BLUFFTON, SC (WTOC) -
Teachers typically don't like after-school surprises. But one at Bluffton Middle School Wednesday was an exception.
Bluffton middle was one of 14 schools in Beaufort County to receive money from the Foundation for Educational Excellence to be used for specific classroom learning projects that are not included in school budgets. That turned out to be a nice reward for the members of the Math Department after they were summoned to the school office this afternoon.
"We are so excited to have the money and it's going to go to a great cause, so we are so excited and thrilled,'' said Kelly McMahan, head of the Bluffton Middle Math Dept. "Well, we were all a little nervous about going to the office because whenever there's an emergency we're all a little concerned. But this was a real surprise, we would do this any day.''
The $500 awarded the Bluffton Middle will be used to purchase math games and teaching tools to help students struggling with the South Carolina standardized math test.
"Any teacher in the Beaufort County School District is allowed to apply for a grant and we welcome them to apply,'' said Jan Davis-Vater, chairperson of the Foundation for Education Excellence. "We are really looking for grants that will raise academic achievement for all students across the board.''
And the foundation found one in the request written by Bluffton Middle math coach Kim Stanziola, who was not at the school when the check arrived.
"Oh, she's going to be so excited, because whenever you write a grant, a lot of time and energy goes into it and you don't know if any good is going to come out of it,'' said McMahan, "So she is going to be very excited to know her work paid off.''
The Foundation for Education Excellence awards its grants twice during the school year.
The organization will hold its annual fundraising dinner and auction at the Country Club of Hilton Head on March 2. For information on the event, call 843.322.2306.
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