Several academic programs and classroom upgrades across the Blue Valley School District received a spontaneous financial boost this week.

The Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s “Surprise Squad” spent Thursday morning surprising teachers across the district with grant funding. The event serves as the foundation’s biggest one-day grant giveaway of the year.

Throughout the day, grants went toward districtwide and school-specific programs teachers have requested funding for. The event served as a fun way of finding out their proposal was selected. The teachers’ funding requests ranged from classroom supplies and new building features to new music and mental health programs.

This year, the foundation’s Surprise Squad gave out more than $400,000 in grant funding.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend today than by giving out and surprising a lot of amazing teachers with these grants,” said Blue Valley Educational Foundation Board President Katie Bruels. “We love being able to give back to our schools.”

Here’s how the day of surprises looked across the district.