Mississippi Power Education Foundation recently awarded 16 grants totaling more than $47,500 to schools, school systems and educational institutions throughout southeast Mississippi. Schools from the Coast to Meridian were awarded grants. Among them are the following.

The Biloxi Public School District received a $5,000 grant to aid in the financing of the Imagination Station Electric Kitchen. This grant will support a permanent educational kitchen in four of the Imagination Stations in the Biloxi Public School District. The students will be able to participate in hands-on activities that will reinforce skills taught in the classroom. The hands-on area will feature working electric stoves, ovens and refrigerators. Included in the Imagination Stations are grocery stores, mini-banks and cafes where school children can shop, bank and prepare foods.

Hattiesburg Middle School/NR Burger received a $1,820 grant that will aid in the School and Community Report Part II. Students with speech, language and learning disabilities along with 7th and 8th grade middle school students will have an opportunity to create their own visual displays and web pages. Students will have the opportunity to make a connection between academic learning and application of knowledge to the community and government.

The East Mississippi Center for Educational Development, Inc. in Meridian received a $15,000 grant to fund the "Right Start - Success and Survival Skills for New Teachers" program. This is a new teacher induction/mentoring program designed to reduce the intensity of transition into teaching for the novice teacher. The goals of this program are to improve new teacher effectiveness and increase the retention of greater numbers of highly qualified teachers.

Since 1984, through its foundations, Mississippi Power Company has supported excellence in education in southeast Mississippi. During the past 17 years, the foundations have awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to teachers, schools, school systems and education projects.

A Full Listing of all Mississippi Power Education Foundation Grants September 2001

Biloxi School District – Imagination Station Electric Kitchen – providing hands-on activities which will reinforce skills taught in the regular classroom.

Harper McCaughan Elementary School – Long Beach - Inte “GREAT” Music! – provides a music resource library for the teachers.

Thomas L. Reeves Elementary School – Long Beach – Main Street, USA – combining critical thinking and writing skills with technology to integrate the social studies curriculum.

Gulfport High School – Electricity: We Can’t Live Without It! – students will learn the basics of an electrical system.

Pearl River Central Elementary School – Carriere – Math, Science and Social Studies of Maps and Globes – enriching student perspective and participation using maps and globes.

Saucier Elementary School – G.R.E.A.T. in Geometry – enhances student learning in the area of geometry. Designed to use the knowledge and skills of professionals in the area of construction and architecture to show students how learning is transferred to real-world situations.

East Park Elementary School – Moss Point – Leaping Tiger Photo Paws – providing kindergarten students the opportunity to acquire basic writing skills.

St. John High School – Gulfport – An Afternoon with C.H.I.P.S. (Chemists Helping Initiate Proper Skills) – introducing chemical safety and skills to 6th grade students.

Stone Elementary School – Wiggins – Super Science Station – enhance the student’s awareness of basic science concepts in the world around them.

Hattiesburg Middle School/NR Burger – School and Community Report Part II – students will be able to create their own visual displays and web pages.

Sumrall Attendance Center – We’re Five!! We Play To Learn! – helping students grow into adults who have a high level of functional skills.

West Marion Primary – Stepping Stones – students will build a water garden that will be the centerpiece of an outside classroom.

Seminary Elementary School – PONDering – students will learn about different ecosystems and pollution hazards when they create a pond within their classroom.

Clarkdale Attendance Center – Meridian – Communication Connection – introducing young children to the art of conversation.

East Mississippi Center for Education Development – Meridian – Right Start – Success and Survival Skills for New Teachers – induction/mentoring program designed to reduce the intensity of transition into teaching for a novice teacher.

East Jones Elementary – Laurel – We Dig Dinosaurs! – constructing dig sites where children can learn about the Earth’s development.