Staff member uses vision screener on student

Aiden Kiselich, a fourth grader at Ray E. Kilmer Elementary, is experiencing firsthand the impact of generosity from local community organizations.

For Aiden, participating in standard school-based vision screenings has been a challenge due to his limited ability to communicate. “He couldn’t tell us if he had issues with his vision,” said his mother, Melissa Kiselich. But this fall, things changed. Thanks to a new piece of equipment funded by a $3,000 grant, split between the Tri-Lakes Women’s Club and Lions Club International, school staff were able to screen Aiden’s vision and identify concerns that had previously gone unnoticed.

The state-of-the-art tool is called a PlusoptiX Vision Screener, and is perfect for students like Aiden, requiring only a few seconds to capture an image of his eyes. Its engaging sounds and cheerful “face” quickly grab the attention of students, making the screening process smooth and stress-free.

Vision reading on a person

The technology is helping students like Aiden receive the care they need, ensuring that all learners can thrive. “The screening results gave us a starting point to take to his doctor for further testing,” Aiden’s mother shared.

Kristen Thiessen, School Nurse Consultant at RKES and Prairie Winds Elementary, recognized a need within the district and took action by submitting the grant proposals. “We felt there was a need to have our own screener,” Thiessen explained. “The Lions Club International helps us with large preschool screenings, but now we have the ability to screen individual students ourselves … kids who have never been screened before, which is helping correct vision concerns at an earlier age,” said Thiessen.

Thiessen can already see what a difference this technology is making, and the school only purchased the tool last July. It’s helping bridge a gap for children who struggle to communicate, ensuring that no student is left behind when it comes to