During a special presentation at the Feb. 28 Northshore Schools Foundation meeting, co-presidents Karissa Webster and Kristin Austin presented school board president Julia Lacey a $35,000 grant for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.

Funds granted were raised as the result of October’s Annual Calling for Kids campaign and a grant from the Norcliffe Foundation. Programs funded were chosen through a biannual granting process where the district applies for support from the foundation to enhance learning opportunities for students.

Funds are designated to: support the updating and optimization of district-wide elementary Foss science kits; supplement the purchase of new science textbooks, lab equipment, learning toys and field trips for junior high students; the upgrade of the district learning center math curriculum; the purchase of a PCR machine for biomedical programs at Woodinville High; and the purchase of two upgraded hospital beds for the Career and College Readiness Health Sciences program.

In fall of 2011, the foundation introduced STEM education as one of five funding priorities. Since then, the foundation has contributed more than $48,000 toward the STEM initiative and nearly $100,000 to the district overall.

The foundation is currently accepting grant applications to provide funds for classroom projects that innovatively support the initiatives of the foundation, and scholarship applications for teachers interested in enrolling in the UW Support Program for teachers pursuing their National Board Teacher Certification.

As a means of support for its funding initiatives, the foundation will host its ninth annual Light a Fire for Learning Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. April 26 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. For more information about the foundation, visit www.NorthshoreSchoolsFoundation.org.