$22K in Grants Awarded by Council Rock Education Foundation

A sculpture using an artifact from the World Trade Center, raising brook trout, interactive fitness and an anti-bullying campaign are among the projects supported by $22,000 worth of grants distributed Thursday by the Council Rock Education Foundation.

This is the sixth year CREF, an independent nonprofit group whose mission is to support programs that enrich education in the district, has given out the grants.

Since it began distributing grants in 2007, CREF has awarded $82,000 to Council Rock schools for projects in science, technology, engineering, math, the arts, youth leadership programs, environmental awareness and more.  

The $22,000 worth of grants was up from $20,000 last year. “We have increased our grant award amounts every year,” said Suzanne Wray, Executive Director of the Foundation. She added the goal is to double the grant amounts next year. 

“The Education Foundation has become an important resource in supporting the district’s goal to provide the best possible educational opportunities to our students,” Superintendent Mark Klein said during the presentations.

Here’s the full list of grants awarded this year:

• Green Team recycling partnership ($782): CREF in partnership with the CR Green Team runs a recycling drive each year. Proceeds are split between CREF and the Green Team. 
• MakerBot ($2,457): MakerBot is a three-dimensional printer that is used in industrial, graphic and architecture design companies. The grant was awarded to Council Rock North teacher Jim Biglan. "This project will put CR students on the frontier of creative use of technology," according to the CREF description.
• Going for the Goals ($2,175): Newtown Elementary School students will write, perform and produce short instructional videos supporting the school-wide Positive Behavioral Support System. The grant was awarded to NES teacher Ronnie Yankovich.
• No Place for Hate ($623): No Place for Hate is a national anti-bullying campaign that empowers schools to challenge anti-Semitism, racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms. The grant was awarded to Council Rock North teachers Patty Wargo and Sarah Huskin.
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication Parent Support Group ($655): An AAC parent support group has been recently formed in Council Rock. Conditions addressed in this group include autism, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities.   
• Digital Reflection Books ($2,292): Sloan School students will reflect on their high school career by creating a digital book highlighting positive experiences. "The project will give students an insight of their self-worth and motivate them to use technology for self-expression," according to the CREF description.
• Inquiry Based Physics Lab ($2,200): Council Rock South students will use hand-held interfaces build on the most current technology available in the classroom to visualize concepts easier than books or videos. The grant was awarded to teacher John Lyzinski.
• Reflecting Hope ($2,500): Council Rock South has received an artifact from the World Trade Center that will be displayed in the school's sculpture garden. Students will work with area 9-11 memorials to coordinate the installation. The grant was awarded to teacher Martha Taylor.
• Trout in the Classroom ($1,400): Maureen M. Welch students will learn about conservation, animal habitats and ecosystems through this program that introduces cold water conservation by raising brook trout. This program will be used by the Ecology Club and during the 5th grade science unit on ecosystems. The grant was awarded to Gail Reinhart.
• Strum Along in Circle and Song ($1,725): This pilot program will implement guitar into 5th and 6th grade music classes at Wrightstown Elementary School. "This will create the power of community by promoting the responsive classroom practices of positive attitute, positive self image, desire to achieve excellence and ability to set goals," the CREF description said.
• Mobile Catalog and 21st Century Literacy ($1,810): This pilot project will explore utilizing mobile technology for Holland Elementary library class projects in connection with the District Goal of creating 21st Century learners.  iPads will be mounted onto bookcases, providing flexibility to remove them from mounted locations and use them around the library, both in group settings and for individual research.  The grant was presented to Laura Follmer.
• Multimedia Interactive Fitness ($2,500): Newtown Middle School students will be "engaged and excited about physical activity by connecting technology that is part of their entertainment word to their in-school curriculum," CREF said. 
• You be the Chemist ($1,208): This science enrichment program for students in grades 5-8 teaches chemistry principles, assists in preparing students for the academic competition hosted by the Chemical Education Foundation. Council Rock is the only district in Bucks County participating in this competition, according to CREF.

For more information about the Council Rock Education Foundation, visit www.creducationfoundation.org.