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Urbana Couple Supports Thomas Paine Elementary School Science Literacy
Urbana residents Dennis and Mary Vidoni have donated $5,000 to Thomas Paine Elementary School to promote Science Literacy. The donation is part of the Faith Vidoni and Marian Van Dyke Educational Grant, which has been established by the Vidoni family in memory of their mothers.
The grant money will help Thomas Paine Elementary purchase books that promote science literacy. Principal Sandy Cooper says, “The leveled science books have been on a ‘wish list’ of the teachers at Thomas Paine for several years. Children use nonfiction books a lot in school. Having these books readily available at different levels will allow teachers to use science topics which easily engage students to teach reading strategies for nonfiction texts.” Cooper adds that the teachers are looking forward to the new books saying, “Teachers believe these books will help our students, regardless of their reading level, to understand key science concepts. Through this greater understanding, the experience of our annual science fair will be even more meaningful.”
Dennis and Mary Vidoni were on hand recently to present the grant money to Cooper at Thomas Paine School. Mr. Vidoni described the presentation ceremony as “heartwarming.”
Cooper says she looks forward to showing the Vidoni family how their grant money will bear fruit. Cooper comments, “We are very grateful to the Dennis and Mary Vidoni for their generosity to our Thomas Paine community. We look forward to sharing with them the excitement of the Thomas Paine Science Fair experience.”
Photo: Dennis and Mary Vidoni (left) present a grant to Thomas Paine Principal Sandra Cooper that will promote Science literacy.