Schools

Education Foundation Awards 12 Grants For 2011

CREF said it received 50 application and selected 12 projects, which cover everything from energy conservation to hydroponic gardening.

The Council Rock Education Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $16,224 at a school board meeting Thursday.

Each year CREF, a charitable organization independent of the school district, awards thousands of dollars in grant monies to innovative classroom projects throughout Council Rock. This year, the foundation received 50 grant applications.

The 12 selected include:

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Let’s Build a Molecule: Teacher Jane Bonargo was awarded $2,000 for a project aimed to help fifth-grade students understand the concept of matter. All fifth graders will be provided with molecular model building kits for hands-on learning. 

iPad Astronomy and Science: Council Rock South teacher Gerald Fetter was awarded $1,998 to purchase iPads to allow students to view the night sky in the classroom. Students will be able to locate and identify celestial objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies in a hands-on way. Additionally, students will share this knowledge by hosting “star parties,” which will include presentations for younger students.

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ELL+ELL=2ELL: Christy Cojerian, Dorothy Braun, and Charyl Hills were awarded $1,388 for a project that will help bring English as a Second Language students up to speed. The program will utilize technology to make videos of verbal communications, plays, experiments, etc. Language and translator technology will be used to encourage new vocabulary.

Sewing Lab: Council Rock North art teacher Lynn McDowell was awarded $1,500 to purchase sewing machines to incorporate the use of fabric in art classes. Students will use the machines to create three-dimensional forms, integrate fabric into metal designs, and embroider artwork.

Igniting an Early Passion for Mathematics: Rolling Hills Elementary School Teacher Julie Eastburn was awarded $300 for a project that will bring an interactive, web-based program called Dreambox Learning to first- and second-grade students struggling with math.

Sixth-Grade Botany Club: Nancy Williams and Tom Ohlson will help students create a hydroponic vegetable garden at the school. A horticulturalist from Bucks County Gardens will assist the students, who will also travel to a local greenhouse to learn more from professionals.

Read to Succeed: Shannon Gehman and Debra Gniewek of Council Rock South were awarded $1,800 for a program that utilizes audio books to increase word comprehension and vocabulary expansion.

Wait Watt?:  Joseph Holm was awarded $1,750 for a program that will enable students of Holland, Newtown, and Richboro middle schools to identify sources of wasted energy usage at home and school. Earth science students will have access to devices that monitor their home energy use over a period of three weeks. The project is aimed to teach energy conservation.

Holland Elementary School Annual Friendship Day: Holland Elementary School teachers Melanie Kiker and Theresa Mignacci received $350 so that intensive learning support students can participate in a community service project to make and sell friendship bracelets. All proceeds will benefit the Miracle League.

Electric City at Winter Wonderland: Rolling Hills Elementary School teachers Suzanne Swenson and Kelly Mack received $474 to create an electric village that will be showcased as a Winter Wonderland display, providing a hands-on opportunity for students studying electricity to truly understand the concept.

Council Rock South Peer Mentoring Program: Irene Cavatore was awarded $1,000 for a program that will help freshman transition into high school. The program will train 80 student mentors, who will meet with freshman groups in their homerooms. A freshman support group will established for students in need.

I-News Council Rock: Sandra Durkin and Amy Smith of Sol Feinstone and Holland Elementary schools were awarded the 2011 Robert H. Winters Memorial Grant for a project that will enable students to become reporters and producers of news to inform the school communities. Students will create newscasts and integrate multimedia technology to make videos for the school websites. Robert H. Winters was a dedicated educator and administrator whose vision helped resurrect the Council Rock Education Foundation, members said.

For more information about CREF, visit www.crsd.org/cref.


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