Twenty-eight Pinellas County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Pinellas County to the strong partnership with Pinellas County Schools. Julie Poth, K–8 science supervisor for Pinellas County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Pinellas County awardees are:
* Wendy Stanziano, *Academie Davinci*, will receive $770. Students will conduct a water resources field study at an organic community farm.
* James Levesque, *Bay Point Elementary School*, will receive $1,725. Students will transform a campus pond into an outdoor classroom by using native plants.
* Donna Heres, *Bear Creek Elementary School*, will receive $1,682. Students will monitor and work to improve the water quality of Bear Creek.
* Janice Creneti, *Boca Ciega High School*, will receive $2,990. Students will retrofit an aquaculture tank to support hydroponics and establish a native plant garden fed by wastewater from the tank.
* Stefanie Frump, *Campbell Park Elementary Marine Science Center*, will receive $2,200. Students will conduct a field study of Brooker Creek Preserve and participate in a habitat restoration project.
* Annette Anthony, *Gulfport Elementary School*, will receive $1,532. Students will conduct field studies at the Science Center of Pinellas County and a sewage treatment plant.
* Amy Robles, *Gulfport Elementary School*, will receive $1,350. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed at Myakka River State Park.
* Pamela Morse, *Hospital/Homebound Program*, will receive $2,997. Students will conduct a field study at Sawgrass Lake Park and build a watershed model.
* Leslie Pohley, *Largo Middle School*, will receive $2,995. Students will perform home toilet leak testing and water use surveys, and create an aquasystem with native plants and fish.
* Natasha Coles, *Madeira Beach Fundamental School*, will receive $3,000. Students will explore watershed ecology, test water quality and learn how human activities alter the health of the watershed.
* Sally Wentzell, *Northeast High School*, will receive $2,300. Students will engage in hands-on learning through STEM-based water education field studies.
* Susan Carney, *Ozona Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will enhance existing hydroponic and aquatic systems, collecting fresh water with rain barrels and documenting water savings.
* Anne Weller, *Perkins Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will create traditional and hydroponic gardens on campus, learning about water conservation and sustainable gardening practices.
* Suzanne Mizzi and Cynthia Barber, *Pinellas Preparatory Academy*, will receive $1,677. Students will engineer a Florida-friendly garden that will include a rain barrel.
* Mistie Meditz, *Skyview Elementary School*, will receive $2,800. Students will conduct water education field studies at Fort De Soto Park and an organic community farm.
* Maria Wyatt, *Southern Oak Elementary School*, will receive $2,999. Students will learn about water conservation, sustainable food production and water quality through hydroponic gardening and the use of microscopes.
* Jeanette Gore, *Tarpon Springs High School*, will receive $3,000. Students will evaluate a campus wetland area, test water quality, develop a watershed habitat management plan and plant native vegetation.
* Lauren Hipsely, *Woodlawn Elementary School*, will receive $840. Students will attend a hands-on workshop at the Science Center of Pinellas County to learn about the water cycle.
In addition to the county's public schools, 10 private schools were awarded Splash! grants.
* Jenna LoDico-Cummings, *Canterbury School of Florida*, will receive $3,000. Students will create freshwater ecosystems and learn the importance of native aquatic and coastal plants.
* Stacy Morrison, *Center Academy*, will receive $1,155. Students will plant a water-conserving garden while learning about native and invasive species.
* Kathy Anamisis, *New Middle School*, will receive $2,998. Students will take a guided ecological kayak tour in Tampa Bay to learn how freshwater and sediments create a transition zone between river and ocean environments.
* Linda Jordan, *Northside Christian School*, will receive $1,571. Students will use groundwater, watershed and water cycle models to learn about water resources and conservation.
* Kathy Anamisis, *Palm Harbor Montessori Academy*, will receive $2,997. Students will study water quality in the Tampa Bay watershed and build a wetland model.
* Karen Zilhaver, *Saint Paul's School*, will receive $417. Students will use rain barrels to gain an understanding of water conservation.
* Lisa Peck, *Shorecrest Preparatory School*, will receive $1,195. Students will test water quality in the middle Tampa Bay watershed, comparing their data to the Tampa Bay Water Atlas.
* Mandy Newton, *Shorecrest Preparatory School*, will receive $1,805. Students will investigate water resources and participate in a mangrove restoration project.
* Kathryn Jewett, *St. Cecelia Interparochial School*, will receive $1,875. Students will take a field trip to an organic farm, investigating alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture.
* April Rogers, *St. Petersburg Christian School*, will receive $2,700. Students will take a field trip to an organic farm, investigating alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/.":/publications
Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Pinellas County to the strong partnership with Pinellas County Schools. Julie Poth, K–8 science supervisor for Pinellas County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out.
"The District recognizes the critical role STEM education – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – plays in preparing students for the future," said Hull. "With the help of the grant program, students will learn the importance of protecting and conserving Florida's water resources through STEM-based education projects."
The Pinellas County awardees are:
* Wendy Stanziano, *Academie Davinci*, will receive $770. Students will conduct a water resources field study at an organic community farm.
* James Levesque, *Bay Point Elementary School*, will receive $1,725. Students will transform a campus pond into an outdoor classroom by using native plants.
* Donna Heres, *Bear Creek Elementary School*, will receive $1,682. Students will monitor and work to improve the water quality of Bear Creek.
* Janice Creneti, *Boca Ciega High School*, will receive $2,990. Students will retrofit an aquaculture tank to support hydroponics and establish a native plant garden fed by wastewater from the tank.
* Stefanie Frump, *Campbell Park Elementary Marine Science Center*, will receive $2,200. Students will conduct a field study of Brooker Creek Preserve and participate in a habitat restoration project.
* Annette Anthony, *Gulfport Elementary School*, will receive $1,532. Students will conduct field studies at the Science Center of Pinellas County and a sewage treatment plant.
* Amy Robles, *Gulfport Elementary School*, will receive $1,350. Students will explore the ecology of a watershed at Myakka River State Park.
* Pamela Morse, *Hospital/Homebound Program*, will receive $2,997. Students will conduct a field study at Sawgrass Lake Park and build a watershed model.
* Leslie Pohley, *Largo Middle School*, will receive $2,995. Students will perform home toilet leak testing and water use surveys, and create an aquasystem with native plants and fish.
* Natasha Coles, *Madeira Beach Fundamental School*, will receive $3,000. Students will explore watershed ecology, test water quality and learn how human activities alter the health of the watershed.
* Sally Wentzell, *Northeast High School*, will receive $2,300. Students will engage in hands-on learning through STEM-based water education field studies.
* Susan Carney, *Ozona Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will enhance existing hydroponic and aquatic systems, collecting fresh water with rain barrels and documenting water savings.
* Anne Weller, *Perkins Elementary School*, will receive $3,000. Students will create traditional and hydroponic gardens on campus, learning about water conservation and sustainable gardening practices.
* Suzanne Mizzi and Cynthia Barber, *Pinellas Preparatory Academy*, will receive $1,677. Students will engineer a Florida-friendly garden that will include a rain barrel.
* Mistie Meditz, *Skyview Elementary School*, will receive $2,800. Students will conduct water education field studies at Fort De Soto Park and an organic community farm.
* Maria Wyatt, *Southern Oak Elementary School*, will receive $2,999. Students will learn about water conservation, sustainable food production and water quality through hydroponic gardening and the use of microscopes.
* Jeanette Gore, *Tarpon Springs High School*, will receive $3,000. Students will evaluate a campus wetland area, test water quality, develop a watershed habitat management plan and plant native vegetation.
* Lauren Hipsely, *Woodlawn Elementary School*, will receive $840. Students will attend a hands-on workshop at the Science Center of Pinellas County to learn about the water cycle.
In addition to the county's public schools, 10 private schools were awarded Splash! grants.
* Jenna LoDico-Cummings, *Canterbury School of Florida*, will receive $3,000. Students will create freshwater ecosystems and learn the importance of native aquatic and coastal plants.
* Stacy Morrison, *Center Academy*, will receive $1,155. Students will plant a water-conserving garden while learning about native and invasive species.
* Kathy Anamisis, *New Middle School*, will receive $2,998. Students will take a guided ecological kayak tour in Tampa Bay to learn how freshwater and sediments create a transition zone between river and ocean environments.
* Linda Jordan, *Northside Christian School*, will receive $1,571. Students will use groundwater, watershed and water cycle models to learn about water resources and conservation.
* Kathy Anamisis, *Palm Harbor Montessori Academy*, will receive $2,997. Students will study water quality in the Tampa Bay watershed and build a wetland model.
* Karen Zilhaver, *Saint Paul's School*, will receive $417. Students will use rain barrels to gain an understanding of water conservation.
* Lisa Peck, *Shorecrest Preparatory School*, will receive $1,195. Students will test water quality in the middle Tampa Bay watershed, comparing their data to the Tampa Bay Water Atlas.
* Mandy Newton, *Shorecrest Preparatory School*, will receive $1,805. Students will investigate water resources and participate in a mangrove restoration project.
* Kathryn Jewett, *St. Cecelia Interparochial School*, will receive $1,875. Students will take a field trip to an organic farm, investigating alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture.
* April Rogers, *St. Petersburg Christian School*, will receive $2,700. Students will take a field trip to an organic farm, investigating alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture.
This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.
The goal of the Splash! school grant program is to provide teachers with funding to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Splash! school grants provide up to $3,000 per school on a reimbursement basis and are available to public, charter and private school teachers.
Past Splash! grant projects include student monitoring of local water quality, environmental field studies and outreach campaigns designed to encourage water conservation.
In addition to Splash! grant funding, the District offers free teacher professional development workshops and curriculum materials. The publications are correlated to Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards and can also be ordered on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/publications/.":/publications