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By Martin Woodard
Headwaters Vice-Chair
Headwaters, the Rappahannock County Public Education Foundation, is beginning its fourth year of operation and is excited about the future. Just like parents who watch their children grow, Headwaters is experiencing similar emotions of pride, joy and surprise as the organization changes and matures.
Headwaters fosters educational excellence by cultivating the cooperative spirit and resources of our community to benefit all our students. Over the past three years Headwaters has helped make a significant contribution to the educational experience in our county public schools. These contributions include:
• $20,000 in numerous grants to teachers and administrators for innovative classroom projects. Affectionately called "MiniGrants" because the amounts range from about $300 to $600, these small grants pay big dividends.
• Administration of the $250,000 Greve Foundation Grant, now in its third and final year. This innovative grant focuses on staff training, effective communication and improving the school climate for success.
• Over $23,000 in grants (with the help of matching funds from the Virginia Commission for the Arts) for a high school poetry project and three summers of activities for second through seventh graders.
• Locating funding to start the Book Buddies for Reading Success program at the elementary school, which is now incorporated into the school budget.
• Exploring the needs of county teens and pre-teens with the help of a $4,000 Youth Development grant.
• Supporting the Starfish Mentoring and First Thursday programs.
• Collaborating with the schools and other community groups in special projects during the school year.
• Providing informational education forums, and special events to recognize school staff and student academic achievements.
Headwaters continues to grow, adding new projects to the stable of ongoing programs. Other educational needs in the community are on Headwaters' agenda for their fourth year, including:
• Working with the community to meet the needs of local youth and the acute lack of productive, after school activities for our county teenagers.
• Working with the schools to develop an alumni base to chronicle the history of Rappahannock County Schools and provide future support.
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