Jean Ribault Middle School is moving to the next level and beyond. This year, the school applied for and received the Elephants, Donkeys and Colts, Oh My!!! Grant, which will give 50 to 100 eighth-grade students the opportunity to participate in an educational field trip to historic Williamsburg, Va. and Washington, D.C. from April 9th - 12th.
The grant, which is for $17,500, is part of The Chartrand Foundation's
Inspire.Create.Achieve. (I.C.A) Grant Program. The I.C.A. Grants provide educators with additional resources to make class work and curriculum relevant to real-life experiences, further engaging and inspiring students to excel.
With the awarding of the grant, Ribault Middle teachers will integrate American history curriculum with real-world connections through direct exposure to government processes and historical formation. Students are also learning about civics and why their role in society is important.
Students are gearing up for their trip by participating in a mock primary election the same day as registered voters in Duval County, and they will have a debate of key amendments in March. Students also have the opportunity to post comments relating to the presidential race on their school's blog site.
Once the students return from the trip, they will write essays on the impact the overall experience has made in their lives. But it doesn't stop there. Students have signed a pledge that they will register to vote when they are the appropriate age and have actively encouraged family members not only to register to vote, but to vote in all elections and become active members in their communities.
Who knows, the next president may be in the making at Ribault Middle School!
Founded in September 2006, The Chartrand Foundation is a Jacksonville-based family foundation that has contributed or committed more than $2 million dollars to efforts that support quality public education and community reform efforts. In addition to Inspire.Create.Achieve. (I.C.A.), The Chartrand Foundation has provided funding support for Teach for America, Educators of Change, the Bridge of Northeast Florida, JCCI, and the Baptist Health Foundation (Tipping the Scales).
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