SPRING 2010 AWARDS - $16,829 awarded! (Projects to be completed between 7/1/10 and 6/30/11)

10S-1 Bridge After-School Enrichment (Year 1) BSS $2,000
Beth Goldstein, Johanna McKenna, Michaela O'Brien
Until now, BSS is the only elementary school in the district without an after-school program. The project will provide classes in Spanish, computer, fiber arts, animal and pet science, and band instruments. Experienced teachers will provide instruction, and a Program Coordinator will oversee onsite program details.

10S-2 Storytelling (Year 1) BSS $2,000
Barbara Black, Mary Porcino
This project will support the district's Writers Workshop curriculum by bringing storyteller John Porcino to BSS to work with five classroom teachers in grades two through four. Mr. Porcino will help students remember, shape, write, polish and present their life stories.

10S-3 Yoga in the Classroom (Year 2) Leeds $2,000
Hollie Marron, Janet Spearance, Karen Bryant
In six after-school sessions, teachers are taught to use yoga as a tool for their own health, wellness, and development. Subsequently they will discuss and adapt techniques for use with their students in the classroom. Year 1 of the project has proved that yoga can be a very useful tool for helping children focus and transistion from one activity to the next.

10S-4 Matching Books to Readers (Year 1) RFKRR $1,000
Andrea Egitto, Diana Ramsden, Susan Lavallee, Michele Siarowski, Carlene Osborn
Workshops will guide parents in matching appropriately leveled books with their young readers, and will offer reading aloud skills, and ways to improve children's reading strategies.

10S-5 The Human Sun Clock (Year 1) RFKRR $1,940
Michele Andrews
A sun clock will be installed by parents and community members in the playground area, and the Amherst College Planetarium Director will volunteer his time to teach the fifth grade how to use it. Those fifth graders will mentor younger students in its use.

10S-6 Inspiring Young Writers (Year 3) RFKRR $900
Margaret Riddle, Michele Andrews, Greg Kerstetter, Santha Parke
Six writing workshops will be offered for fifth grade students and teachers to develop fluent writing to recognize strengths. Teachers from other grade levels may also attend. Students will produce six or more pieces, at least one of which will be fully revised and published in a class booklet.

10S-7 Recess Nature Study (Year 1) RFKRR $1,973
Susan Lucey, Patty Tosswill, Lynne Lovett, Jayne Reeves, Lorraine Caron, Linsay Whittier-Liu, Pat Connors, Alison Gleason, Valerie Tompkins, Evelyn Gore
This project responds to the desire of ESP staff to learn how to guide students in their nature studies during outdoor play times. ESP staff will meet three times with a Hitchcock Center educator, to develop their knowledge and to create a nature guide for each season. The guide will suggest recess nature study possibilities for that season and offer questioning techniques to support the children's learning.

10S-8 What's Math Go To Do With It? (Year 1) RFKRR $1,016
Margaret Riddle, Beth Brady, Michele Andrews, Patricia Erikson, Rebecca Thomas, Pamela Maurer, Jen Crowther
This project will acquaint teachers and family members, working together, with the research that supports a new way of teaching math. The group will read the book What's Math Got To Do With It? and, in one-hour sessions, try out each of the four number operatins using strategies the children use. The result will be that parents are prepared to support their children's math education at home.

10S-9 Middle School Mentors (Year 2) JFK, RKFRR, Leeds $2000
Linda Hamashima Umbach
This project trains Middle School students to become peer mentors for elementary schoolers. With supervision from elementary after-school staff, the mentors assist with reading skills, board games, and art and science projects. After each session, mentors meet with project advisor for debriefing and support.

10S-10 Jazz Education (Year 2) JFK $2,000
Claire-Ann Williams
This project invites students from all four JFK bands to participate in a jazz clinic which is conducted jointly by the band director and members of a professional jazz quartet. Weekly JFK jazz band rehearsals will result in integrating jazz pieces in the three JFK annual band concerts. The JFK jazz band will compete in a "Junior Jazz Festival" competition at the end of the year.

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Last Updated: June 9, 2010