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ASL Inspire Special Event Grant Application

Name: Heather Hagood

Title: Media Specialist

Preferred Phone:_770-867-5309_ Preferred Email Address:___hh09843@georgiasouthern.edu_______

ALA/AASL ID: 124567

School Name: __Impact Academy_____________________________________

School Address:___45 Lemon St ___________________

City ____MDonough_________________ State ____GA_______ Zip _____30253_____________

Please attach the following:

The application includes a two-page narrative that allows the applicant to describe their need and how
they will use the funds. The following documentation is required with the two-page narrative: a project
plan that includes a timeline, the number of students the grant will reach, a list of key staff involved in
the grant plus a short biography of each, and an itemized budget.
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AASL Special Event Grant Application - For a Cricut

As a school comprising 1,500 students, we need financial assistance to promote reading,

literacy, and authors. About six months ago, I took the role of the media specialist. The aim

from the administration was to increase performance among students in all grades. Having the

largest number of students, I was enthusiastic about accepting that role. The school needs

funding to purchase educational materials, among other items, to sustain the needs of its student

population. Inadequate funding has been one of the significant challenges leading to inadequate

educational and co-curricular materials, leading to underperforming. There is a need to get

funding assistance to create displays for books in the library, hallways, and classrooms. I am a

member of ALA and AASL and therefore qualify for the grant as per the eligibility criteria.

I engaged the Language Arts Department leader Deidre Mirand to work with me early

this year. Statistics indicate that the school needs library materials that require proper funding.

The school also needs funding to promote club events, author visits, contests, and reading

programs to engage learners. Following that, we enlisted the help of an additional stakeholder,

Rose Hudson, a pioneer in events and extracurricular activities. I realized that I should engage

other stakeholders such as the AASL through the Inspire Special Event Grant. Together with my

colleagues, I invited the school principal, Steve Thompson, to discuss our strategies. We agreed

that proper budgeting would enable us to use the $ 1.050 to make significant improvements in

one year.

The key faculty involved in the AASL Inspire Special Events Grant will include; Deidre

Mirand, a literature teacher and head of English Language Arts Department. She has been

teaching at Impact Academy middle school since 2020 as a permanent faculty member and has

been teaching overall for 16 years. Another member is Rose Hudson, aged 24 years. She
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teaches English and is also a leader in events and co-curricular activities. She has been teaching

for two years. I, Heather Hagood, have been working at Impact Academy since 2020, and

teaching for seven years. With my school experience and vast knowledge in reading, book clubs,

events, and author selection, I am confident we will properly utilize the grant to improve

students' performance.

The Cricut machine and the other tools and accessories are very versatile and can provide

many opportunities for our school. Displays can be created to advertise books and events in the

library, bulletin boards in the hallways and classrooms can be decorated, and safety and other

necessary signage. This is important to make our school a comforting and engaging environment

and increase knowledge on what s going on at school for students to do. The Cricut will also be

helpful to increase student engagement by allowing them access to create more elaborate

projects. The Cricut and the Heat Press can also be used to create shirts and totes that can be

used for fundraisers, sports, school spirit, and more. Set up and training should only take a week

after the materials are received.

Other involved faculty and I came up with an itemized budget. The equipment and start-

up materials will cost an estimated $1,050. The beauty of this purchase is that it can create items

that we can sell to purchase future materials and fund other projects. Most students in our

school, approximately 90%, are qualified for the free and reduced lunch program and therefore

qualify for the grant. We believe that increased student engagement and performance will be

realized through the grant and provide a way to fund future projects. With the financial support

from the grant, if offered, we will be able to address some of the problems of educational and co-

curricular activities that have been a significant cause of poor performance in the school.

We look forward to being awarded the grant and providing photos of the displays and

projects our library, students, and teachers create.

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Itemized Budget
Materials Cost Quantity Total 

Cricut Maker 3 $399.00 1 $399.00

 - DIY Machine Compatible with Matless Cutting Cricut Smart
Materials | Professional Level Vinyl, HTV Iron On, and Leather
Projects | Easily Make Classroom and Project Decorations 

Cricut Machine Tools $192.00 1 $192.00

Fine Point Blade, Deep-Point Blade, Bonded-Fabric Blade,
Rotary Blade, Knife Blade, and Scoring Wheel. These tools
allow the Cricut Maker 3 to cut over 300+ materials.

Cricut Grip Machine Mat Pack 12" x12" 3 Pack $16.99 1 $16.99
Use to attach heavy cardstock, iron-on, vinyl, and more to be cut
by Cricut.

Cricut EasyPress 2  $175.77 1 $175.77

Heat Press Machine For T-Shirts and HTV Vinyl Projects,
Raspberry, 12" x 10" 

Cricut Easy Press Mat – 12" x12" $24.99 1 $24.99

Shields work surface and fabric from being damaged by heat.

3 Pack PTFE Teflon Sheet $6.99 1 $6.99

- for Heat Press Transfer Sheet Non-Stick 16 x 20" Heat
Transfer Paper Reusable Heat Resistant Craft Mat 

CAREGY HTV Heat Transfer Vinyl Bundle:  $43.95 1 $43.95

80 Pack 12" x 10" Iron-on Vinyl for T-Shirt, 53 Assorted Colors
with HTV Accessories Tweezers for Cricut, Silhouette Cameo or
Heat Press Machine 

HTVRONT Permanent Vinyl, Adhesive Vinyl for Cricut $20.99 2 $41.98

 - 45 Vinyl Sheets 12" x 12" & 5 Transfer Tape Sheets Set for
Craft Projects, Signs, Scrapbooking (Multi-Color 50pack) 

Cricut Vinyl Transfer Tape 12X120 $16.36 2 $32.72

CAREGY Chameleon Heat Transfer Vinyl HTV 12"×12" 20packs $22.95 1 $22.95
Gradient Change Color Iron on Vinyl for T-Shirt 

Craft Vinyl Weeding Tools Set,  $13.49 1 $13.49

HIRALIY 15 Pcs Vinyl Weeding Tools Kit with 3 Pack 12" x 12"
Cutting Mats for Cricut, Silhouette Cameos, Scrapbooking,
Lettering, DIY Art Work Cutting 

Tshirt Ruler Guide  $7.74 1 $7.74

-for Vinyl Alignment, T-Shirt Rulers to Center Designs, Alignment
Tool with Soft Tape Measure, Craft Sewing Supplies
Accessories Tools for Cricut Heat Press HTV Heat Transfer
Vinyl
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Materials Cost $978.57 

Vendor Shipping Charges FREE

State Sales Tax $68.49
Estimated Total Cost $1,047.06