Submitted by the Bedford Education Foundation
The Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) is proud to announce the funding of nine grants in our Fall 2015 grant cycle, totaling $15,000. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients!
To date, the BEF has funded $155,000 towards creative and innovative projects and materials in the Bedford Public Schools.
Click here to see the BEF flyer describing the 2015 fall grants
Davis School
The Davis School Kindergarten was awarded a $1,550 grant for costumes, props, and multicultural play food, initiated by Jessica Colby and Alysse Bridenbecker. These items will support all learners, enabling them to engage in more pretend and imaginative play in the classroom. This endeavor is aligned with the school’s mission statement, to allow more opportunities for creating an interactive environment in which children can learn and practice critical thinking skills through hands-on play.
First grade teacher Amy Cormie was awarded a $500 grant for five Hokki stools. The Hokki is an ergonomic stool with a convex base that allows rocking, twisting and turning, increasing students’ attention spans and concentration.
Michael Dattoli was awarded a $250 grant for five sets of KEVA Contraptions for his second grade classroom. The blocks will be used to enrich the Forces in Motion unit, using a hands-on approach to investigating how the motion of an object can be changed based on the design and building of different structures.
Lane School
Lane School librarian Linda Coviello was awarded a $2,090 grant for two Cube-3 3D printers for the Lane School MakerSpace. The goal of the newly created Lane Library MakerSpace is to creatively engage students using 21st century skills, to increase “hands on” student time and engage them with current, exciting cutting-edge technology. The mission of the program is Think… Design… Innovate… Create.
Noelle Elien and the entire Grade 4 teaching team were awarded a $5,000 grant for a Musical-Theater Workshop to enrich the Social Studies curriculum. All Grade 4 students will participate in a hands-on week-long workshop in which they step directly into the shoes of an immigrant to the United States. Pairs of classes will focus on one group’s journey to Ellis Island in the 1800s: the English, Italians, Irish or Russian Jews. The workshop will culminate in a performance at the end-of-the-year Celebrate America concert at Lane School.
John Glenn Middle School
Foreign language teachers Wendy Tanahashi-Works and Bonnie Klein were awarded a $1,023 grant for 2 iPads and apps to help differentiate the curriculum for the wide range of learners. Most Bedford students have been taking foreign language starting in Grade 3. These iPads will help not only new students moving in from other districts who may be new to the language, but also students who may want to try more challenging activities. The BEF is proud to support the use of technology in a curricular area that does not currently have wide iPad access.
Bedford High School
Math Director Patrick Morrissey was awarded a $1,500 grant for twelve TI-84 Plus graphing calculators for students in the Calculus Project. The Calculus Project began in the summer of 2015 with rising eighth graders attending a summer Algebra preview at Boston University. The program’s vision and goal is to support African American and Hispanic students on their path to Advanced Placement Calculus as seniors in high school.
Grants that will benefit multiple schools
Bedford Art Director Sean Hagan was awarded a grant for $1,023 for 6 Little Bits electronics kits. These kits allow students to design, problem solve and create a limitless amount of inventions. At Lane and JGMS, art teachers Candace Banks, Hailey Drummond, and Paul Harrington will pilot this program in select art classes. Click here to see Little Bits Drawing Bots in action.
A collaborative grant by BEF and BEST
The BEF and BEST partnered to co-fund a grant initiated by second grade teacher Pat Flaherty-Dawson. Davis School was awarded a $4,100 grant for a GaGa Ball Pit for the playground. GaGa Ball is a fast paced, fun-filled game, which allows a large group of children to play together on an equal playing field. This initiative is designed to increase student engagement in cooperative play through active games and to provide additional opportunities for students to develop positive social/emotional skills through authentic play at recess, while continuing to build a strong sense of community.
Participate in Bedford Education Foundation
If you would like to become involved with the Bedford Education Foundation, please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.bedfordeducation.org
The funding of these innovative and creative grants is not possible without your help! Please show your support for the Bedford Education Foundation with a donation or by attending our upcoming fundraiser, the Back to the 80s Winter Bash on January 30.
Loading ...
