November 5, 2003

ACE Night draws grant project displays

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       Sleuthing was a huge hit Sunday evening at the Eighth Annual ACE Night fund-raiser, held at Marshall Field's in Traverse City.
      Attendees at the event watched as members of this year's forensics class at Traverse City West High School showed off their knowledge of whirls, loops and arches as time after time they determined who had touched a glass object. Open to juniors and seniors who have completed basic chemistry, the popular class would not have been possible without ACE backing.
      "There is a very large need for ACE and what we can give to schools," said Diane Burns, an ACE board member volunteering at the event.
      Marshall Field's hosts the event every year with store associates volunteering their time. Nearly 75 volunteers in all kept everything rolling, from the gourmet hors d'oeuvres and drinks to live entertainment and teachers proudly sharing grant results.
      Other ACE-funded programs on display ranged from Slime TV at Courtade Elementary School to a garden project at Traverse City High School, complete with samples of their bounty. Reading, math, Shakespeare and Africa were some of the other programs made possible by the Assisting Children's Education Fund.
      "The kids love to have new books, they always love to have something new," said Angela Sides, principal at Silver Lake Elementary School, who said a $1,500 grant purchased 252 books for the school's Reading Room. "They like to have something of their own, at their instructional level, not get frustrated or not have it talk down to them."
      The funds raised Sunday night will be split between the ACE endowment fund and grants that go directly to the schools and teachers. Since it began in 1995, the ACE Fund has placed more than $150,000 in the hands of teachers, librarians and administrators to provide supplemental materials for students. These materials are not part of the annual school budget.
      The demand for ACE funds is far greater than the sums granted, Burns noted. Last year, for example, the board received 89 grant requests, totally $97,966 in educational materials. The winnowing process every year is a challenge but board members sift and ponder and, finally, make the tough choices.
      Burns added that board members particularly enjoy the glitzy ACE Night event because they get to see the results of the grants.
      "For us as we read all of the grants throughout the year, it is nice to see them come to fruition," Burns said. "It is a hard decision, there are so many teachers out there in need and so many good ideas."
      Lana Nickels knew she had a great idea to excite students at Courtade Elementary School about science. But after three years of being turned down by the school's PTO for funds, ACE finally funded her Slime TV idea for this year. She purchased a portable camera, two microscopes and - voila - her students can get up close and personal with the natural world.
      "I put this in my class, just because we were so excited about doing it and they immediately started bringing me things to look at," said Nickels, a fourth-grade teacher at the school. "They're learning, I'm talking about nine year olds learning about osmosis and cell walls."
      A four-phase garden project at Traverse City High School engaged students in all grades. Beginning last spring, students learned about all facets of gardening from soil analysis and preparation to planting, weeding and harvesting. Experts from the MSU Master Gardener Program and the Grand Traverse Conservation District guided them as well as lots of hands-on experience. One student, senior Aza Drielts, documented the garden endeavor on video, creating a seven and half minute work that was shown on tctv2 as well as at the ACE Night.
      "It's a work in progress, we're definitely learning as we're going," said Kim Hicks, a paraprofessional at the school, noting they plan to donate produce to area food pantries in the future. "It is great for the kids because they receive so much help from the community, it's nice for them to be able to give back."