BEF Winter Bash Raises Funds for Bedford Education Foundation’s Fall, 2014 Grant Awards

December 24, 2014
Selectman Mike Rosenberg and School Committee member Mike McAllister chatted with Superintendent Jon Sills and his wife Sandy - Image (c) JMcCT 2014
Selectman Mike Rosenberg and School Committee member Mike McAllister chatted with Superintendent Jon Sills and his wife Sandy – Image (c) JMcCT 2014

Submitted by the Bedford Education Foundation

Besides being a traditionally wonderful party, the BEF Winter Bash to support the work of the Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) raised much-needed funds to support the organization’s twice-yearly grants to Bedford teachers. In addition to ticket sales, the 80 items donated by local businesses and community members in the auction and raffle, helped to raise the evening’s income to nearly $12,000. Click to read the BEF Bash Auction Booklet.

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“Part of the good news,” noted event co-chair Marge Heckman, “is that we attracted a lot of new people which is exactly what we wanted to do.  It’s important for families with younger children to start becoming the “regulars’ as many of our long-time supporters no longer have kids in the school system.”  Co-chair Meg McAllister concluded, “At the end of the night, lots of people walked away with great auction and raffle items, but more importantly, the students of Bedford will gain new opportunities for innovative and creative learning.”

Door prizes or raffles and their winners included a spa manicure, Cindy Tulmieri; Waxy O’Connor gift card, Leah Adams; Atlantis Sports Club, Margot Fleishman; 50/50 raffle, Kate Desjardins; Scratch ticket tree, Sandra Michelman; iPad Mini, Cindy Taylor; wine basket, Krista Clouse; restaurant gift cards from Seasons 52, Café Luigi, b. good, and The Bancroft, Jeff Munsie.

BEF thanks everyone who came out to support the schools, all of the generous donors, and the hard-working BEF team.

Bedford Education Foundation’s Fall 2014 Grants

The Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) is proud to announce the funding of six grants in our Fall 2014 grant cycle. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients! To date, the BEF has funded $140,000 towards creative and innovative projects and materials in the Bedford Public Schools.

  • At Davis School, first grade teacher Mrs. Jill Beers was awarded a $2,500 grant for a classroom set of 25 Hokki stools. The Hokki is an ergonomic stool with a convex base that allows movement – rocking, twisting and turning – which increases students’ attention spans and concentration.
  • At Lane School, Special Education teachers Elizabeth Larrabee and Christine Shaw were awarded a $3,400 grant for 14 Forte portable word processors to replace outdated AlphaSmarts. The Forte  is  an assistive technology tool to help students who have difficulty with the writing process. The Forte is loaded with programs and features designed by teachers and specialists specifically to assist and support student writing.
  • Lane School Technology Integration Specialist Matt Hall was awarded a $1200 grant for 20 Sphero robotic balls and educational packs. A Sphero connects wirelessly and can carry out orders more than 50 feet away from the iPad used to control it. Mr. Hall will work with fifth grade students who will learn to program the robots perform certain tasks by writing macros.
  • At JGMS, English teacher Kelsey Little was awarded a $245 grant to create a comfy reading lounge in her 8th grade classroom as a way to encourage reluctant readers.
  • JGMS teacher Libbey Beinert Hunnewell was awarded a $200 grant for Project Adventure books and games. In addition to using these resources in her own life skills classes, she plans to share these resources with all of JGMS’s teachers with the goal of incorporating Project Adventure activities and experiential learning aspects into every classroom at JGMS.
  • Bedford High School Robotics and Tech Ed. Teacher John O’Connor was awarded a $620 grant for an ION Air Pro Camera and equipment to mount the camera to the robots that the classes build. His students will be able to see what their robots “see” and use the video in reports of the robots’ performance in different challenges.

The BEF has 2 grant cycles per year. The next grant deadline is July 15, 2015. www.bedfordeducation.org

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