Warden Elementary School was among 10 Washington schools that recently learned they will be awarded $25,000 each by the State Board of Education for improving state test scores.

Students get to decide how they want the money spent, as long as they follow state guidelines. The grant must be used on capital construction projects on school grounds or on other public property near the school, according to a recent board news release.

“That’s exciting! They’re the ones who have worked so hard,” said Warden Elementary Principal Jill Massa about her students. “We’re just really excited our hard work has paid off.”

Example projects include butterfly gardens, bike paths, play areas, and jungle gyms. Massa said her students haven’t yet voted on how to use the money.

The award, which is part of the State Board’s Apple Award Construction Achievement Grant, is given to schools that have shown significant increases in fourth-grade students meeting the standards for mathematics, reading and writing from 2003-04 to 2004-05.

—Taken in part from the Tri-City Herald