Polacca and Moencopi Day Schools receive joint grant<br>

For Polacca and Moencopi Day Schools, winning a nation-wide competitive grant means adding new programs to the curriculum.

The grant, titled “21st Century Grant,” is a limited, nation-wide grant awarded to the schools by the US Department of Education. Polacca and Moencopi Day Schools were one of eight grants awarded in the state of Arizona.

Each school will receive $380,000+ over the course of a three-year period. The money will be used for the administration of before and after school programs as well as summer programs and other youth services.

The 21st Century School Grant has an overall goal of providing a safe, meaningful, and enriching programs for elementary and middle school age students that enhance and support the local school curriculum and programs. The partnerships with local community youth programs and the schools are a vital part of the grant.

According to Polacca Day School principal, Bruce Steele, the funds for his school will be used towards after school and summer programs for both youth and parents. “The programs will outreach to youth and parents in our rural and urban communities,” he said. “It is important that our parents are involved because they are such an important part.” He added that his students’ parents offer great support.

Both schools, which are a part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, initially became aware of the grants through the Bureau and decided to collaborate with each other. Betty Paymella, principal of the Moencopi Day School, was in charge in coordinating the event.

“We are just so excited about all the possibilities we have,” said Steele. “We have a bunch of bright and curious students and I think that this grant will offer a huge learning addition for them.”

Principal Steele, also emphasized that the grants will not be received until the beginning of June. However, there will be a planning period where they will actually be sitting down with an advisory board and planning the events. “We will actually be setting up the structure of how the money is to be allocated,” said Steele. “We will be consulting with parents and others, coming up with a game plan, and just fine tuning the programs.”

Steele added that the community offers such a vital part as well. “The community will definitely have a say in what shape or fashion the funds will be allocated,” said Steele.

Steele commented that possible new, upcoming programs could be kids’ colleges, theater workshops, and dance camps —to name a few.

Everyone will have to keep an eye on all the unlimited opportunities the grant has presented for Polacca and Moencopi Day Schools.

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