2011-12 Grants

How Much Money Has Been Awarded?
Over the last fourteen years MEF has awarded over $130,000 in grants. This year nearly $40,000 in grant requests was received. Download the 11/12 rant Press Release.

This Year’s Grants:
Over $15,700 will be distributed to the following grant recipients:

Early Childhood Center:

• Karen Briggs- $866.62 for “Introducing and Reinforcing Mathematical Concepts through Literature”

Literacy is frequently discussed as an essential part of child development. Children learn and make connections through stories and pictures. Important mathematical concepts including shapes, colors, and sizes are explored during the early ages. The books purchased with this grant will be used to integrate literacy and mathematics to introduce and reinforce related curriculum concepts.

Jaworek Elementary School:

• Lauren Callahan- $876.89 for “iPad for Student Use in Speech-Language Therapy”

The development of speech and language skills for children with disabilities can be promoted through the use of an iPad. The iPad, with access to specific apps, will provide these children a new and innovative method for acquiring and building the skills necessary for successful communication. This grant will fund an iPad and several speech and language applications.

• Audrey Moore/Molly Callahan - $860.00 for “Using iPads to Connect with ELL Students on the Fly”

An iPad will be used with the English Language Learners to enhance their acquisition of the English language. The flexibility, mobility, and connectivity of this current tool is the ideal method for rapid language and literacy development. This digital resource will enhance and further learning as students become engaged and invested in their future as English speakers. This grant funds both an iPad and participation in The Education Cooperative’s “You’ve Got a New iPad –NOW WHAT?” course for both teachers.

• Carol Wood - $860.00 for “Listening to Reading – Daily 5”

This project is to integrate listening centers for listening and reading, a component of the Daily 5 literacy management system. Seven boom boxes, seven mono jacks, and twenty eight headphones will be purchased to equip classrooms in need so that the literacy program can be used by all students.

• Irene Mazmanian/Paula Emino - $299.95 for “Technology Update to Enhance Health/Wellness Curriculum”

As technology changes, so must our delivery of some aspects of the Physical Education curriculum. With tapes and CDs becoming obsolete, the iPod, iTouch, iPhone, and iPad are the standard for storing and sharing music. Our Dance unit relies on music and music is also used during many skill units where timing is the focus. This grant will fund a digital sound system that will allow Physical Education teachers to integrate with the current modes of storing and sharing music.

• Kelly Hall - $551.20 for “U.S. Regions Die Cuts”

This grant will fund the purchase of Ellison die cuts of U.S. regions and states. This will enhance the Social Studies curriculum by allowing teachers to create memorable visuals and hands on activities that meet the current standards. The dies will be placed in the teachers’ workroom and available to all staff.

 Recipient of the Carvalho/Roth Grant to promote literacy:

• Audrey McNickol/Tracy Jackman/Maureen McDonough/Rebecca Kaija - $2055. 90 for “Leading Strong, Efficient Writing Workshops, Grades 3-4”

The new Common Core Curriculum and the Marlborough Learning Lens Curriculum clearly define writing standards in narrative, persuasive, and non-fiction genres as well as writing about literature as specific areas of study. This project is intended to support teachers with the necessary tools and training to successfully guide students into becoming strong writers in all of these areas.

Kane Elementary School:

•  Tania Benedetto/Amy Ryan- $865.44 for “Independence Is In The Box”

As kindergarten teachers begin to implement the key language and reading standards dictated by our district’s new LEARNING LENS, they have found each and every strand can be addressed through guided and independent daily reading. They have also discovered the best way to individualize and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of their academically and culturally diverse classrooms is to provide students with their own book boxes. This grant will fund book boxes and books for every kindergarten student at Kane School.

• Jane Williams/Eileen Halliday- $1129.90 for “Document Cameras”

This grant will provide two document cameras for third and fourth graders to access. This newer technology will enable teachers and students to integrate technology in their teaching and learning . It will empower both the teacher and the student and enhance learning across the curriculum.

 Richer Elementary School:

• Julie Baker/Johanna Merfield- $258.86 for “Student Mural Celebrating Diversity in the School”

The mural will visually communicate some of the values that keep Richer School united as a positive school community. They are planning a vibrant work of art that integrates the celebration of diversity within the school. The mural will highlight themes included in the Richer core values, such as respect and cooperation.

• Paula DiPerri/Joan D’Onofrio- $1637.90 for “Read Naturally â for Fourth Grade Fluency”

Read Naturally â , a supplemental reading and writing fluency and comprehension program, addresses the needs of a broad range of at-risk readers by supporting classroom instruction in essential components of reading and writing. Richer’s fluency lab will receive new instructional materials for fourth grade.

Whitcomb School:

• Lauren Yurkus/Jeanne Gutowski- $898.95 for “Specialized Programs to Enhance and Access Communication”

This grant will fund an iPad and communications applications for individualized communication and socialization in and out of the classroom for nonverbal students. It will also provide students with language disabilities opportunities to practice their skills on a highly motivating and interactive device.

• Erin Casey/Joy Collier/Danielle Martins-$390.00 for “BrainPOP for all Learners”

BrainPOP is a website that teaches and reviews contents through lively and engaging animated movies that reinforce concepts and vocabulary. The BrainPOP for all Learners project is intended to enhance the learning of 8 th grade math students and ELL students in grades 5-8 by integrating technology into the classrooms.

Recipient of the FishEye Software Grant to promote technology:

• Jeff Gay- $2194.50 for “Bridge and Tower Tester with PDE Display”

This bridge and tower tester will motivate students to understand the engineering design process and learn how forces can affect structures they design while utilizing technology to collect data to determine peak and breaking deflection.

• Alfred Massicotte-$565.00 for “Document Camera for Teaching Writing and Reading”

The document camera allows the teacher to display exemplars of student work. It is easy for the students to critique writing and is an excellent learning tool. The teacher can also utilize this tool to project pages from a text for the class to analyze for recognition of literary devices.

Marlborough High School:

• Julie Baker/Kristi Oliver- $1454.68 for “Digital Work Station for Student Mac Lab”

This grant will fund a high resolution scanner and professional quality photo printer in order to make the Visual Arts Mac lab fully functioning and reliable for students and staff. The addition of this equipment will also allow for continuing to display high quality student reproductions throughout the community as part of the K-12 Permanent Art Collection.

The Foundation extends its thanks to the other applicants for grants. The Foundation also wishes to thank the administration of the Marlborough Public Schools for their continuing support.

For further information, please contact:

President Valerie Cowan 508-481-0008 or vlcowan@comcast.net

Vice President Michael Brossi 508-460-1755 or michael@brossters.org

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