Two Lynchburg city schools to share grant

Two Lynchburg schools will receive a $200,000 grant to assist in meeting federal and state standards in reading and math through enrichment activities.

Perrymont Elementary School, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation and Central Virginia Community Services will share the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.

The federal grant is distributed through the state education department. Lynchburg officials received notification of the grant’s receipt last week.

“I think anytime you put in extra resources in schools and coordinate efforts and make learning a celebration with kids you’re going to see positive results,” said Dunbar Principal Brian Wray, who spoke about the grant’s importance and potential success.

Two years ago William Marvin Bass Elementary School also received the grant. Since then the school has seen measurable success in student achievement. As part of the grant a full-time project coordinator oversees the implementation of grant programs. One coordinator will oversee programs at both Perrymont and Dunbar.

At Dunbar, grant funds will be used next semester for after-school math remediation, a new Saturday math program called Get It Done and the expansion of Kids in College, a math program that partners the school with Randolph College.

Kids in College takes Dunbar students to Randolph College, where they participate in math exercises and dinner in the dining hall. The program has been a success, Wray said.

Additionally, as part of the grant this summer, rising fourth- and fifth-graders at Perrymont will get a taste of life at Dunbar through the Middle School Academy. In the summer a group of Perrymont students will come to Dunbar for enrichment activities. Wray said the grant gave his school and Perrymont a chance to work together.

“It helped both of us look at our schools,” Wray said.

Wray and Perrymont Principal Karen Nelson said they are excited about the Middle School Academy and how it will help students transition to Dunbar.

“Even your strongest student could use help with the transition,” she said.

For the fifth-grade students involved, it will leave them confident and prepared, Nelson said. For fourth-graders, she hopes it will get them energized about school and ready for the fall.

In the meantime, Perrymont is hoping to get its Leap into Literacy program started next month. It is also making use of the grant funds and will focus on reading and writing in grades three, four and five.

“We’re just really excited about the possibilities,” Nelson said. “To say I was thrilled when I got the news was a complete understatement.”