Midway ISD Education Foundation

06/04/2026

What started as a game quickly became something much bigger at Chapel Park Elementary.

Thanks to the generosity of Goochie Designs, students are building critical thinking, STEAM skills, collaboration, and confidence through the “Mahjong for Minds” grant.
Teachers shared that Mahjong has become a true gathering place across campus full of laughter, connection, strategy, and excitement. As students learn the game, they strengthen pattern recognition, number sense, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills in a highly engaging and hands-on environment.

Teacher observations highlighted strong growth in strategic thinking, collaboration, and confidence as students worked together to explain moves, develop strategies, and support one another during gameplay. The activity has also created opportunities for students to step into leadership roles and shine in ways they may not during traditional classroom instruction.

Even more exciting, the impact of this grant will continue for years to come through STEAM enrichment opportunities and after-school programming at Chapel Park.

Thank you to Goochie Designs and all of our generous donors for helping create meaningful learning experiences filled with joy, connection, and growth for Midway students! ❤️🐾

06/03/2026

More than 260 Midway ISD staff members received surprise giveaways, gift cards, treats, and prizes during the 2025-2026 school year.

While the gifts were appreciated, the real impact was the message behind them: our community sees you.

These smiles were made possible by local businesses and community partners who chose to invest in the people who invest in our students every day.

To every teacher, aide, bus driver, custodian, office professional, administrator, and support staff member who received a surprise this year we hope it served as a small reminder of how much you're valued.

And to our community partners: thank you for showing up for Midway in so many ways. Your generosity reaches far beyond a gift card or giveaway. It helps create a culture where people feel appreciated, supported, and connected.

Here's to another year of celebrating the incredible people who make Midway special. ❤️

06/02/2026

➕ Building math confidence can start with something as simple and powerful as play.

Thanks to the generosity of Specialized Public Finance, students at Hewitt Elementary and Speegleville Elementary are strengthening number fluency and mathematical thinking through the “From Concrete to Confident: Games That Build Number Fluency” grant.

These hands-on math fluency games provide students with engaging, low-pressure opportunities to build number sense, automaticity, problem-solving skills, and confidence through meaningful gameplay and peer collaboration.

Teachers shared that the games created increased student engagement and mathematical discourse while helping learners at every level from intervention students building foundational skills to advanced learners strengthening strategic thinking.

An added benefit is the long-term sustainability of the grant. Because the games are durable and reusable across grade levels, they will continue supporting students for years to come as part of ongoing classroom instruction. With the closing of Speegleville Elementary, these resources will continue serving students at Park Hill and Hewitt Elementary next year, ensuring the impact of this grant continues for years to come.

Thank you to Specialized Public Finance and all of our foundation donors for helping students build confidence, fluency, and positive relationships with mathematics! ❤️🐾

06/01/2026

🖨️ Innovation is taking shape at Midway Middle School - one student design at a time!

Thanks to the generosity of Grace Gardens Funeral Home and all of our generous foundation donors, students are gaining hands-on engineering and design experience through the “Engineering Connections through 3D Printing” grant.

This grant provided a Bambu P1S 3D printer that is now integrated into the middle school engineering curriculum, allowing students to design, prototype, revise, and print their own original creations while learning real-world engineering and problem-solving skills.

Students quickly showed high levels of excitement and engagement throughout the design process, developing foundational skills in measurement, scaling, prototyping, and design modification. Teachers shared that students especially loved seeing their digital ideas transformed into physical objects they could hold, use, and proudly share.

The program is also creating a sustainable future for engineering education at Midway Middle School through the creation of student-designed items such as sports hype chains, ID holders, backpack tags, and school spirit accessories that will help fund future filament, maintenance, and program expansion.

Even more exciting interest has already grown so quickly that plans are underway to add a second printer next year to meet student demand!

Thank you to Grace Gardens Funeral Home for investing in innovation, creativity, and future-ready learning opportunities for Midway students! ❤️🐾

05/29/2026

Good luck ladies!

05/29/2026

📖 Sometimes the smallest learners experience the biggest moments of growth.

Thanks to the generosity of A Storybook Christmas, kindergarten students at Chapel Park Elementary built confidence, independence, and excitement for reading through the “Little Ears, Big Stories: Bringing Books to Life in Kindergarten” grant.

This grant provided listening station materials that allowed students to independently follow along with stories, engage in literacy activities, and build foundational reading skills in a fun and meaningful way.

After listening to the book Ants, students successfully recalled information from the story and created writing and art projects about insect characteristics, habitats, and behaviors. Teachers shared that students demonstrated impressive engagement, confidence, and independence as they transitioned from listening activities into writing and creative learning experiences.

The listening station materials will continue supporting young readers for years to come by encouraging confidence, independence, and joyful learning in the classroom.

Thank you to A Storybook Christmas and all of our foundation donors for helping bring books to life for Midway students! ❤️🐾

05/28/2026

Thanks to the generosity of Extraco Banks and all of our foundation donors, elementary GT students across Midway ISD experienced hands-on, maker-centered learning through the “Some Assembly Required” grant.

This grant provided reusable innovation tools including a 3D printer, Chomp Saw, and Cricut that empowered students to design, create, prototype, problem-solve, and collaborate in exciting new ways. More than 400 students across multiple elementary campuses participated in engaging engineering and design challenges that encouraged creativity, perseverance, and critical thinking.

Teachers shared that students showed incredible excitement and confidence as they brought their ideas to life through authentic, hands-on learning experiences. From creating prototypes to solving real-world problems, students were able to move beyond traditional classroom learning and see themselves as creators, designers, and future innovators.

The impact of this grant will continue for years to come as these reusable tools remain integrated into GT learning experiences across Midway elementary campuses.

Thank you to Extraco Banks for investing in innovation, creativity, and future-ready learning opportunities for Midway students! ❤️🐾

05/27/2026

What started as a bold idea became one of the most unique educational experiences in Midway ISD history.

Over the last two years, Midway students helped build a real aircraft through the Tango Flight program gaining hands-on experience in engineering, aviation, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving along the way.
And the impact is already taking flight.

Tango Flight students are now pursuing futures in:
✈️ Aerospace Engineering
🔧 Mechanical, Chemical & Materials Engineering
🛩️ Aviation Sciences & Commercial Pilot Training
🇺🇸 Military Service
🧪 STEM & Research Fields

Students from the program are attending Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas State, Harding, Tarleton, MCC, University of Houston, and more.
This project didn’t just build an airplane.
It helped launch futures.

Read more about Midway’s Tango Flight journey and the students behind it in our latest story here on Page 18:

In this issue of Greater Waco Business, we explore the innovation and economic impact of the aerospace and aviation industry. Featuring insights from local leaders, aviation professionals, and organi

05/27/2026

Thanks to the support of the Midway ISD Education Foundation, more than 500 Chapel Park Elementary students and family members participated in an unforgettable evening of hands-on learning through “STEM Night 101.”

Through this grant, Baylor University and Dr. Alan Small from the Mayborn Museum Complex provided engaging STEM professional development for teachers while also supplying activity guides, materials, and resources that helped bring Chapel Park’s STREAM Night to life.

Families explored science, problem solving, creativity, and discovery together through interactive stations that filled the campus with excitement and curiosity. Teachers also gained valuable training, ready-to-use lessons, and materials that will continue supporting classroom STEM experiences and future STREAM Nights for years to come.

This grant didn’t just create one memorable evening it helped strengthen a lasting culture of innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning for students, staff, and families at Chapel Park Elementary. ❤️🐾