Being 1 of 120 schools, and 1 of only 2 in MD to receive this grant has surprised me. Receiving this grant is important to the school because it is going to improve the library and this will help all students and their families. Qualifying for this grant alone means that we have a need. The needs are high FARM rate and inadequate library resources for our school population. This grant will be used to purchase Picture Books. This will allow students a greater selection and more opportunity to take the books home and read them with their families, this helping with literacy in the home too.

Reflection - This is the first grant I have ever written and received. I learned that I can write and receive grants. I plan to continue to go after grants to help improve Bester, especially the library and technology. Also in researching the grant I got a better understanding of the population of the school and the current resources.

Copy of the Grant in Word

Pdf copy of the Grant Recipients

Herald Mail Article

Herald Mail Article on WCPS approving the Grant

News : Bester Elementary Gets Grant

Posted by ChadMerrill on 2006/6/27 18:52:03 (74 reads)

HAGERSTOWN, MD- A local elementary school is one of only two in Maryland to receive one of the nation's most competitive grants.

Bester Elementary is one of 206 schools nationwide chosen to receive a share of more than one million dollars in grants from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries.

Bester Elementary has received $5,000. School officials believe the high rate of free and reduced school lunches at the school had something to do with why they were chosen.

"Families in poverty don't spend a lot of time in books, so this gives them an opportunity to get books and put books in children's hands so that they can come home and increase literacy across the board," said Teri Williamson, Bester Assistant Principal.

Bester Assistant Principal Terri Williamson said the school plans to put the money towards their picture book collection.

Reported by Adam Hudson

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