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SJPS Foundation has awarded $235,098.57 in new grants to support a wide range of St. Joseph Public Schools programs. Special Fund Request grants predominantly support initiatives including classroom technology upgrades, St. Joseph bands and orchestra programs, STEM projects, literacy programs, and after-school enrichment. Specifically, grants were awarded this year for Key Club, robotics, building book love through school library collections, and WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) mentoring, to name a few.
The funding, announced by members of the Student Foundation during their “Big Check Day”, benefits all five schools in the district and over 2900 students.
“We’re incredibly proud to invest in programs that directly impact students every day,” said SJPS Foundation President Sam Abdelnour. “These grants help teachers bring creative ideas to life and give students access to tools and experiences that simply wouldn’t be possible through regular school budgets.”
One particularly new initiative funded using Special Fund Request grant dollars is the introduction of The WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) mentoring program to the students, staff, and culture of Upton Middle School in 2025. It began with a grant request by Assistant Principal Dave Fooy in 2024, and the next phase of the initiative was furthered during the 2025 Special Fund Request grant cycle.
The WEB mentoring program is a structured, peer-led middle school transition initiative that works to create a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for incoming 6th graders. Implementation includes training incoming 8th grade students over the summer every year to serve as WEB Leaders to the incoming 6th grade students. The program works to build early connections prior to the start of the school year across grade levels and intentionally fosters relationships that reflect the diversity of the student population.
Throughout the course of the school year the WEB Leaders act as mentors, guides, and role models, helping younger students navigate the social, academic, and emotional challenges of middle school—with a particular emphasis on equity, belonging, and mutual respect.
“Our 52 eighth-grade WEB Leaders have risen to the challenge, taking intentional action to make every sixth grader feel welcomed, seen, and safe. Through their leadership, they’re not just growing themselves—they’re building a culture where every member of the Upton family truly belongs,” says Dave Fooy.
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