CENTRAL KITSAP — The 2018 Innovation Awards for Central Kitsap School District have been awarded.

Six projects, totaling $100,000 in funding, will push forward for the 2018-19 school year.

These projects include:

• Create a sensory library to increase learning for Woodlands students that struggle to engage due to a sensory processing issue;

• Provide fitness trackers and tablet devices to several elementary schools to help students learn about and improve their overall health;

• Purchase field-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) equipment that will allow PineCrest fourth- and fifth-graders to learn more about the Clear Creek ecosystem;

• Expand the use of virtual reality headsets in Fairview Middle School classrooms, and provide professional development for teachers;

• Start a mindfulness program for Clear Creek students to better support emotional regulation, behavior and academic achievement; and

• Support the Hope Mentorship program at Central Kitsap High School that provides at-risk ninth-graders with growth mindset training, positive work habits, resiliency and success strategies.

A total of 16 proposals were reviewed by a committee of board members, parents, students and staff. The committee recommended the six proposals that were approved for funding. This is the second year of funding in a three-year commitment from the school board to support innovative programs.

There were eight awardees for the 2017-2018 school year, totaling more than $140,000. Those projects included starting a high school robotics class at CKHS; allowing Klahowya students to recover credits through an outdoor-education program; establishing after-school arts and robotics clubs at Ridgetop Middle School and Silver Ridge Elementary and more.