IPEF Highlights



Kids Enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk & The Santa Claus Caper

During November and December, kids from the District 204 community were gleefully entertained by a talented cast from AlphaBet Soup Productions. Sponsored by the IPEF, Jack and the Beanstalk was presented on Nov. 19 at Waubonsie Valley H.S. and The Santa Claus Caper was performed on Dec. 17 at Metea Valley H.S. Also, at the conclusion of each children's play (musical), the cast members greeted their audience -- signing autographs and posing for photos -- as the families left the auditoriums at both schools.

A few of the photos taken during and after these performances can be viewed above and in our website's home-page slide show. But there are many more you can see by visiting the Photo Gallery (link is at left) and then clicking on Fund Raisers.

These photos can be found there because we do consider such AlphaBet Soup performances to be fund-raisers. Although the amount raised is small, as always we use the proceeds to support more educational enrichments for 204 students. For those of you who know a bargain when you see one, the tickets for these productions continue to be only $5 per person. So, in February 2012, be sure to look for the announcements about the next AlphaBet Soup performance, Beauty and the Beast, which will be presented at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, on the stage of the Neuqua Valley H.S. auditorium.

Since the Foundation was established in 1988, it has provided more than $2.7 million to fund educational extras for Dist. 204 students -- extras that otherwise wouldn't be funded by tax dollars, such as grants to staff members, the science and technology fairs, and student-achievement-recognition events. Another example of such educational enrichments is the Fine Arts Festival, which currently is being fully funded by the IPEF. Held at all three 204 high schools in May of each year, this outstanding event showcases the artwork, instrumental and choral music, dance, and home economics talents of our students, K through 12.





Dances from Around the World

When the IPEF awards an Artist-in-Residence or IPEF (mini) Grant, we always hope that a maximum number of students will benefit from the grant. Sometimes the number who benefit is small, but in other instances that number is very large. For example, we were very happy to learn that when we awarded an Artist-in-Residence Grant to Owen Elementary School's music teacher, Katie Handy, just about every student at Owen -- more than 500 -- were exposed (first-hand) to many forms of global dancing.

Working in tandem with PE teacher Jared Folley (who also has received grants from the IPEF in recent years) to enhance the school's dance unit, Handy used her grant money to bring to Owen two professional dancers from May I Have This Dance Inc., which is one of Chicagoland's leading providers of in-school and after-school dance programs. During an hour-long all-school assembly, the dancers demonstrated and taught the students several innovative, multicultural dances from every continent, as part of the professional dance educators' Dance Around the World program. During the assembly and then each class during the rest of the school day, Owen students learned by trying such social dances as the salsa (South America, Puerto Rica), tango (Argentina), cha cha (Cuba), tarantella (Italy), bollywood (India), swing (USA), and rumba (Brazil).

In addition, 10 other District 204 buildings sent representatives to see the excitement and learn from the professional dancers at Owen -- so that they can have similar Dance Days for the students at their schools. As a result, even more 204 students will benefit from the IPEF grant to Katie Handy. Awesome!!

"The excitement, engagement, and learning experienced by Owen students -- thanks to dance instructors Chris and Amanda -- was second to none" according to PE teacher Folley, who also should have credited himself and Katie for the day's successful events.





Great Gift Idea: Pewter Replicas of Dist. 204 Schools

In 1999, the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF) tried something new to raise funds for the educational extras it provides. Pewter keepsakes - depicting the exteriors of each of District 204's schools - were created for the IPEF by Colorado metal sculptor Ben Cordsen.

For many District 204 families, certain school years are "milestone years." For example, your child may have just started kindergarten, or recently completed elementary school or middle school, or will be graduating from high school. In any case, the Foundation has created a way for families to remember the schools in their District 204 family history.

Each of the handcrafted pewter keepsakes takes about four weeks to make. And each is about four inches long and has the school's name etched on the front, with the artist's signature and the date created on the reverse side. They're a little heavy to hang on a Christmas tree (unless you place it on a sturdy branch); but they look nice in a small display case, like those you can buy at Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

At this time of year, the keepsakes make great holiday gifts and can easily be purchased by completing the "Timeless Mementoes of History" order form located on this website.

Each keepsake costs $12, plus $2 for shipping if sent directly to your home. If you order more than one, add another $1 for shipping each additional keepsake (e.g., shipping for two would be $3, for three it would be $4). Pewter Keepsakes order form.