Because of you
Your support. Their success.
Because of you, students across the Moline-Coal Valley School District are learning, creating, performing, and thriving.
The Moline Public Schools Foundation provides critical funding that brings meaningful opportunities to our classrooms, supporting both innovative new ideas and long-standing programs that enrich student learning. Below are testimonials from the 2024–2025 grant recipients, sharing firsthand how Foundation support has made a difference for their students, classrooms, and school communities.
☕ Morning Coffee Club
“Morning Coffee Club is a book club open to all students at Wilson Middle School and their parents/significant adult(s). Its purpose is to provide literacy opportunities for students and to provide a way for parents/significant adults to connect with their child through book discussions. It’s also a way to connect with the community of Moline via community members serving as discussion leaders.”
-Susan Smice Wilson Middle School - 7th Grade
🤝 WEB – Where Everybody Belongs Wilson Middle School
“WEB is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience. WEB Leaders are 8th grade students who help facilitate a positive school culture among all grade levels and participate in many activities to get students involved throughout the school year.”
-Hunter Johnson Middle School 6th- 8th Grade
🧩 From Classroom to Career: Transition Skills for Success
“Students have had the opportunity to practice skills of jobs that they would like to complete in the future, such as bagging, sorting clothes, hanging clothes, cashier skills, restaurant tasks, and several other day-to-day job tasks that are essential to career skills.Practicing these skills helps students stand out when seeking employment and prepares them to transition from Moline High School successfully.”
-Hannah Iams Lagerstam Moline High School 9-12th Special Education
🎒 Kindergarten Classroom Support
“Kindergarten is so grateful for yet another fulfilled grant from the Moline Public Schools Foundation! With grant funded Seat Sacks, our students are able to organize their most used supplies right at their fingertips!”
-Maggie Fournier & Christina Spindel Bicentennial Elementary- Kindergarten
🎶 Music for Every Student
“Without the support of MPSF, instrumental music would be out of reach for many of our students. Because of this funding, hundreds of additional students have been able to access and shape our outstanding music programs.”
-Mitch Carter Moline High School
🌷 Grow Your Own
“The Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher program received funding for a dedicated workspace to support the use of a Cricut, color printer, and laptop. This organized area allows approximately 50 GYO students to easily access and use these tools for projects such as bulletin boards, classroom d�cor, dioramas, and vision boards. The dedicated workspace models efficient, organized practices and ensures these resources can be used effectively without displacing other essential classroom materials.”
-Rebecca Meneses Moline High School
📸 Confidence Through the Arts
Expanding Perspectives: Enhancing Student Photography with Telephoto Lenses “Watching students grow in curiosity and skill is incredible. One student even had her photo selected for the cover of our school newspaper. These moments are made possible because of MPSF support.”
-Chelena Henning Saberton Moline High School
📚 Stronger Language Skills in Two Languages
“Story Champs has been a powerful tool for our dual language students helping them connect ideas, tell stories, and express themselves confidently in both English and Spanish.”
-Sara Garner Lincoln Irving/ Speech Language Pathologist
🪑Calmer Classroom
“Thanks to my Calmer Classroom grant, I was able to reorganize my classroom into a calmer, more functional space. Clear bins, flexible seating, and organized storage support student independence and focus. These long-lasting resources have made a meaningful difference for both my students and me.”
- Jamie Marsiglio Logan Elementary Special Education K-2
👏WEB Where Everybody Belongs - John Deere
“Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) supports incoming 6th-grade students as they transition into middle school, helping them feel welcomed and confident throughout their first year.
Grant funding provided WEB Leader t-shirts, creating unity, visibility, and ensuring leadership opportunities are accessible to all students, reinforcing the message that everybody truly belongs.”
-Alex Ryser and Sara Tubbs - John Deere Middle School
🎧A Welcoming School Environment for Multilingual Newcomers
“Our Wilson Welcome Project has given Multilanguage students the tools they need to feel connected at school.Translating earbuds have made learning and daily routines less stressful, helping students focus on success”
-Amanda Walters Wilson Middle School
🍳🧁 Cooking in the Classroom
"Children should have experiences in the kitchen from a young age, from making sandwiches, to mixing ingredients, to rolling dough. Cooking is a lifelong skill that can begin in the early childhood classroom in the cooking center. Valuable skills can be learned in the kitchen while also fostering healthy eating habits and a love of cooking."
-Karissa Utz Preschool Jefferson Elementary School