Seventh graders at South Middle School have been learning about laser rays, thanks to a gift from the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation. Earlier this semester, Teachers Vanessa Beere and Joanna Clark received a $750 grant to purchase laser ray boxes and lenses for 7th grade science classes. 

Students started off with single beam activities but quickly moved on to triple and five beam. Students were able to see in real time how light can be reflected and refracted using transparent materials. They started to get creative with the prisms and bending light. They were also able to apply their knowledge of convex and concave lenses to diverge and converge light beams and make inferences about how our eye-glasses work to help us see farther away and up close. 

Rebecca Huber, teacher of gifted students in the Elementary LEAP program, at right, received a $430 grant to purchase a 3-D printer and supplies. She is pictured with Jodie Huston, Executive Director of the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation.

Mike Roberts, science teacher at Ray-Pec High School, right, received a $120 grant to purchase insect nets. He is pictured with Jodie Huston, executive director of the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation.

Mary Shatford, Director of Shull Early Learning Center, received a $600 grant to purchase two taxi-trikes.

Bridle Ridge Elementary School Special Education Teacher Sherrie Goodwin and Occupational Therapist Gayle Vance (not pictured) received a $720 grant to purchase supplies and equipment for a sensory room for use by special education students and students in the Compass program.

Ashlie Renfro, Digital Learning Teacher at Eagle Glen and Stonegate elementary schools, received two grants of $580 each to purchase carts for the 3-D printers at Eagle Glen and Stonegate.

Amy Heinen, physical therapist at Shull Early Learning Center, received a $450 grant to purchase components of a magnetic pillow fort system.

South Middle School Special Education Teacher Tracy Elliott, left, and Occupational Therapist Bobbi Bond received a grant of $651 to purchase supplies for task boxes in the Life Skills classroom.

High School Teacher Michaela Parisi, at right, and Teacher Heidi Lanksbury (not pictured), along with Digital Learning Teacher Dr. Amanda Kilgore (also not pictured) received a $260 grant to purchase equipment to begin a world language pod/vodcast. Parisi is pictured with Jodie Huston, executive director of the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation.

Emily Pfaff, art teacher at Bridle Ridge Elementary School, received a $260 grant to purchase Kwik Stix. Kwik Stix are solid tempera paint sticks.

High School Teacher Megan Walker, at right, received a $680 grant to purchase DNA/RNA modeling sets. She is pictured with Jodie Huston, executive director of the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation.

Stonegate Elementary School Teacher Alisa Dutro received a grant of $340 to purchase sets of ELA chapter books for reading groups.

Kindergarten teachers at Eagle Glen Elementary School received a $665 grant to purchase supplies for alphabet sound tubs and a storage rack. From left: Lori Glenn, Kelli Yahnig, and Stacey Barbarick.

South Middle School Teachers Vanessa Beere, left, and Joanna Clark received a $750 grant to purchase laser ray boxes and lenses for 7th grade science classes.

South Middle School Teachers Carol Holsman and Alexandra Sirna received a $225 grant to purchase seeds and supplies for a greenhouse project for 8th grade science students.

Caitlin Fackler, counselor at Ray-Pec Academy and Success Academy, left, received a $440 grant to purchase sensory intervention tools. She is pictured with Jodie Huston, executive director of the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation.

Mariah Wellman, speech language pathologist at Shull Early Learning Center, received a grant of $750 to build a communication board for the playground. She is pictured with Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle.

Ray-Pec High School Music Teacher Stephen Rew, left; Journalism Teacher Stefani Russ, right; and VIPR Secondary Digital Learning Teacher Dr. Amanda Kilgore (not pictured) received a $160 grant to purchase a microphone for use in the audio-visual Makerspace and the choir class.

Eagle Glen Elementary School Music Teacher Jonathan Kroeger, left, and Art Teacher Audalyn Vessar received a $430 grant to purchase supplies for bucket drums.

High School Teachers Ashleigh Easton, left, and Laura Columbatto, received a $570 grant to purchase water bottles for the Sources of Strength "I Am Stronger!" campaign.