant sponsored by Alternatives for Living and Learning, the center will be able to expand the program to pre-Kindergarten classes, said Jarvis, who received a grant last year as well to start the program at Deming.
“I was able to pilot the program last year in my kindergarten classes and I wanted to expand to include all pre-K classrooms in the building,” Jarvis said. “This allows for a consistent, school-wide framework while helping our youngest learners identify, understand and manage their big feelings.”
​The curriculum relies on visuals to support the students in this learning. The visuals are especially important for students with limited language skills, Jarvis said.
In the future, the goal is to further expand the program through parent education and parent nights “so we can have common language at school and at home,” she said.
“Our hope is by addressing this critical need at a young age, we are implementing necessary early intervention allowing for greater future academic success and healthier social interactions with peers,” Jarvis said.
“They can’t learn until they learn how to self regulate and manage their emotions,” she said. “With this age group, that’s the most critical thing we can teach them. “
When the children go to their home schools, Jarvis hears positive feedback that students are better able to process emotions and stay in a classroom.
Thompson said she sees a big difference in how children handle situations. Initially, whereas they may be extremely frustrated by a difficult task, later on, they learn perseverance and to keep trying.
Nearly $35,000 in grants
​On Friday, the Vigo County Education Foundation awarded $34,856 in school-wide grants to 16 schools. The grants are awards between $1,000 and $3,000 given for programs that impact students throughout the entire school.
During the Business and Bagels program, which took place at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Old National Bank received the Leadership Giving Award.
The schools received grants to support a variety of activities ranging from a school musical, educational field trips, programs that encourage good attendance and behavior, STEM initiatives, family involvement programs, and more.
• Terre Haute North Vigo High School received a grant to purchase clothes for students “who lack adequate, appropriate attire due to financial hardship or challenging circumstances.”
• At Terre Town Elementary, students and their families will join school staff at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum for a “Night at the Museum.”
• Woodrow Wilson Middle School will use its grant to digitize and create a display of the school’s nearly 100-year history, mixed with current student work, achievement and activities.
• Rio Grande Elementary’s grant provides funding for a program that encourages students “to be the best they can be by demonstrating positive character traits.” Several other schools received grants for similar programs.
Superintendent Chris Himsel said the grants are “developing the talent and nurturing the creativity of our kids. That’s what we’re all about. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
The projects awarded funding lay the foundation for learning and extend it beyond the classroom, he said. Learning is ignited and students “get excited to go back to the classroom and apply what they are learning in different ways.”
Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at [email protected]. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.

Big feelings.
We all have them. In fact, it could be argued big feelings can either have calming, positive effects or disastrous ones.
That’s why teaching children social and emotional skills at a young age can lay a strong foundation for their futures.
Thanks to a grant from the Vigo County Education Foundation, kindergarteners at Deming Early Learning Center are learning about emotions and how to manage their feelings.
In fact, thanks to $34,856 committed to 16 schools, grants will support a variety of activities ranging from a school musical, educational field trips, programs that encourage good attendance and behavior, STEM initiatives, family involvement programs, and more, reported the Tribune-Star’s Sue Loughlin.
The newest awards — between $1,000 and $3,000 each — were announced last Friday.
The students at Deming are able to participate in “Little Spots of Emotions,” programming that thanks to a grant sponsored by Alternatives for Living and Learning, the center will be able to expand to pre-kindergarten classes, said principal Chrissy Jarvis, who received the award last year as well to start the program at Deming.
Jarvis hears positive feedback. Because of the program she says students are better able to process emotions and stay in a classroom. Deming transition kindergarten teacher Katrina Thompson said she sees a big difference in how children handle situations. Initially, whereas they may be extremely frustrated by a difficult task, later on, they learn perseverance and to keep trying, Loughlin reported.
“Our hope is by addressing this critical need at a young age, we are implementing necessary early intervention allowing for greater future academic success and healthier social interactions with peers,” Jarvis said. “They can’t learn until they learn how to self regulate and manage their emotions. With this age group, that’s the most critical thing we can teach them.”
Indeed, teaching social and emotional skills can mean the difference between peace and war as these children become the future leaders of our communities, states and country.
Grants awarded this cycle also ignite a passion in students to give back. At Terre Haute North, students in need are being clothed. A project at Woodrow Wilson Middle School will expose students to a love of history and at Rio Grande Elementary, students are encouraged “to be the best they can be by demonstrating positive character traits.”
Many more programs funded by these grants follow the same themes.
Vigo County School Corp. Superintendent Chris Himsel told Loughlin the grants are “developing the talent and nurturing the creativity of our kids.”
Communities of the Wabash Valley are true philanthropic stars. When a need presents itself, individual citizens and organizations step up — and quickly. The Vigo County Education Foundation is just one of many leading the charge. Those who give money to entities like the Foundation should understand their investment is paying off and will for years to come.

TERRE HAUTE, IN. – (October 8, 2025) – The Terre Haute community came together to support local students and teachers while enjoying their McDonald’s favorites on Tuesday, September 23. All six Terre Haute McDonald’s locations, owned and operated by Nick and Jami Kasprzyk, participated in a community-wide fundraiser benefiting the Vigo County Education Foundation (VCEF), raising $5,000 during the event.

A check presentation celebrating the $5,000 donation took place on October 8th.This marks the third consecutive year the Kasprzyks have partnered with VCEF to strengthen education in Vigo County. To date, their collaboration has raised more than $13,000, directly benefiting 12,500 students and over 1,000 teachers across 23 schools. A portion of proceeds from every order placed in-restaurant or through the McDonald’s app on September 23 supported teacher-initiated projects not funded by local, state, or federal resources. The Vigo County Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to providing excellent public education for children across Vigo County.
“The Vigo County Education Foundation is immensely grateful to Nick and Jami Kasprsyk and all their McDonald’s patrons for their continued investment in the education of Vigo County students. This generous donation will provide funding for teachers wishing to infuse their classrooms with creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning opportunities,” stated Jane Nichols, Executive Director of the Vigo County Education Foundation.

​“We’re incredibly proud to see the community show up year after year to support our local schools,” said Jami Kasprzyk, local McDonald’s Owner/Operator. “Giving back to the educators and students who shape our future is something that means a great deal to us, and we’re honored to play a small part in the great work the Vigo County Education Foundation does.”

By Sue Loughlin | Tribune-Star Dec 4, 2025
Eve Reid became emotional as she described her experience using EnChroma glasses, which enabled her to see vibrant colors in a way she’s never before experienced.
“It’s so cool,” the Terre Haute South Vigo High School senior exclaimed. “I can’t believe other people see the world that way.”
Reid is color blind, and the glasses use technology to selectively filter light in a way that increases contrast between the red and green color signals.
“It’s just astounding,” Reid said in an interview after her experience in Emilee Vicars’ art classroom, where the new high-tech glasses were unveiled during a celebration.
“You don’t often get a shift in your fundamental perception of the world,” Reid said. “It’s pretty significant.”
Thanks to a $750 grant from the Vigo County Education Foundation, South now has four pairs of EnChroma glasses. Vicars is the grant recipient.
She sought the grant with the hopes of encouraging students to take art who may be reluctant because they are color blind. But other teachers also will be able to check the glasses out to benefit students in their classes.
Thursday’s celebration took place during Student Resource Time, where color blind students could bring a friend and experience the technology.
The event included an art exercise involving “pour painting,” use of the glasses and pizza.
Students used the glasses to look at their art work and to see a slideshow of famous paintings; those who are color blind saw the paintings in an entirely different way.
Vicars was happy with the outcome. “It was amazing they were moved so deeply by it,” she said. “It just really opens their eyes to what the world looks like to everyone else.”
She got the idea after seeing online videos of people trying on the EnChroma glasses for the first time and seeing their responses.
“I thought that was something that could really be life-changing for a student — to see through someone else’s eyes and see what they are missing,” Vicars said.
She added, “I think it reaches a demographic that is often left behind. I think they are often just expected to live with this … I felt it was a population important to reach.”
The EnChroma glasses have a lens that helps filter the light better, she explained. “We don’t see color. We perceive it because of the way the light bounces off of our eyes. The lens makes is so light comes through correctly so students can really see the color.”
Sophomore Nicholas McGill, who also is color blind, was elated at how the glasses changed how he sees color.
“The colors are so much brighter and stand out more,” he said. “I really think the glasses can help people” in many situations, both in and out of school.
He’s struggled with some school assignments, including in art or other subjects. He might use the wrong color because “I don’t know what color I’m looking at. I’m just taking a guess.”
In English classes, he might have to highlight things a certain color and “that can kind of throw me off, too, because I’m not certain what color I’m supposed to be using.”