The Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation's Board of Directors announced the recipients of the 2019 Spring grants. Twenty-four grants, representing twelve schools and totaling more than $14,0000, have been awarded.
A number of the grants support the district's efforts toward becoming better trauma-informed and to develop trauma sensitive practices.
Christine Bernard will use her grant to purchase items that help Steinmetz students develop self-calming strategies.
Christine Raetz will purchase materials so that her students at Washington Irving can make glitter jars, which are known to have calming effects.
Carrie White will place special floor decals in the hallways at Yates so that students can engage in movement breaks that help them better cope and learn.
Joani Trumpler will purchase flexible seating for her Pleasant Valley students which will provide alternative work areas.
Jody Hulsaver will buy outdoor recess equipment so that her students at Central Park can take breaks for physical activity as a way to learn how to relax.
Different people learn in different ways.
Jennifer Dobson will connect a project to her computer so she can better address the needs of her five and six year old visual learners at Zoller.
Dan O'Brien is buying a throwable microphone which will add a fun element to discussion and presentations.
Mike Sheridan will be getting a RODE RodeCaster Pro which students can use to create podcasts for the Oneida "Radio Station" and for creating alternative forms of authentic assessment as ways to demonstrate mastery.
Jonathan Younkin, at Hamilton, has created a thematic unit on bears and will purchase appropriate reading materials because students learn to be more effective readers when they know the content.
STEM education is vital for students to be able to function in the world.
Ellen Lin will buy materials to help her Schenectady High School Science Bowl students prepare for the Department of Education's Annual Regional Competition.
Charlie Reyes will his students at Martin Luther King on a field trip to Animal Land to help reinforce what they learned in their science lessons.
Margaret Tufo's students at Steinmetz will have an opportunity to take a floating classroom field trip on Lake George.
Jennifer Dreher, a forensic anthropology teacher at Schenectady High School, will buy a facial reconstruction kit for her students to use in their lab.
Learning how to deal with world is often a difficult challenge for students.
Gustavio Garo is creating a fishing club, which will help his students at Yates practice patience, develop physical skills and an appreciation for nature, all qualities that can translate into improved learning.
Kim Lencewicz will buy CDTA bus passes so her Mont Pleasant students can learn about using public transportation and develop basic job, community and life skills.
Nicole Peek's business students at Schenectady High School will learn how to develop business plans and selling techniques when they participate in the Business Plan/Shark Tank competition at Schenectady County Community College.
The arts have always been a focus of the SCSDEF.
Laura DaPolito's students at Steinmetz will engage in a three-week arts project in which they learn about dance and drumming.
Robert Krupanich will receive a Luxor Mobile Music Whiteboard to enhance his music instruction and integrate music and math instruction at Lincoln.
Stephanie Chang will purchase practice mutes for her students to use at home.
Katherine LeClair will buy ukuleles for the music program at Mont Pleasant.
Keith Pray will buy Jamboxx musical instruments for special education students at Schenectady High School because these particular instruments are well-suited for students to learn and perform music.
The schools and teachers are dedicated to helping the students develop into good citizens.
Under the leadership of Marty Oldfield-Maser, Mont Pleasant students will develop the gardens at the school and create signs for identifying what is happening in the front garden and courtyard.
Molly Schaefer and her students at Schenectady High School will work elementary students on reading skills.
Congratulations to the grant recipients and to all who took time to apply for grants to benefit their students.
The foundation encourages staff members to submit proposal for the next round of grants. Visit our web site at h
ttp://www.scsdeducationalfoundation.org for more information. Like the SCSD Educational Foundation on Facebook.
If you wish to support learning activities such as these, you can do so by attending the Education Celebration at Proctors on January 16, 2020 or by making a contribution to the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation, Box 3956, Schenectady, NY 12303.