Providing students with opportunities is important

In existence for more than 30 years, the Lake Holcombe Education Foundation (LHEF) has provided an unknown amount of experiences and funding for the students at Lake Holcombe School. In fact, just since 2022, the group has awarded more than $25,000 in grants, back to the district. “The whole purpose, with this mission statement, is that it provides educational opportunities for the students… and that can get pretty creative,” said LEHF president Jamie Tester-Morfoot. “We’re not locked into…what education means.” With the exception of providing funding for food, the LHEF awards classroom grants to teachers, for things such as inventive and engaging seating, updated book material or equipment for creation/experimenting. “We’ve been able to support a lot of those things,” said Morfoot. Depending on the amount applied for, grants could be awarded for $250 to $2,500, for things like field trips, the sawmill project, weight room expansion and remodel, hydroponics expansion, books for summer break, preschool storytime, special speakers and presentations for schoolwide assemblies. Because they know how much teachers put into classrooms, out of their own pockets, the LHEF strives to provide beyond what the school budget cannot. In order to do so, cash raffles are held, as well as the annual Homecoming tailgate party during the fall football game and penny wars, between the elementary classes, which gets the students involved. “Through fundraising, they help us to bring events to our school,” said Morfoot. However, the LHEF is made up of only a handful of people and help is needed, to continue providing opportunities. That can come in the form of purchasing/selling raffle tickets, volunteering at LHEF-sponsored events and donating to the organization. “We realize a committee can sometimes be a lot for people,” said Morfoot. “Those kinds of things help us a ton.” To become a member of the organization or learn more about its mission, contact Morfoot, ar LHEF@lakeholcombe. k12.wi.us.