November 20, 2023

Empowering Young Minds: Mebane Foundation Supports STEAM Storytime at Cognition

Cognition Davie Children’s Museum is dedicated to promoting educational outcomes and exploration. While the nonprofit provides opportunities for people of all ages to play, learn, and grow, one program in particular consistently shines bright. In partnership with the Mebane Foundation, an innovative program called STEAM Storytime is making significant strides in early childhood literacy. STEAM Storytime: Igniting a Passion for Reading STEAM Storytime integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math activities with engaging storytelling for young children. Cognition’s program comprises a reading session followed by a related STEAM activity or craft, concluding with playtime in the museum’s main exhibit area.  […]
August 4, 2023

Davie’s Kinder Camps Prepare Students for Kindergarten

Squealing with excitement, the sixteen rising kindergarteners at Cornatzer Elementary’s Kinder Camp pass a ball around in a circle. Having fun, they have no idea that they are also practicing motor skills, following directions, cooperating, and getting used to what it will be like in kindergarten. “Kinder Camp really gives students a sneak peek of what to expect in kindergarten,” said Cornatzer Principal Raymonda Shelton. “It’s a chance for students to see what it is all about, which has been wonderful.”  Funded by a $25,000 grant from the Mebane Foundation, Kinder Camp is offered at all six Davie County Elementary […]
April 23, 2021

Mebane Foundation and Local Businesses Come Through For Davie Youth and 4-H Programs

When Mebane Foundation President Larry Colbourne saw a plea in the Enterprise for sponsors for Davie County’s 4-H summer camps he immediately asked himself, “What would Allen (Mebane) do?” — then he wrote a check.  “Allen read the paper every morning and I remember vividly how he’d call me into his office and tell me to take a look at a story he’d just read, articles similar to the 4-H one. He’d say, ‘I think they can use our help, what do you think?’  I knew all along we were going to help the organization, but he did that so […]
April 15, 2021

Smart Start Thanks Community for Help Meeting Mebane Foundation Challenge Grant

Drumroll please! Smart Start of Davie County is proud to announce that the $10,000 Mebane Foundation Challenge Grant has not only been met but exceeded! Thanks to generous contributions from the Davie County community, Smart Start has raised $33,345 to fund its family support and literacy programs.  “We are humbled by the donations from local businesses and individual people in the community to support early education programs and Smart Start of Davie County,” said Gena Taylor, executive director. “We appreciate the wonderful work by the Mebane Foundation through grants that have helped us grow our literacy and family support programs […]
March 22, 2021

Davie County Schools Implement Heggerty to Support Phonemic Awareness

“Deep,” says Susan Shepherd to her first-graders. “Deep,” they repeat.  “Replace the /p/ with /l/,” she says. “Deal,” shouts her students.  Shepherd is guiding her students through their daily Heggerty Phonemic Awareness lesson. Phonemic awareness is the ability to understand that spoken words are made up of individual sounds called phonemes, and it’s one of the best early predictors for reading success. Recognizing the importance of phonemic awareness as a foundational reading skill, Davie County Schools (DCS) in Mocksville, North Carolina, adopted the curriculum this year as part of DavieLEADS (Literacy Empowers All in Davie to Succeed), its five-year early […]
March 12, 2021
Curious little child girl having fun using digital tablet alone embracing toy sitting on floor, happy preschool smart kid playing with computer looking at screen watching Letterland Videos online at home

Early Literacy Videos Support Davie County Pre-K Teachers and Families During Pandemic

Once the camera is ready, Stephanie Nelson begins to record another learning video for Davie County’s preschool teachers and the families of children who are learning from home. Nelson, Davie County’s preschool collaborative teacher, was hired with funds from DavieLEADS (Literacy Empowers All in Davie to Succeed), a five-year, $2.5 million grant initiative between Davie County Schools (DCS) and the Mebane Foundation to improve kindergarten readiness and to increase the percentage of students reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Her role is to support preschool teachers across the county in their understanding of kindergarten readiness based on the […]
February 18, 2021
Kellie and Sirena read “A Snowy Day”, the winter book on the story walk trail at the Davie County Community Park

Mebane Foundation Issues Challenge Grant to Support Davie County Smart Start

Instead of kicking up their heels, Davie County residents are being challenged to click a link. In lieu of its 10th Annual Hometown Hoedown, Smart Start of Davie County is partnering with the Mebane Foundation to promote early education initiatives in Davie County. Through this partnership, any donation made to Smart Start of Davie County under $2,500 will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $10,000). “Smart Start of Davie County has been a strong partner of ours for more than a decade. Many of their programs touch the very heart of our mission,” said Larry Colbourne, president of the […]
January 13, 2021

DavieLEADS Professional Development Provides Lifeline for Teachers During Pandemic

By Jeanna Baxter White When Davie County Schools launched DavieLEADS four years ago, they could not have known that the initiative’s professional development component would provide a lifeline to teachers as a pandemic forced them to quickly adapt to new ways of teaching.      “No one could have been prepared for a pandemic. However, a lot of what we had put into place prior to March 13th through DavieLEADS, like PLC meetings, guided reading, Heggerty, and Letterland, carried us through the spring and laid a foundation for our teachers as they now offer a combination of face-to-face and virtual instruction,” explained […]
September 17, 2020
Kerry Blackwelder works on word sounds with Kaylee Spade Mebane

Sharing the Love of Reading: Mebane Foundation Welcomes Kerry Blackwelder to HillRAP Tutoring Program

“I’m not finished making a difference in the lives of kids,” says Kerry Blackwelder, who retired from Davie County Schools in July, after 29 years of teaching, and is now eager to begin her second career as a Hill Reading Achievement Program (HillRAP) tutor for the Mebane Foundation.  “I am excited to be tutoring to continue to share my love of phonics and literacy with students. I’ve spent the majority of my teaching career teaching literacy and it’s my passion! I love watching my striving students become confident readers.”  HillRAP is a research-based, individualized approach to teaching the five essential […]