CUSD Foundation G.I.F.T. Recipients       This summer over 49 Grant Incentives for Teachers (GIFT) were awarded to CUSD teachers.      The GIFT program is funded by the CUSD Foundation, a nonprofit funding-raising organization which operates separately from the school district. Over the past thirteen years the Foundation has raised nearly $1,000,000 for CUSD students, teachers and schools.      The Foundation was impressed with the educational caliber and creative innovation of the GIFT grant applications submitted this past spring. Here is a sampling of the wide range of GIFT grants awarded this year. In Science and Math GIFT grants… • provided for funds to establish a “CSI-type” forensic high school study unit; • purchased science software so students could perform real-world science experiments; and • funded “Fantasy Baseball” classroom kits which utilized real-life baseball statistics in order to teach ratio, percent, proportion, probability and graphing. In the Arts and Music GIFT grants… • funded equipment, computer hardware and composition software for choir, drama and music programs; • purchased computer and video equipment; and • funded a “Character Design Maquette” project which allows animation students to create and refine 3-D computer models of their original characters. In Language Arts GIFT grants… • supported literacy projects at various elementary and middle schools by providing age appropriate reading material; and • provided annual subscriptions to weekly reading magazines for elementary students.      The 2006 GIFT grants were awarded to the following teachers and school programs: Kamelia Farokhi, ANHS Erik Silberman/John Walsh/Bob Burns, ANHS Ron McDevitt, Don Juan Avila Middle Helen Smith/Matt Dwyer, Don Juan Avila Middle Michelle Miller, Aliso Viejo Middle Kim Jensen, Canyon Vista Lisa Gray/Kory Wentzel, Wood Canyon/Bathgate/Castille/Reilly/Viejo/Las Palmas Elementary Schools Jennifer Lynn Mooney, Palisades Jen Schwartz, Wagon Wheel Leslie Horton, DHHS Armando G. Gonzalez/Juan Hernandez/Aaron Flowers/Armando Gonzalez, Sr., DHHS Steven Scholl, R. H. Dana Maggie Burdette, Ladera Ranch Middle Leslie Whitaker/Chris McLaren/Marie Sykes/Leah Grieve, Chaparral Karen Gauthier/Leon Skov/Jody Guarino/Janice Killian/ Kellie Brown, Chaparral Jayne Martin, on behalf of Oso Grande Joan Calkins, Crown Valley Nancy Webster, Moulton Michael Schreiman, Niguel Hills Middle R. Lynn Olinger, Niguel Hills Middle Theresa Clarke/Kristine Cuevas/Shelly Kurtz, Laguna Niguel Ed Neely, on behalf of Bergeson Elementary Lisa Gray/ Kory Wentzel, Las Flores/Bathgate/Castille/ Reilly/Viejo/Wood Canyon Elementary Schools Jennifer Henchel, Bathgate Lisa Gray/Kory Wentzel, Bathgate/Castille/Reilly/Viejo/Las Flores/Wood Canyon Elementary Schools Kent Baker, CVHS Bill Redding/Lyn Harvey/Erik Johnson, CVHS Lee Kucera/Pat Schubert/Paul Dye/Jake Kearsley, CVHS David Hall/Mark Groothius/Megan Gutridge, Newhart Middle Melissa Corum/Diane Kinkaid/Polly Gryske/ Mary Guerra/Adrianne Taylor/Kim Harnetiaux, Reilly Michele Arambula/Lynn Souers/Karen French/ Kimberly Harnetiaux/Kelly Anderson/Roxane Blake, Reilly Marilyn Marestaing/Mike McMurray/Holly Flowers/Cynthia McGinley, Reilly Megan Donnelly, THS Ryan Scott/Robert Hughes/Joy Boomer/Tim Dileo/ Don Skaff, THS Diana Morgan, Tijeras Creek Bridget Beschen-Burke, Bernice Ayer Middle Ina Inouye, Bernice Ayer Middle Tracy Welter/Sheri Fitzgerald, Bernice Ayer Middle Robin Palmer, Concordia Doug James, Marblehead Autumn Chapman/Lisa Kerr, SCHS Thomas Morales, Shorecliffs Middle Karen Foster/Mark Brown/Heather Ponsen/ Tammie Heartt/Tina Cooper/Laronda Doyle/ Corrine Blum/Pat Sabins/Orla Fortner/Julianne Quirk, Shorecliffs Middle Kenny Moe, on behalf of Shorecliffs Middle Kathy Morales, Las Palmas Stephanie Huber/Mark Yanura/Carrie Browning/ Josh Wellikson/Craig Adnams, Vista del Mar Middle Jennifer Sullivan/Mike Sullivan, Ambuehl & DHHS Alex Gottdank, Marco Forster Middle Dr. Faith Morris, on behalf of Del Obispo Elementary