Archive for the
‘Grants’ Category

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.

December 10, 2013 – Though the excitement in the air at Marshwood Schools last Tuesday had nothing to do with the Holidays, many felt like they received early Christmas presents as the Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) Grant Patrol surprised Grant recipients with giant checks and balloons while presenting their Fall Grant awards.

The first stop was Eliot Elementary School where Brian Bergeron-Killough, EES Music Teacher, was awarded $900 for a Ukelele Club, which will be made up of 2nd & 3rd graders who will meet once/week to learn to play the ukulele. There will be performances at school assemblies & community events. “Ukuleles for the Eliot Elementary School music room will give many children an opportunity to play a stringed instrument for the first time. It is a wonderful gift to the program. We are so grateful to Marshwood Education Foundation for this grant,” said Bergeron-Killough.

Next stop was Central School where 3 grants were awarded. Jenn Bogard, Central School Literacy Coach, was awarded $1000 for “Little Free Libraries”. Students will work with local artist Shane Chick to locate, design & build 2 little free libraries around Eliot and/or South Berwick. For more information, check out littlefreelibrary.org.

Then, the Grant Patrol surprised Kate Audet Smith – Music Teacher & Outdoor Classroom Coordinator at Central School, who was awarded a $4900 grant to help pay for “Central School Cares”, which is an anti-bullying initiative whose aim is to reinforce a culture of kindness and acceptance while teaching students the tools and skills they need to avoid or get out of a bullying situation. With this grant, Musician Jeff Erwin will spend 7 days with all Central School kids to work on a project called “Sticks & Stones” which will promote social kindness and social acceptance and help kids avoid bully behavior. The “Sticks and Stones” residency is a creative, performance based approach to learning about the effects of bullying. Taught in a caring, respectful way, students will learn about the importance of empathy, self-respect, and the lasting effects of kindness through engaging, interactive activities. “Sticks and Stones” outfits students with tools and strategies for potential interactions with individuals who demonstrate bullying behaviors while offering bullies compelling reasons to change their own behavior. “Students will participate in role play, engage in thoughtful discussions, and collaborate through song, dance, and performing on instruments, and will leave feeling empowered and supported,” said Mrs. Smith.

Central School’s 3rd grant recipient was brought to Central School with a little help from his wife. John Wiegert III thought he and his wife Kim Wiegert were coming in for a meeting when MEF surprised him with a 2245.60 grant to help pay for “Junior First Lego League” (JFLL). Mr. Wiegert conceptualized this program enabling 4 teams of 6 students each to build LEGO robots with motorized parts to solve problems with help from high school mentors. With the increasing demand for STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) skillsets, the JR First program will encourage children to solve real-world challenges using advanced LEGO sets. They will go through the process of researching, brainstorming, developing, and presenting their ideas with their team members. “We are very grateful that MEF has been investing in the robotics program throughout the school district and it really shows how innovative the foundation is to ensure the students are provided with STEM programs. It is a pleasure to see a foundation that invest in children and understands the importance of the next generation,” said Mr. Wiegert.

The MEF Grant Patrol finished up today’s exciting awards with a visit to Marshwood Great Works School. They surprised 5th Grade Teacher, Elizabeth Higgins, who collaborated with Marshwood Schools’ Parent and Community Member David Whelan Jr., to write a grant for “5th Grade Robotics”, an In-Class Robotics project for all 5th graders using LEGO Mindstorm robotics kits. “We are thrilled with receiving the MEF grant for the 5th grade robotics. This will provide many of our students the opportunity to work in small groups to solve real life problems using math, science and technology,” said MGWS Principal Jerry Burnell. As Mrs. Higgins was presented with the $4,199 grant award in front of her 5th Grade class, Mr. Burnell shared with the students that Mrs. Higgins wrote the same grant the year before, but didn’t win. Instead of giving up, she persevered, rewrote the grant, and tried again. Mr. Burnell emphasized to the students the importance of not giving up when success doesn’t come right away.

MEF has now awarded 32 grants totaling over $80,000 to benefit Marshwood students. “Being here to award the grants really gives you a sense of how valuable and innovative these projects are. MEF is a little community organization run by volunteers and we thank our donors and the Marshwood community for supporting us,” said MEF President Seth Herbold.

Marshwood Education Foundation congratulates all of its Fall Grant recipients, and thanks community members and businesses who support MEF and help raise funds to enable MEF to continue to award wonderful, innovative grants such as these benefiting Marshwood Schools and their students.

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.