Mississippi Power Education Foundation recently awarded ten grants totaling more than $37,300 to schools, school systems and educational institutions throughout southeast Mississippi.

Schools from the Coast to Meridian were awarded grants, including:

Long Beach Middle School received a $1,500 to begin the "Hands Across the World" project. The school-wide multicultural study involves assigning each classroom in the school a different country to study. The students will research the country, finding flags, maps and other data. The information will be compiled in a school-wide database about products each country produces and how they compete in a global marketplace. The process will culminate in a Multicultural Expo at the school.

The USM Gulf Park/Live Oak Writing Project received an $11,951 grant to allow participating teachers to gain knowledge in identifying the skills applications targeted on the Mississippi Curriculum Test, evaluating sample test items and test scores, designing units of instruction that target test skills, and prescribing whole group and individual student needs. The grant also covers the creation of content and materials for a professional development series, the training of teacher consultants and the dissemination of the series information and materials.

The Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium received a $10,000 grant to aid in presenting “How to Achieve Maximum Success in the Classroom,” a professional development training session in classroom management. The August 4, 2002 session will involve more than 6,000 teachers and administrators in the 18 southeast Mississippi member school districts in the Consortium. World renowned speaker Dr. Harry Wong will present the session in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum.

Hattiesburg High School received a $2,000 grant that will aid in the teaching of “History and Culture of French-Speaking Countries,” a program designed to enable students in first- and second-year French to watch videos and do research on France and West Africa, using reference materials, software and the internet. French III and IV students will research an era or cultural issue of a French-speaking country to prepare for a class discussion of the era or issue. Students will also read and analyze a poem or portion of a literary work that reflects the period or issue.

The Alpha Christian School in Hattiesburg received a $1,576.38 grant to help fund the “Live AfterMath” program. This program will help enhance and improve math instruction by using manipulative, games and hands-on activities. Such activities provide instruction intertwined with real-life situations.

Columbia Elementary School was awarded $2,000 to fund "The Math Tutorial Program," a pilot project that will provide fourth grade students an opportunity to receive additional instruction in mathematics. Geared to provide reinforcement to students who are lacking in areas of critical thinking and problem solving, this project will enable students to become problem solvers.

East Columbia School in Hattiesburg was awarded $2,000 to finance "Around the World with Mathematics," a project that invites at-risk students to engage in hands-on experiences to teach math and globe skills. The globes will be used to learn about and appreciate math and its history.

Collins Middle School received a grant to aid in the purchase of political globes as part of “Geography Games.” This program involves giving students an NFL football schedule. The students are given ten questions to answer using the schedule and the globe. The goal is designed to help students learn the location of the states and countries, different time zones and the different directions teams travel to play during the season.

Northeast Elementary in Meridian was awarded a $1,997 grant to fund "The Association Method - A Language Based Reading Program." The purpose of the program is to reach students unable to be successful in traditional reading groups by using the Association method and tutoring. Books are made by the teacher for each individual child and students advance at their own pace.

Oakland Heights Elementary in Meridian received a $4,192 grant to begin a program entitled “Eyes to the Skies.” The program consists of students taking part in one of the oldest, though least-known sports – pigeon racing. The program is expected to enhance students` enthusiasm and enjoyment while mastering state curriculum in areas such as reading, writing and problem solving benchmarks.

Since 1984, through its foundations, Mississippi Power Company has supported excellence in education in southeast Mississippi. During the past 18 years, the foundations have awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to teachers, schools, school systems and education projects.