Page 6 - HEF COE 2022

About the Helena Education Foundation
CONNECTIONS
The Helena Education Foundation (HEF) is a leader among Montana’s public school foundations. Supporting students and educators, the Foundation enriches our schools, helping to make our Helena community a healthy, happy and prosper- ous place to live, work and raise a family.
PROGRAMS
HEF’s programs benefit students, teachers, parents, administrators and the community. No doubt, you or someone you know, has been impacted by our work.
u NEW Special Projects: This year we purchased two sets of age-appropriate Sensory Pathways for Helena’s elementary schools—colorful exercises designed to provide multi-stage tasks to help develop motor skills, balance, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness, as well as provide critical “brain breaks” to calm and refocus students throughout the school day
u Carnival Classic kicks off each school year with a community-wide celebration of public education.
u Fabulous Firsts gives incoming first graders award- winning, hard cover books of their own and full sets to school libraries.
u Great Conversations provides a night of thought- provoking conversation about relevant topics to promote lifelong learning.
u Trading Places fosters understanding and collabo- ration by linking community and school leaders.
u Great Ideas Grants awards more than $40,000 annually to teachers for innovative classroom projects and experiences as well as field trips.
u Spark Grants offers additional funding for enrichment opportunities for students. More than $12,000 was awarded this year.
u Celebration of Excellence honors distinguished graduating scholars, achievers and their educators— celebrating excellence, drive and leadership.
u Let’s Talk About Great Teachers acknowledges, at the Great Conversations event, educators who make a significant difference in the lives of our children every day.
u Issues Institutes provide unique learning opportunities on current and emerging topics affecting youth and families; and topics that elevate our community and enhance the desirability of Helena as a place to live. Recent Issues Institutes have addressed opioid addiction (Chasing the Dragon) and teen suicide (Cracked Not Broken). Last year we provided virtual Issues Institutes including, Q&A with Michael McFaul (former US Ambassador to Russia), QAnon: A Conspiracy for Our Time with Jono Drake and Raph Graybill and
A Celebration of Earth Day with a Trip to Mars with NASA’s Dr. Chris McKay.
u Harrison Writing Awards focus on the importance of writing skills and recognize outstanding young writers with cash awards.
u Pen & Ink magazine features the creative work of student writers and artists.
6 | A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE 2022
HELENA EDUCATION FOUNDATION