Scott Cook

Varsity Middle School Principal Scott Cook has received some good news concerning his school from Bealls department stores. His school has been named one of 76 finalists in newly launched program, Bealls & whistles for Schools, which will provide $10,000 to 10 different Florida schools.

According to Mary Beth Fox, vice president of marketing for Bealls, the program was begun in August of last year and more than 350 Florida schools turned in grant applications to their local Bealls store for a variety of projects.

She said that each of the 76 Bealls stores has now chosen a finalist based on the most compelling need, the best plan of action to address that need, and the best use of funds to create the most school-wide impact.

“Am I excited? You bet I am,” said Varsity Middle School Principal Cook.

“That much money would mean so much for us. We have a great school here in Lehigh and we have great students. We can put that money to use to make it even a better school,” he said.

Cook said if his school is lucky enough to get a $10,000 grant from the Bealls program, he will introduce the Kagan Structures Program to his school. Basically, the innovative program, which is being used in some other schools in Southwest Florida produces revolutionary positive results.

According to promotion material with the Kagan program, teachers, schools, and districts now use Kagan Structures to increase academic achievement, improve ethnic relations, enhance self-esteem, create a more harmonious classroom climate, reduce discipline problems, and develop students’ social skills and character virtues.

“We’re very excited about that possibility that we could be chosen as a winner of that grant,” Cook said.

He’ll find out if the school gets the grant as Bealls will make the announcements in April of winning schools in the state.

Fox said that giving children the best possible educational experience is very important to Bealls and is a wonderful way to benefit local communities in the long term, as Florida’s children represent the state’s future.

“We are proud to support education through our Bealls & Whistles for Schools program at a time when funding is often in short supply,” she said.

In addition, Fox said that is was their hope that by launching and promoting Bealls & Whistles for Schools, they can inspire local communities to get more involved in support their local schools.

“We’ve been gratified to see that, in some communities, others have already begun to assist their local school alongside Bealls.”

Those schools that have been named finalists include Kindergarten to 12th grade and include public, non-profit, charter and private schools in Florida.

Grant applications were judged based on which schools demonstrated the greatest need as well as on the executional and final soundness of the proposed project.

Fox said that in addition to being considered, each finalist will receiver five volunteer hours from its local Bealls’ management staff. A group of judges from Bealls corporate offices are selecting the final winners.

Varsity Lakes Middle School Principal Cook says the program he would like to

implement in his school will help to grab the students and engage them .

“It gives our teachers more tools to work with,” he said.

“A lot of training of our teachers would be involved and I know they are looking

forward to it,” he said. “The Kagan program has proven to work in other schools.”

“This is a way our school can become even more proactive in the community

and in our school district,” Cook said. “We’re just very happy that we are one of

the 76 finalists.”

Cook said the grant application went through one of the Bealls department stores

in Fort Myers.