The Mini-Grants program is co-funded by CAF and Carlmont Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), with a goal to support student enrichment in the classroom.

The program strives to fund as many requests to the extent feasible with an equitable spread across departments. These grants help students engage with the curriculum, spark connections and conversations, and leave a lasting impression.

The Mini-Grants program for the 2022-23 school year was funded by $12,000 from CAF and $25,000 from PTSA.

CAF-PTSA Mini-Grants for the 2022-23 school year

  • Carlmont Mock Trial team -funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Mock Trial team

    The Varsity team reached the semi-final in the 2023 San Mateo County Mock Trial Competition.

  • Math students using M&Ms to perform a chi squared goodness of fit test - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Math chi squared goodness of fit test

    Using M&Ms to perform the chi squared goodness of fit test is a memorable hands-on lesson.

  • AP Biology students looking at a fish tank for genetically modified fish - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Fishtank for genetically modified fish

    Genetically-modified organisms, and also a case of albinism, have all led to rich discussions in AP Biology.

  • Carlmont students prepare a stopmotion movie - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Equipment for Digital Arts classes

    Photography equipment and a teleprompter help students produce creative digital arts work.

  • Ethnic Studies community circle centerpieces - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Ethnic Studies community circle centerpieces

    Community Circle centerpieces help students focus and even bring comfort during class discussions.

  • AVID college visit 2023 - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    AVID college field trips

    AVID students tour colleges. AVID seniors were accepted to >80 colleges, including some they toured.

  • Carlmont students at local marketing project - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Business/ DECA local marketing project

    Mentors help students do web design and Google Ads for local partners including Learningtech.org.

  • Little Rock Nine speaker in Sojourn to the Past - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Sojourn to the Past

    This nine-day journey allows students to study the Civil Rights Movement and learn the lessons of social justice and community activism.

  • Carlmont PE weight training students - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Inspirational weight training t-shirts

    Students are inspired to work for a 400, 600, 800, 1000 pound club t-shirt.

  • Carlmont French students online learning - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Learning software for world language classes

    Online curricula and storage for lab-quality headsets help French and Spanish students.

  • Caf Ptsa Minigrant Math Whiteboard

    Math department whiteboards

    Helping students write and share answers in class.

  • Carlmont students using math calculators - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Math department graphing calculators

    These tools are available in class or to borrow for home.

  • Math boat project - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Math department boat project

    This exploratory geometry project involved calculating surface area and volume.

  • Student receiving Journalism Award - funded by CAF-PTSA mini grants

    Journalism contest entry fees

    Journalism students earned a number of awards and mentions in national contests