11 March
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Boost for Teachers Winners 2023

GRADS is pleased to announce their 2023 Boost for Teachers award winners.

Pictured below are Grant County winners Abbey Trapp (left), GRADS board member Mary Lou Bullert (center) and Michele Benike (right).

Abbey is using her award to support the Milbank Special Olympics team. This year Milbank will be hosting the spring event for the northeast area. Michele will use her award to support the Milbank transition program.

The winners in Roberts County were May Amodia and Karen Siriban both from Sisseton. May will use her award to support a school coffee shop. Karen will use her award to support an inclusive arts setting that will build on communication and social skills.

Congratulations award winners!

11 March
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GRADS  will meet for their annual board meeting and election on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the Middlebrook Community Room, 902 East Milbank Avenue, Milbank, SD.

If interested in attending the meeting please use the website contact form or email info@gradisabilitysupports.org.

12 February
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GRADS Meeting Feb. 7, 2023

Middlebrook Community Room 5:30 p.m.

 

This brief meeting focused on the Lucky Leprechaun raffle and the Boost for Teachers grants.

Lucky Leprechaun Raffle

MaryLou Bullert shared pictures of donated items. Rachael Johnson brought additional items from Doubletree Gallery, 3 Bean Coffee, Teal’s Market and garden/bird stuff. MaryLou had a printout which listed all the gift basket contents. The three baskets have a total value of over $1,000. Rachael and MaryLou will send thank you notes to the contributors. Raffle tickets were distributed. The raffle officially starts today. If anyone wishes to help sell raffle tickets please reply to this message and we will mail some to you.

 

Boost for Teachers

We reviewed applications. It was decided to award four $100. grants for Boost for Teachers to be presented by February 17. The recipients are May Amodia from Sisseton (coffee shop project), Karen Siriban from Sisseton (Cricut project), Michele Benike from Milbank (transition program/ job readiness), and Abbey Trapp from Milbank (support for Special Olympics Track and Field event hosted by Milbank). Congratulations to these teachers and their students. Rachael Johnson, GRADS Secretary/Treasurer, issued the checks.

 

Website

A check for $100. will be sent to Cheryl Pocklington for her work with the GRADS website.

 

Meeting Schedule

We will meet at the end of the raffle for the drawing and distribution of baskets on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the Bullert home at tentatively 5:30p.m.

The GRADS annual meeting and election will be on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middlebrook Community Room, 902 East Milbank Avenue, Milbank.

08 January
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GRADS (Grant Roberts Area Disability Supports) is announcing its 2023 One Hundred Dollar Boost for Teachers Awards!

Last year’s winner was May Amodia from Sisseton.

Please share this information with your Special Services staff.

January 6, 2023 Boost for Teacher Announcement 

February 3, 2023 Boost for Teacher Applications are due.

February 7, 2023 GRADS Board will review applications.

February 17, 2023 Boost for Teacher Winner(s) will be announced.

May 19, 2023, a short summary from the winners will be posted on the GRADS website. 

Please fill out, copy and paste the six questions below and email the information to: mlbullert@gmail.com 

or mail it to: Mary Lou Bullert, 47822 158th Street, La Bolt, SD 57246

If you have specific questions you can call her at 605-467-0914. 

 

Overview: GRADS, is awarding $100 Boosts to MS/HS teachers, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and/or guidance counselors who are providing instruction in the area of job skills, self-help skills, communication skills, socialization, working with money, meal preparation and/or empowerment to students with disabilities in the Grant Roberts area. We know teachers invest much of their own time and money into classroom activities and would like to recognize their efforts. With that in mind and in the spirit of National Disabilities Employment Awareness, one hundred dollar checks will be directly awarded to the winning applicants on Friday, February 17, 2023. Proposals may be submitted from now until the deadline of February 3, 2023. 

Target Audience: 

MS/HS students with special needs who are involved in job skill training, independent living, have communication needs, need support in the area of mental health or are approaching a transitional phase in their education. 

Summary: 

Teacher(s) who are selected for the Boost for Teachers Awards will need to submit a few paragraphs summarizing their project by Friday, May 19, 2023. The summary will be posted on our website. 

 

Questions:

1. Is this for a specific individual need or for a group?

 

2. How many students with disabilities will benefit from your proposal? 

 

3. If applicable, estimate how many students without disabilities will be included in your activity. For example, the activity may be done in an inclusion setting.

 

4. A brief explanation of how you will utilize the $100 (one hundred) to empower students who have disabilities and are learning skills in the area of occupations. (1 page or less)

 

5. Budget: Please identify how the one hundred dollars will be utilized. This could be an estimate for supplies and materials to facilitate your activity. For example, food to make meals. Applicants may use funds to purchase items for their use and/or student use.

 

6. Submit this form on or before February 3, 2023.