Mini Grants by Project and School
Spring 2012 Awards:
One School, One Book Project, Wagner School, $250
Grant applicant: Michelle Reasso
Grant funds will be used to purchase copies of Cynthia Lord's Maine-based book, "Touch Blue” in preparation for the author’s visit. All staff and students will share a literary experience and learn new ways to engage in reading and reflecting about literature.
Holocaust Museum Night Music CD, Wagner School, $60
Grant applicant: Dana Ross
Students developed musical skills, learned about history and about the “Degenerate Music Exhibition of 1938.” CD’s of student recordings were featured at a “Holocaust Museum Night” event at Wagner School with eighth grade students, their families and staff. Grant funds cover recording time at a professional studio.
Guitars for 5th Grade, Weatherbee School, $250
Grant applicant: Shelley Burcalow
Grant funds will be used to purchase guitars for 5th graders to use during music class. At present, no district school has a formal strings music program.
Enrichment Program, Wagner School, $250
Grant applicant: Tamara Cardello
Each Wednesday for eight weeks, students in the program learn, explore, and make new connections with community members who have diverse skills and talents. Enrichment activities rely on contributions of time and materials from committed community volunteers. Grant funds will help pay for materials needed by the volunteers.
Northern Stars Planetarium Visit, Wagner School, $250
Grant applicant: Tamara Cardello
The entire Wagner Middle School student body will learn about the night sky with a travel planetarium experience provided by Northern Stars Planetarium and educator John Meader.
Fall, 2012 Awards:
Mask Making Art and Art History Project for Smith, Wagner, and McGraw Schools, $250
Grant applicant: Mary Anne Hennesey Ashe
This project expands an already existing program using mask making, cultural, and art activity kits at multiple grade levels to educate students in multiculturalism, teach them about art throughout history, and engage them in hands-on, creative work by making their own masks.
Individualized Learning “Café” for Smith School, $207
Grant applicant: Jessie Gower
Grant will pay for three annual subscriptions to “The Daily Café,” an online learning resource that supplements teaching programs in literacy and math. Teachers involved in the project have already had some professional development work using this material and have visited other districts that are integrating individualized approaches, which align with the goals of Mass Customized Learning, an innovative system being considered in our District.
Kids Love Rain: All-Weather Gear for Weatherbee School, $242
Grant applicant: Susan O-Brien
A mini grant for Weatherbee School helped purchase children-sized, 100 % guaranteed, L.L. Bean rain pants for students to use for outdoor learning, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. School ownership of the rain gear will help to avoid cancellations or postponements of valuable field trips due to weather (an all too common mishap).
American Sign Language Mentors for Hampden Academy, $240
Grant applicant: Donna Casavant
American Sign Language (ASL) students at the high school will learn sign language with the help of non-hearing mentors.