The Fort Cherry Foundation received its first donation in September of 2022 from SPSI. We want to thank SPSI for its generous donation and helping the foundation kick off its mission.

Thanks to Range Resources for supporting the Fort Cherry Wrestling program with its donation.

Thank you to Matt Cochran for donating The Grand Theater in McDonald for the high school girl’s basketball fundraiser.

Thank you to Gateway Corp for its generous donation to allow the high school girls’ basketball team to visit Penn State for a tour and to see a college-level basketball game.

The Fort Cherry Foundation is sponsoring a total of six $500 grants to the Fort Cherry elementary and high school staff and faculty to assist them financially with special projects. The grants will be awarded to the teachers in February 2023.

On Friday, February 25, the Fort Cherry Foundation awarded its first round of grants to elementary and high school teachers. These grants will support creative ideas that directly impact students in the district.

The kindergarten classes received a grant to purchase a center-based learning approach for early literacy skills and number awareness that will help to build hand strength, stamina, and fine motor skill development in the district’s youngest students.

The first-grade classes received a grant to purchase document cameras and chart tablets to effectively implement the “Kid Writing” curriculum. The teachers will use the document cameras to display, in effect, works in progress. In real time students will be able to see examples of writing samples, sentences, and paragraphs. The cameras will also be used to identify parts of speech, the weekly grammar skills (such as contractions, commas, apostrophes), phonics skills, and many other learning targets.

The elementary school also received a grant to provide a welcome kit to new elementary students (excluding kindergarten students). The welcome kit is packed with school information, such as a QR code tour of the elementary building, FC spirit items, and other supplies that will contribute to a positive beginning no matter when the student enrolls. This welcome kit will help bring people together by creating a community and sense of identity among students. Additionally, this kit will help to alleviate the anxieties associated with starting at a new school and allow these students to see that they are just as much a part of FC as those who have been here from the beginning.

The 11th and 12th grade Social Studies and AP Psychology classes received a grant to purchase individual student flash cards that will help them prepare for the end of year exam. AP courses allow our students to earn college credits if they are able to score a 3, 4 or 5 on the end of year exam and also prepare them for the rigor of college.

Lastly, the foundation awarded a grant to the Track and Field team to purchase a new large and sturdy tent to protect our athletes from the sun, heat and rain. This tent will also be used by the Cross Country team and for school events, such as Homecoming and Elementary Field Day.

The foundation wants to thank everyone who took the time to complete an application. This opportunity has enhanced our district, students, and staff. Thank you for all that you do!