Lexington One Educational Foundation Awards Grants for Computer Science Immersion Schools
Media Contact
Julie Anderson Washburn, Lexington One Educational Foundation Executive Director
PH: 803.821.1008
Megan Moore, Lexington District One Communications Director
PH: 803.821.1155
NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2022, LEXINGTON, S.C. — The Lexington County School District One Educational Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 STEM Grant to support each of Lexington District One’s Computer Science Immersion Schools at the elementary level. New Providence Elementary, Pelion Elementary, Rocky Creek Elementary and White Knoll Elementary each recently received a $2,500 grant that will support their computer science immersion curriculum, which impacts all of their K-5 students at each of these schools.
Last school year, each of these Lexington District One elementary schools discovered that the technology they were using to teach computer science, STEM and coding skills was no longer being supported and, as a result, each would need significant support to replace the dated devices and corresponding software. With the final budget reading and approval, Lexington District One approved funds to purchase 184 new Spike Prime Kits for the four Computer Science Immersion Elementary Schools, which replaced devices and software in order for the schools to continue teaching computer science in an immersion format to their students.
Elementary Schools Director Nicole Mitchell worked with each elementary school principal and the Educational Foundation’s Executive Director, Julie Anderson Washburn, to determine additional needs. Accordingly, the Educational Foundation’s board approved the STEM Grant to Computer Science Immersion Elementary Schools to support Lexington District One and students at these four schools.
This additional financial support via the Educational Foundation Grant will enable the schools to purchase supplementary technology, such as Blue Bot Kits, that will work in conjunction with the new technology purchased with district funds to enhance the students’ computer science education. Nicole Mitchell, Lexington District One’s Director of Elementary Schools, stated “We are so appreciative of the Lexington One Educational Foundation’s support of our Computer Science Immersion Elementary Schools. Our immersion programs are important educational opportunities for all students. Each of the elementary principals was excited and thankful to hear about the grant awards, as they will enable each school to enhance their teaching of Computer Science through these additional coding tools.”
