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Local schools benefit from First Kansas Bank donation
biz deh first kansas schools coin pic
USD 428 elementary school principals pose for a photo after receiving sets of quarters from First Kansas Bank. The coin sets are from states that were the original 13 colonies. Paula McClure, senior vice president, said the coins are intended to be used for hands-on learning when students study early American history. Pictured front row, left to right, Laura Blevins, interim Lincoln School principal; JoAnn Blevins, Riley School principal; and McClure. Pictured back row, left to right, Art Baker, Jefferson School principal; Mike Young, Park School principal; Tricia Reiser, Eisenhower principal; and Paul Snapp, First Kansas Bank president. - photo by Courtesy photos

Six local elementary schools and one middle school received donations from First Kansas Bank of Hoisington, Great Bend and Claflin. Park, Eisenhower, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Riley Elementary Schools, all of Great Bend, Claflin Elementary, and Hoisington Middle School each got a 13 Colony Quarter Collection last week.
Principals Art Baker, Mike Young, Tricia Reiser, Laura Blevins, and Assistant Principal JoAnn Blevins, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Ruth Heinrichs met at the USD 428 district office with Senior Vice President/Operations Manager Paula McClure and President/CEO Paul Snapp of First Kansas Bank to accept the coin collections on Tuesday.
“Kids have a high interest in coins,” said Heinrichs. “These coin sets will be a visual aid and the information packet will be a good graphic organizer. They can put their hands on the coin collections to help them learn about the 13 original colonies.”
Each school received a coin collection to use in its fifth grade classes, where the students learn about American history. The collections include an un-circulated quarter from each state, a booklet of information, and a storage case. The quarters are mounted in the case to show the back side with each state’s original design. The booklet contains information about each state, its history, flag and quarter design. It also covers the history of the American flag and the “Star-Spangled Banner,” its history, and author, Francis Scott Key.
“We really appreciate this donation. It will be a very valuable resource in our instruction,” Heinrichs said.
“First Kansas Bank is pleased to support our local schools with this donation,” said Snapp. “We hope it will help spur their interest in this great nation that they are a part of.”
First Kansas Bank is a full-service bank in Hoisington, with branches in Claflin and Great Bend.