Major Grants

Enhancements to Secondary Visual Arts Programs

The Foundation approved grants to improve instruction in visual arts at the secondary level which led to significant classroom enhancements during the summer months.  Two Middle School classrooms were transformed to create age-appropriate environments in which students can research, create, view and critique works of art in a gallery-like setting.  The new classroom settings foster self-directed learning by providing art books, magazines and DVDs, as well as art stations where students can make art of their choice when they finish a class project early.  The new gallery area allows teachers to display student art and enables classes to discuss techniques and give feedback in order to achieve mastery over various materials.

At the High School, a grant was made to extend work accomplished by prior Foundation grants.  The growing popularity of the Art of Photography course launched using a 2008 Foundation grant required the purchase of additional digital cameras and a photographic printer, as well as new photography textbooks.  In addition, the grant provided digital cameras for the advanced art classes; a laptop cart, 15 laptop computers and two color laser printers to be shared by all PMHS art classes; and the creation of gallery space similar to that provided in the Middle School classrooms.

21st Century Teaching and Learning Tools

The Foundation made grants to the school district to fund the second phase of its multi-year “21st Century Teaching and Learning Tools” initiative. The tools include “classroom kits” composed of a SMART Board (an interactive whiteboard), a document camera (a device for displaying objects to a large group) and a laptop computer for the teacher. These high priority 21st century learning tools are now installed in every general purpose classroom K-12 through a collaborative effort between the Foundation and the school district.

The Foundation funded the purchase of classroom kits and a cart of laptop computers for the three secondary art classrooms. A second donation funded 21st century tools for 10 elementary art, music and general purpose classrooms, one classroom and the library in the Middle School, and five High School classrooms.

Technology Professional Development

In order to ensure that all teachers would have the skills to use 21st century teaching tools effectively, the Foundation supported the rapid infusion of new technologies by providing an intensive summer technology workshop. The workshop prepared 14 teachers, representing all disciplines and grade levels, to act as technology coaches for the next school year. Working with their colleagues in regularly scheduled, mandatory professional development meetings, the coaches will train teachers to use technology tools to differentiate instruction, assess learning throughout lessons, and better engage students in analysis, critical thinking and knowledge creation.

Middle School Global Simulation

A Foundation grant funded a global simulation workshop that afforded seventh-grade students the opportunity to experience the challenges of negotiation and problem solving in an interdependent world. Students were assigned to teams representing regional governments, non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations and the media. They faced challenges in economic and political development and learned about the impact of factors such as financial resources, technology, education, environmental concerns, human rights issues and public perception in working toward goals and averting crises.

Middle School Guitar Program

The Foundation granted a class set of guitars, music and storage racks enabling the sixth grade music teachers to add an applied music experience to the general music curriculum. Each student will study guitar for six to eight weeks, learning to read notation and play basic chords.

Exploratorium 2010

The Foundation and the school district, with the sponsorship of TD Bank, co-hosted a family-oriented Exploratorium. The event provided hands-on activities showcasing new teaching tools and techniques in language arts, math, social studies, science, visual and performing arts and physical education. In addition to workshops and drop-in zones for elementary school students, the evening featured guided tours and visits to some of the district’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Foundation-funded foreign language lab, broadcast production studio, fitness center and science research lab.

21st Century Teaching and Learning Tools for Elementary Schools

The multi-year "21st Century Teaching and Learning" tools initiative is a collaborative effort between the Foundation and the school district with the goal of providing high priority 21st century learning tools in every classroom K-12.

The tools initially consist of "classroom kits" composed of a SMART Board (an interactive whiteboard), a document camera (a device for displaying objects to a large group) and a laptop computer for the teacher.  The 2009 grant funded the purchase of 18 SMART Boards, 34 document cameras and 26 teacher laptops for elementary classrooms across the district.

21st Century Learning Exploratorium

The Foundation and the school district, with the sponsorship of TD Bank, co-hosted a family-oriented 21st Century Learning Exploratorium.  The event provided hand-on activities showcasing new teaching tools and techniques that prepare students for a global society that values flexibility, collaboration and creative problem solving over rote learning and received knowledge.  In addition to workshops for elementary school students, the evening featured tours and visits to some of the district's state-of-the-art facilities, many made possible by Foundation grants, and roundtable discussions with the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. 

Supporting New Electives at High School

A grant funded the purchase of materials required for hands-on experiences in the new Principles of Engineering course, which introduces students to basic engineering concepts and demonstates the natural integration of math, science and technology.

Several grants also provided materials for new electives in the visual and performing arts.  Art reference books and DVDs were provided for Advanced Placement Art History.  A grant for the Jewelry and Metalsmithing course funded the purchase of materials for advanced techniques such as enameling and casting.  The Art of Photography course received digital cameras and related materials.  Digital Music benefited from a grant for site licneses for the software used with digital keyboards.

Special Grants Using Targeted Donations

A gift of $3,500 from the Junior League of Pelham enabled the Foundation to purchase non-fiction titles for the Pelham Middle School Library.  Funds donated in memory of Joseph Stavola and Jeanne Serocke-Stavola funded $3,505 of equipment and materials for special education students.

Honors and Advanced Placement Preparation

The Foundation provided a grant to fund a pilot program during the summer of 2008 to increase opportunities for PMHS students to succeed in the School's most challenging courses.  Attended by 46 students, the two-week long Academics for Curriculum-based Excellence Seminar (ACES) program focused on improving reading comprehension, developing critical thinking skills, and preparing for both objective tests and written assessments.

ACES allows students who aspire to take Honors or AP level courses, but who do not meet existing criteria, to demonstrate their commitment to the higher level work while providing a foundation for success in the most academically rigourous courses.  It replaces an appeal process that allowed some students to access Honors and AP courses without meeting academic criteria, but provided no additional support.

Language Lab Expansion and Upgrade

The Foundation funded the purchase of technology equipment for a major upgrade and expansion of the language laboratory serving the Middle School and High School.  The grant allowed for the upgrade of equipment at 25 stations in the existing lab as well as the purchase of additional equipment for 30 new stations in an adjoining classroom.

The upgrade to the existing lab included adding a personal computer at every station with multimedia capabilities.  The digital equipment in the expanded lab now offers superior file storage, permits easy download by students and teachers to an MP3 player, and enables students to complete assignments on any home or school computer.

"The digital systems allow teachers to be so much more productive and students to spend more time actually speaking with each other in the target language."  Anne Marie Duignan, World Languages Department Chair
 
K-5 Guided Reading Leveled Libraries
The Pelham Education Foundation awarded a major grant to Pelham’s elementary schools to create Guided Reading Leveled Libraries.  Guided reading matches students to books that are “just right” and facilitates small group instruction in which students are grouped based on assessment.  This enables teachers to better meet the reading needs of all students, including English language learners, advanced readers and Special Education students.
 
Each elementary school is now furnished with a Benchmark Education K-5 BookRoom, which includes 2,736 texts; a wide range of teacher support tools; assessment materials; comprehension tools for teachers and students; and a system for organizing, storing and managing use of the texts.
 

Civil Rights Program at the Middle School
The Foundation sponsored a thought-provoking art installation and corresponding educational program at the middle school, presenting a visual and historical narrative of the 1970’s Civil Rights Movement. The exhibit was viewed by all middle school students, and the corresponding academic program was integrated within the 8th grade Social Studies curriculum, through varied learning activities and classroom instruction by the artist.
 
 “The Soles of the Movement program allowed our students to experience first hand how art and history can be brought together to educate and enlighten.” Thomas Tobin, 8th Grade teacher
 
 
Differentiated Instruction Program at the High School
In partnership with a private donor and the Special Education Department, the Foundation developed a multidimensional grant to strengthen the effectiveness of regular and special education instruction within high school inclusion classes.  Training, by on-site consultants and through Windward School’s summer workshop, helped teachers to develop co-teaching practices and to effectively differentiate instruction within their classrooms.
 

Broadcast Production Studio
A Foundation grant funded the creation of a state-of-the-art Broadcast Production Studio and the development of a new high school course in television production.  The course, now in its second year, provides students with an understanding of basic theory, techniques and procedures of television production, including pre-production planning, script and storyboard writing, taping and editing.
 
 “This type of hands-on and cooperative learning offers a welcome change from the more traditional classroom setting and facilitates teaching of both specific skills and broad concepts.” Brian Powers, PMHSTeacher
 

Fitness Center at Middle & High Schools
The new fitness center at the middle and high schools (funded jointly by the Pelham Education Foundation and Shea Family Foundation) is now in its second year of use.   This fully-equipped aerobic and strength-building center accommodates classes of up to 35 students and has fostered an expansion of the physical education curricula to educate students in lifelong health and fitness practices.
 
 “The expanded Physical Education curriculum teaches our children how to build and maintain a healthy body.”  Susan Hughes, Dept. Chair, Physical Education
 
 

OTHER GRANTS, INITIATIVES AND EVENTS FROM PRIOR YEARS:

Guidance: Counselor training at Harvard University's Summer Institute for College; Teacher training in recommendation letter writing

Language Arts: Writer's Workshop, Picture Writing: Literacy Through Art and Image Making Within the Writing Process  pilot programs at all elementary schools

Foreign Language: State-of-the-Art Language Laboratory and Classroom Multimedia Network for middle and high school students

Science: A State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology Laboratory at PMHS

Technology: Technology centers in the elementary school libraries; Digital projectors and SMART Boards at the middle and high schools; Alpha Smart keyboards in elementary classrooms

Facilities: Lighting and sound renovation at Prospect Hill auditorium: Nature's Classroom at Hutchinson Elementary school

Every year the Foundation Board considers a range of possible grants presented by teachers, administrators, parents and BOE members. Ideas and initiatives can be submitted to the Foundation Board of Directors at anytime.

info@pelhameducationfoundation.net  |  P.O. Box 8302  |  Pelham, NY 10803