Pancakes for a purpose

Lori Hammelman
Posted 2/14/19

Members of the David Crawford Foundation are planning their annual Pancake Day, scheduled for Saturday, March 9 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Rochelle Middle School.

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Pancakes for a purpose

Posted

ROCHELLE — Members of the David Crawford Foundation are planning their annual Pancake Day, scheduled for Saturday, March 9 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Rochelle Middle School.

The all-you-can-eat pancakes event serves as a fundraiser to help Rochelle Elementary School District educators acquire additional resources for their classrooms.

Over the years, teachers have been able to purchase a wide range of supplemental classroom materials including math and science activities, special education and multi-sensory materials, musical instruments and seating materials as well as supporting extracurricular events.

Pat Casey, David Crawford Foundation board member, said district teachers apply for a grant, which includes their requested item, its intended purpose and dollar amount needed to purchase. Board members review the lists, granting awards from funds raised during the pancake breakfast.

“These grants are awarded to the teachers for their specific needs,” Casey explained. “As a former teacher, I know how much I spent of my own money. There are certain things we need in our classroom, and the foundation tries to help the teachers as best as we can.”

Adam Zurko, Principal, Lincoln Elementary School, said the foundation’s grants have helped to fund a variety of programs including flexible seating, literacy books and program for preschoolers, field trips, physical education incentives, common core manipulatives and social-emotional learning programs.

“The Rochelle Elementary District has been extremely fortunate to partner each year with the David Crawford Foundation,” Zurko said. “Lincoln Elementary School is very much appreciative for the continued support of the David Crawford Foundation and all that it does to support our students and their learning.”

Becky Cox, May School principal, echoed Zurko’s sentiments.

“Our first grade teacher, Mrs. Cooper, received funds to be able to purchase a classroom set of rocker stools which allow those little bodies to move and focus. The kids love them,” Cox said. “The resource department received funds for the purchase of reading rods, which are tactile tools for helping students practice their reading skills. One of the benefits of the Crawford Foundation is that it is a local organization; therefore, applying for a grant has a much better chance of being funded than if you apply for something else where you are competing with hundreds of other teachers. We as a school are very grateful for all that the Crawford Foundation has done for us.”

Jordan Young, RMS principal said the middle school has been able to purchase a classroom set of Kindles for students to conduct research and read articles, which spurs classroom discussion, tools for dissection in the science classrooms, audiobooks and several subject-specific books for classrooms.

“We have received many impactful supplementary materials over the years from the Crawford Foundation,” Justin Adolph, Central School Principal. “Recent examples are African drums and ukuleles for music, IPads, flexible seating materials, supplemental science materials and books that support curricular units. We have also received support for our Family Fine Arts Night and bilingual books for our dual students to take home to their families. We are very grateful to the Crawford Foundation for their continued support of our schools and programs.”

In memory

The foundation was established in memory of David Crawford, Superintendent of Rochelle Elementary District 231 from 1941 to 1972. The foundation’s purpose is to provide support for enhancing the quality of education consistent with the principles he espoused. These include:  A commitment to quality educational opportunity for all children, regardless of background or ability; respect for, and appreciation of, the diversity of the school community; instilling the basic values of citizenship, cooperation, fairness, and service to school and community; and ongoing improvement in teaching through creative innovation of methodologies and technologies.

Tickets

The foundation relies on donations from the community and money raised from the pancake breakfast, which is their only fundraiser. Tickets are $6, children ages five and under eat free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at the event or ahead of time at the May School open house on Wednesday, Feb. 20, Tilton School Souper Supper on Friday, Feb. 22 and Tilton School open house Thursday, March 7.