Making a difference: Vigo Ed Foundation grants help develop talent, nurture creativity

By Sue Loughlin | Tribune-Star
Nov 21, 2025

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.