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West Irondequoit Schools!
The West Irondequoit Foundation, a non-profit that benefits the West Irondequoit CSD, has announced four grants it will fund for the 2026-27 school year. Its President, Mr. John Loury, presented a ceremonial check donation of $45,050 at Thursday’s Board of the Education meeting.
Grants are initiated by district teachers and staff; applications are voted on by the Foundation Board of Directors. This year’s grant total increases the amount awarded to the district since 1990 to $1,195,699. Established in 1987 to receive gifts/donations to enhance educational opportunities, the WIF raises money to underwrite grants for innovative projects, equipment and programs. It does so via an annual fundraising campaign, events such as golf, cornhole and pickleball tournaments, gifts, donations and more.
Its next event, done in conjunction with the West Irondequoit Alumni Association, is the third annual All-Alumni Reunion Fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026. To learn more about the Foundation or make a donation online, visit westirondequoitfoundation.com.
Here is more on each grant:
Adaptive 12:1:1 Classroom Environment for Dake (Grades 7-8)
The grant aims to transform the current 12:1:1 special education classrooms into adaptive, research-supported learning environments designed to meet the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, sensory processing differences and emotional/behavioral regulation needs. Grant author: Haley Brunstad.
Post Secondary Program Dedicated Van Transport
The van will be used to transport up to six students and two staff members who attend and work at St. John Fisher University, supporting consistent access to community-based instruction, work-based learning experiences and independent living skill development opportunities. A dedicated vehicle will remove current barriers created by limited access to shared district vehicles and reliance on the St. John Fisher shuttle system, which is only available during active university semesters and does not operate for approximately two months of the WICSD school year. Grant author: John Keltos.
The Future Ready Center (Grades 9-12)
This project has reimagined and modernized the IHS Career Center to align with NYS’s updated Portrait of a Graduate and Pathways to Graduation framework. The new center, whose ribbon-cutting was Sept. 10, 2026, will serve as a hub for career exploration, pathway planning, industry engagement, and experiential learning in a redesigned, flexible space. Grant author: LaVon Bucciarelli. (see more about this grant on Facebook).
Cameras for IAAP, Photo and AP Art and Design (Grades 9-12)
Under new Individualized Arts Assessment Pathway requirements, students must create a portfolio that tracks their growth through a variety of art courses (six classes/minimum of three credits). Artwork needs to be archived digitally, but phone cameras are no longer accessible in schools. With this grant, each art classroom will have access to at least one camera for teacher/student use to aid in documenting student progress over time along with their final work. This is a requirement for both IAAP and Advanced Placement Art and Design. Grant authors: Suzanne Jacobs, Lauren Reinert and Courtney Cox.
The Future Ready Center
On hand for the Sept. 10, 2026 ribbon-cutting ceremony of the redesigned IHS Future Ready Center were (left to right), Principal Alecia Zipp-McLaughlin, FRC Coordinator and IHS Business Teacher, LaVon Bucciarelli, FRC Clerk Jessy Cook, Superintendent, Dr. Aaron Johnson, and WIF Board member and former IHS Principal, Dr. Patrick McCue.
Explore
The Foundation has granted more than $1.2 million to West Irondequoit CSD in grants initiated by teachers and staff for programs, supplies, equipment and programs!
"We are extremely thankful for the foundation grant you awarded us for our new garden club at Iroquois. We began this spring with building funds and donations from local businesses, and our students had a great time.! We had over 40 students participate in our gardening club, and they enjoyed learning about different plants and planting all around our school. "
Kristin Belknap & Tami Graham
Garden Club Advisors
The 3rd annual All-Alumni Reunion Fundraiser is scheduled for its traditional date - the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 2026. Watch WIF social channels for more information!