S.T.E.M. and S.E.R.V.E. Initative

Impact: All students at Enis, and our future Tennis teams!

I am currently the High School Tennis coach, and I am also an elementary PE teacher. I have had the opportunity to coach several sports, and I am in awe of the success that our kids have. I love the exposure that our kids have to sports like volleyball, basketball, football, and cross country, and so on. The main correlation between all of these sports is exposure. I would love the opportunity to help showcase the sport of tennis to our students as well. I have noticed that my tennis players in high school have mostly not touched a racket until they reach grades 7-9. I believe that if we can help foster a love for the sport, we can bring our tennis program to the heights that the other programs have worked so hard to reach. 

Through the STEM and SERVE, I believe we can work to develop a love for a new sport to these elementary students that could carry on throughout their school days and beyond. I am seeking funding to introduce a new Tennis Unit into our Elementary Physical Education program. Currently, our school has no tennis equipment, and students have no opportunity to experience this lifelong, health-promoting sport. With your support, we can create a program that nurtures both physical fitness and academic growth. This project will provide age-appropriate tennis rackets, foam balls, portable nets, storage, and STEM learning tools. Students will learn the fundamentals of tennis-racket skills, serving, rallying, and teamwork—through engaging activities designed for elementary learners. The program also integrates STEM concepts:

• Science: Newton’s Laws in racket swing and ball bounce
• Math & Geometry: Angles, trajectories, and court dimensions
• Data Skills: Measuring bounce height, tracking rally counts, and graphing results

Our goals are to:

• Build foundational tennis skills and a love of the game at a young age.
• Connect physical activity to science and math concepts through hands-on learning.
• Promote inclusion by ensuring all students, regardless of ability, can succeed.

Budget Summary ($2,950):

• Rackets (30) – $900
• Foam balls (120) – $180
• Portable nets (6) – $900
• Court markers/cones – $100
• Storage cart – $300
• STEM learning supplies – $200
• Professional development/curriculum – $370

The program will serve every student in our school, creating lasting opportunities for healthy activity and STEM enrichment for years to come. Thank you for considering this proposal to help our students discover the joy of tennis while strengthening their academic skills.  

Sincerely,

SAMUEL ALANIZ, M.Ed.
Physical Education
STEM Academy at Enis Elementary