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SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — The first $3,380 grant from Marshwood Education Foundation was awarded to Central School second-grade teacher Pam Mulcahey and parent Brian Evan-Jones for “Literacy Through Poetry.” The grant will fund an artist-in-residence program to support second-graders in poetry writing.

In addition, the residency will support a creative writing group for students in Grades 1-3, along with mentors from Marshwood High School. The residency program will work with second-grade students and teachers to help build student confidence and writing skills and improve teacher instruction. Each student will have one poem published and printed by Chapbooks. A student-parent writing event is also planned to give students and parents the opportunity to write a poem together.

The second grant, in the amount of $5,100, was awarded to Diane Reppucci at Eliot Elementary to fund “Local Stories,” an integrated arts project that combines local history, research and community collaboration to create a mural that documents and preserves the stories of Eliot. Two artists-in-residence from “Local Stories” will work with all second-grade students to help them conduct interviews, research and investigations to create a school mobile mural and a live-theater performance.

Congratulations to the Marshwood Education Foundation for funding two projects recently that will benefit learners in their communities.

Two teachers at Marshwood High School were surprised by the foundation’s “grant patrol” in front of a cafeteria filled with students, and learned their projects are to receive grant funds totaling $10,000.

“Thank you to Principal Paul Melhorn and Assistant Principal Kelly Glynn for helping us to pull off the surprise and award these grants to two very deserving teachers. We were so pleased to have an audience of kids there to cheer them on,” said foundation Vice President Seth Herbold. “I hope we can inspire students to come up with their own ideas for new projects to be funded by MEF grants.”

A grant of $2,900 was awarded to science teacher Sara Cathey and the Marshwood High School Science Club. The club will use its grant to buy supplies for a variety of projects, including the study of alternative energies such as wind power and biofuels, chemistry pursuits, robotics, rockets, aquaculture and many other areas of science. The money will also help students participate in the Windstorm Challenge at the University of Maine in Orono.

The overall goal for the Science Club is to provide a place for students who enjoy science to meet outside of normal class time and to pursue topics that interest and excite them.

English teacher and department head Jeff Rosinski was awarded $7,100 for a digital annotation project to benefit Advanced Placement literature and composition classes. The grant will provide for the purchase of 40 Kindles, Kindle cases and supplemental texts to be used to closely measure students’ engagement in serious literature. The overall project goals are to increase student engagement with literature and foster critical thinking. The project will also strive to measure how much or how well students read using e-readers.

The Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) announced the recipients of its fall grants at the December 7th MSAD 35 Board meeting. The grants, totaling $8742.80, were awarded to three recipients whose proposals will benefit elementary and middle school-aged Marshwood students.

“With each grant cycle, we are excited to see so many new ideas proposed by our educators, along with ideas that will enhance current programs,” said Rachel Martin, MEF President. “One school is trying out a brand new concept, while a previous grant project is being expanded upon as the children share what they learned through the outdoor classroom at Central Elementary School,” added Martin.  “Another grant is helping to further develop a long-standing community event that students and their families will enjoy for generations to come.”

The Marshwood Education Foundation was established in 2009 and raises funds solely through community events and private donations. MEF is committed to supporting public education in Eliot and South Berwick through funding innovative educational opportunities that fall outside of the responsibility of the school budget. Grants are awarded twice annually, in the spring and fall.

MEF grants awarded December 7th, 2011:

From The Ground Up – proposed by Kate Smith, Music teacher at Central School.  Students will work with Ruth Baker, Jane Cowen-Fletcher and other community volunteers to develop a cookbook and guide for successfully creating an outdoor classroom and hoop house garden project.  Students will create their own recipes to be included in the book as well as develop creative ways to document the creation of the outdoor classroom. $1500.00

Standing and Swinging – proposed by Beth Werker, Math teacher at Marshwood Middle School.  $2242.80 will be awarded to purchase six Stand and Swing desks.  These innovative desks allow students to either stand or sit and swing their legs while learning.  By offering students an outlet for their excess energy, these desks help students stay focused on learning.  Each student in Mrs. Werker’s classes will get an opportunity to try the desk and give their feedback.

Revitalizing Local History Education – proposed by Nina Maurer, Consulting Curator of the Old Berwick Historical Society.  Through this grant and funds being sought from other sources, the current Hike through History program will be greatly enhanced.  MEF will grant $5000.00 to purchase new tour artifacts and pay for the services of a curriculum planner.  This grant will provide new local history resources to teachers, develop a program for teaching middle school students who help present the hike material, and create an online Hike through History resource.
The MEF is now accepting applications for the spring 2012 grants.  For more information on how to submit a grant application, contact Janice Hastings, MEF Grants Committee Chairperson at hastings.janice@gmail.com.

About the Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF)
The Marshwood Education Foundation was established as a non-profit corporation, wholly dedicated to enriching and supplementing the educational programs of the Maine School Administrative District 35, representing the communities of South Berwick and Eliot. The MEF has granted more than $40,000 to the district, funding creative and innovative ideas brought forth by school administrators, teachers and staff. To learn more about the MEF or to donate online, visit www.marshwood-education-foundation.org.
Editorial contact:
Keri Tice, MEF Secretary
207-439-6131, mailboxmef@gmail.com

The Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) announced the recipients of its spring grants at the June 1st MSAD 35 Board meeting. The grants, totaling $6702.22, were awarded to three recipients whose proposals bring creative and fun opportunities to Marshwood students.

“The Marshwood Great Works School is the big winner this spring,” said Rachel Martin, MEF President. “Of the applications we received this time around, there were three that shined through with definitive goals for education and wellness. The grants will allow our students to experience technology through the use of robots, explore creativity through writing and illustration, and reach new heights on the Fitness Trail at the Great Works School,” added Martin.

The Marshwood Education Foundation was established in 2009 and raises funds solely through community events and private donations. MEF is committed to supporting public education in Eliot and South Berwick through funding innovative educational opportunities that fall outside of the responsibility of the school budget. Grants are awarded twice annually, in the spring and fall.

MEF spring grants awarded June 1st, 2011:
Grace Jacobs, Gifted & Talented Program Coordinator, and parent David Whelan were awarded $2,438.85 to jumpstart the MGWS Robotics Program. This program, organized in three 10-week sessions, offers 36 students each year a chance to work cooperatively to assemble and program LEGO Mindstorm robots. Exposing students to this type of program teaches them the relationship between hardware and software. Students will use Lego Mindstorm kits to construct the robots and laptop computers to program their robots. This activity will be open to all MGWS students by a student/parent application.

Susan Goettlich, Reading Specialist, and Librarian Cynthia Moloney of MGWS were awarded $3125.00 for their program Small Moments Travel Great Distances. MGWS will bring author/illustrator Jane Cowen Fletcher to the school to help implement the Lucy Calkins writing program. All students and teachers will participate in this creative writing and illustrating project. Each child will have the opportunity to produce a picture book and then share his or her book with students at Central Elementary School and Eliot Elementary School.

Lori Girouard, Fifth Grade Teacher, was awarded $1138.37 for her application to enhance the MGWS Fitness Trail. The funding will allow the school to add three workout stations — a balance beam, parallel bars, and pull-up bars, as well as distance markers along the trail. These stations will be welcome additions to the already popular fitness area, and will enhance the school’s Physical Education program.

The Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) announced the recipients of its fall 2010 grant cycle tonight at the Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) # 35 Board meeting. The MEF awarded four grants totaling $8,593.00.

“These days, financial resources for educators are limited, and teachers sometimes have to rely on outside funds to fuel their creativity,” said Rachel Martin, MEF President. “We are pleased to offer support for programs and projects that might otherwise go unfunded in our schools.”

The MEF, founded in 2009, raises money primarily through community fundraising events and private donations. The organization has awarded over $26,000 to date and offers two grant cycles annually, in the fall and spring of each school year.

MEF grants awarded December 1, 2010:

Kate Smith, music teacher at Central School ($4,000) for her Outdoor Classroom and Hoop House Project.  The landscape restoration at Central School will give the students an opportunity to learn about the joy of interacting with nature.  This project also gives the students a chance to work with the high school Garden Club in planting, caring for, and harvesting vegetables in a hoop house.  The grant will fund a portion of what is over a $25,000 project.

Kristina Schultz, art teacher at Central School ($593) for her project Wild Things! for Fine Arts Week 2011.  Designed to compliment the Outdoor Classroom project, this week-long program will give all students at Central School an opportunity to work with artist-in-residence Cynthia Robinson.  Ms. Robinson will work with students on art projects centered around the school landscape and wildlife. Along with a $1,500 donation from the PTO, the grant covers the costs of the week.

Tami Schoff, literacy coach at Marshwood Middle School ($2,000) for her project One School, One Book. The project seeks to improve reading achievements by providing a carefully selected book to each middle school student’s family and the entire MMS staff.  Each participant will follow a calendar of reading, answer trivia questions, and be encouraged to participate in open discussions about the book.  The goal of this shared reading experience is to increase literacy awareness and promote the benefits of reading at home.

Keith Barron and Lynn Walker, teachers at Marshwood Middle School ($2,000) for their project entitled Six Purple Empowerment.  Promoting team building, self-confidence, and positive relationships with peers are among the goals of a trip to Camp Merrowvista in New Hampshire’s Ossipee Mountains. All members of the sixth grade Purple team at MMS will have the opportunity to take part in this trip, as well as attend follow-up events in school that will reinforce skills learned at the camp.

The MEF will be accepting grant applications for its spring cycle early next year with a deadline of April 15, 2011.