Waukesha Education Foundation Inc.

Problem-solving. Empathy. Relationship skills. Emotional management. Social emotional learning (SEL) skills equip students of all ages with strategies and tools to help them regulate their emotions and responses. Numerous research studies have shown that SEL can have a positive impact on students’ academic performance. Additionally, it can help reduce misconduct in students. Many students across the United States are finding themselves feeling anxious, depressed, sad or stressed. As a result, an increased focus on SEL tools and concepts, particularly at the elementary level, can help SDW students feel more at ease, learn coping skills they’ll use into the future, and reduce conflicts in the classroom. In 2021, Prairie, Bethesda, Rose Glen and Summit View elementary schools received grants from the Waukesha Education Foundation to help enhance and increase SEL programs at their schools to positively impact and support students. “The use of social emotional books is helpful for teachers ...

Who doesn’t love a good escape room? Breakout EDU came to Hillcrest Elementary thanks to a 2020 WEF grant, providing students and staff with a unique and fun team building and problem solving activity.  In addition to fostering collaboration and communication, Breakout EDU also promotes discourse. Students who may be hesitant to share their ideas in a classroom are less reserved in this fun setting and less fearful of sharing a wrong answer. Grant winner Andrea Weber reported that it has been positively received by students. “We saw student engagement increase and they learned how to work as a team. They were so excited when they knew we had breakouts planned.” #WEFGrantsWork

For most SDW students, and their parents, a trip to the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium was absolutely part of their school experience.  For the first time since it opened in 2005, the lobby of the planetarium was remodeled, allowing an update to technology and the addition of more interchangeable displays. A 2020 WEF grant supported this remodel, and helped get the lobby ready for the more than 9,000 Waukesha students that visit each year. #WEFGrantsWork Check out some of the new displays!

Waukesha North’s Entrepreneurship class has historically focused on creating a business plan for a fictitious business to get students into the entrepreneurial mindset. But teacher Katie Cortez decided to get a bit more creative, and with the help of a Waukesha Education Foundation (WEF) grant, her students had a much more hands-on experience. The WEF grant provided seed money, or a “small business loan”, to students. They formed small groups as their “business” and researched products or services they could provide. Over the course of the semester, they managed their marketing, production, and all necessary elements of a business to ensure they made a profit and were able to repay the loan, with interest, by the end of the semester.  This project was a great success, and offered students a chance to learn by seeing their plan in action, and testing their theories and ideas with real-world experience. “This experience helped students collaborate to operate a small business, and pro...