The Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) announced the recipients of its fall 2009 grant cycle Wednesday, December 2, at the MSAD 35 Board meeting. The foundation, which was formed a year ago, awarded $9,400 to seven recipients.
“Tonight’s awards represent the initial fulfillment of MEF’s mission to fund creative and innovative education projects within the Eliot and South Berwick schools,” said Jeff Leathe, MEF president.
“These initial grants focus on energy, life sciences, music and fitness. The funding will enable our educators and students to enhance ongoing projects and reach beyond their daily curriculum to implement new programs,” Mr. Leathe said.
“Barely a year ago a committed group of people came together to establish the Marshwood Education Foundation. The MEF quickly gained momentum with tremendous business and artisan support and launched its initial grant application cycle. We received 18 applications. The seven grants announced tonight provide the most clarity of goals and objectives, along with uniqueness, number of students and faculty impacted and alignment with MSAD 35’s curriculum and plans. While not all applicants earned grants, the range and quality we have seen in this – our first grant cycle – is a satisfying compliment to the hard work of our members and excellent community support,” Mr. Leathe said.
“While tonight’s grants culminate a great first year, we are only beginning and we encourage those who were not selected to resubmit applications and we will continue to work to generate future interest throughout the district,” Mr. Leathe said.
MEF grants awarded tonight:
Jeff Gardiner, science teacher at Marshwood High School ($1,500) for his Solar Panel Demonstration Project. The funds will allow Gardner and the school’s Recycling Club to purchase three 80W photo voltaic panels for the school’s greenhouse, enhancing the energy curriculum as well as feeding electricity to three science classrooms;
Kate Smith, music teacher at Central Elementary School ($1,500) for her “Junk 2 Funk” Residency Project for Fine Arts Week in April 2010. The funds will bring local artist and educator Jeff Erwin to the school for a six-day residency in which all students will create and play original music using instruments made from recycled materials, learning about the creative and technological aspects of performance art, environmental science, and the science of sound;
Shelley Smith, health and physical education teacher at Marshwood High School ($1,000), for her Personal Fitness Expansion Project. The funds will be used to purchase two Wii Fit systems in order to provide alternative, individualized exercise activities;
Emily Stauffer, science teacher at Marshwood Middle School ($1,000) for her School Garden Project. The funds will be used for tools and a greenhouse, enhancing the life science curriculum, and cultivating awareness, skills and values relating to personal health, community and the environment;
David Graichen, instrumental director at Marshwood High School ($2,600) for his Smart Music Computer Project. The money will fund the purchase of two iMac computers that provide on-screen feedback to students, and audio recordings to teachers, to improve student performance and assessment in the music program;
Nina D’Aran, guidance counselor at Central School ($870) for her Geocaching Club Project. The funds will support the purchase of four GPSs, assisting the Club’s mission to enhance third grade mapping skills, and promote outdoor education;
Katie Gilpatrick, language arts teacher at Marshwood Middle School ($930), for her Document Reader Project. The funds will be used to purchase a document camera and projector, allowing teachers to share instructional materials and student work more effectively and efficiently.
The MEF is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt corporation and functions as an independent, non-profit organization of dedicated community members. Two successful fundraising events were held in 2009 – a May kickoff dinner and auction and MEF’s first annual Oktoberfest. The foundation intends to launch a corporate and large donor campaign and continue with its annual Oktoberfest celebration and fundraiser on October 15, 2010.
The MEF will be accepting grant applications for its spring cycle early next year with a March 26, 2010 deadline.
October 23, 2009 – Oktoberfest
A German buffet, beer and wine tasting, live music and a silent auction for Bob Marley dinner/show tickets, UNH hockey, restaurants, theatres, tennis, yoga and guitar lessons, a tuna fishing excursion, and many more donated items will make a festive Friday night, October 23 at Spring Hill when the Marshwood Education Foundation (MEF) hosts its 1st Oktoberfest!
“We have had wonderful, broad based community support during our first year as a new education foundation,” said Jeff Leathe, MEF president. “We are now accepting initial grant applications from MSAD35 students, teachers and administrators and are eager to announce our first grant winners in December.
The Oktoberfest will be an all inclusive event with hor’doerves, beer and wine tasting; great German buffet prepared by Spring Hill’s chef and live music courtesy of the PB&J band. It will also give us a chance to update supporters about MEF.”
More than 200 Eliot and South Berwick residents gathered in May at MEF’s kickoff auction and dinner. “Many people commented how uniquely broad based the event was and how great it was to reacquaint with people. We hope to see many of those same folks at the Oktoberfest event along with many of their friends and neighbors,” Mr. Leathe said.
Advance tickets are available from Hilda Howell for $35 per person. Please e-mail her at jimhilda@msn.com and provide the number of tickets desired and your return mail address. You will be billed when tickets are mailed.
June 17, 2009 – The Marshwood Education Foundation hosted a very lively dinner/auction on May 30th at the Regatta Banquet and Conference Center in Eliot, ME. The new foundation netted over $10,000 after expenses and has a great start to begin funding grants to MSAD35 staff.
“These grants will be used for innovative educational opportunities. MEF would again like to thank all of the businesses and individuals who so generously contributed to making our first event such a success,” said Jeff Leathe, MEF president. “We had very favorable comments. We’re on a roll and have more events planned. We intend to sustain a long term commitment to Eliot and South Berwick schools,” he said.
July 11, 2009 – MEF collaborated with the Hackmatack Playhouse, hosting the musical ‘’Anything Goes” on a beautiful summer evening. A portion of the box office was directed to MEF to fund the educational grants that will start to be awarded in December 2009.
