Grant funding will boost two programs at Chartiers Valley High School.
Teachers Kristen Steen and Buffie Faes were awarded $1,000 each from the Grable Foundation’s “Re-Imagining High School Little Bets” initiative.
Steen’s project is a student-designed, speaker seminar series, said Principal Lesley Krasman. AP Research students are organizing a one-day speaker series focused for juniors and seniors to participate during the school day.
Students will also support CV’s Vietnam Symposium by assisting with audience engagement and facilitating student participation, Krasman said.
“The overarching theme uniting the two events is the power of sharing one’s story and the important role storytelling plays in personal growth, empathy and deeper understanding: personal stories matter,” Krasman said. “By creating space for these voices, we hope to foster meaningful connections between generations while encouraging students to reflect on their own experiences and capacity to learn from others.”
The speaker list is growing, and currently includes several retired teachers and CV alumni, Krasman said. Six veterans are confirmed to speak at the 27th annual Vietnam Symposium.
Grant funds will be used to provide thank-you gifts and refreshments for speakers, Krasman said. The school also plans to provide a small remembrance item at both events for attendees.
Faes, a life skills teacher, will use funding to strengthen classroom instruction and transition planning for students through the “Specially for You” greeting cards initiative.
“Her program emphasizes practical, hands-on experiences that help prepare students for independence beyond school,” Krasman said. “In recent months, students have been creating handmade greeting cards by coloring pictures and gluing them onto blank cards. While the project has been a success in building creativity and confidence, Faes hopes to grow it into a sustainable small business.”
The goal is to stock cards in locally-owned businesses in the community, Krasman said. The grant will be used to buy a die-cut machine and supplies for cards.
