Foreign Language $125,000 ($25,000/year for five years) ?Habla espanol? Elementary students in grades 3-5 do! This grant is providing these students with a quality, Spanish language program. Learning a second language is of extreme importance in the futures of our students, and research supports the implementation of language-learning at this age range. The program will prepare students for a more rigorous study at the middle and high school levels. Lewis Will, a fourth-grader at Meridian Elementary, said, ÒSpanish was one of my favorite classes! It was fun and we learned a lot. Now, my sister and I can even talk to my momÕs friend in Spanish!Ó

Exchange City for 5th grade students $5,760 Exchange City is a hands-on learning program that gives students the opportunity to put concepts learned in the classroom to work in a real life simulation. During the eight week curriculum, students learn economics, government, math, social studies and career education culminating in a field trip to run a 'real' city for a day.

Summer library program for elementary school students $1,500 GIEF's grant keeps the library open at Parke Lane for summer circulation and provides an incentive program including enrichment activities for the students. Books may be checked out only by students registered with the Grosse Ile schools, but anyone may attend the programs.

Kids Against Hunger High School community service project $2,500 High school students in grades 9, 10, and 12 will create a distribution assembly line working with the local chapter of Kids Against Hunger in March 2010 during the days the 11th grade students take the required MME/ACT test. This community service activity will create 5000 bags of food that will be sent to needy students in other areas of the world and provide a practical lesson on philanthropy and giving back to those in need.

Earth Day celebration for elementary school students $334 In celebration of Earth Day, an assembly by Plant Protectors was held at both elementary schools to teach students the importance of the 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The grant covered the cost of both the assembly presentation and copies of the book, 101 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You are Twelve for the schools' libraries.

Middle School Media Center $3,134 A new reading program for 6th and 7th grade students was purchased that includes 36 highly acclaimed young adult books. The program includes a computerized reading comprehension program, copies of the books as well as 13 audio books to be used with students with learning disabilities.