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Students enjoying writing poetry together in a 2015 WEF Grant funded Artist in Residency program submitted by Lisa Thompson
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The Windsor Education Foundation (WEF) has awarded a total of $16,082 in grants to fund fourteen projects proposed by teachers in Windsor Public Schools. The grants are offered by the foundation, a nonprofit organization that was formed with the goal of supporting excellence in Windsor Public Schools. For 2016, an additional $1,000 science grant was made available from The Christine Gasparino Memorial Fund. All Windsor Public Schools certified staff were eligible to apply for the grants.
The projects funded represent innovative approaches that show promise of furthering student achievement. They include:
- A Poquonock School project submitted by Carrie Canoni that will allow Kindergarten students to have hands-on opportunities to develop problem-solving skills using Legos.
A project initiated by Poquonock teacher Deborah Allen to help improve academic progress and focus in the classroom using Standing Desks and Wobble Chairs.
- A Clover Street School “Flocabulary” project submitted by teacher Keva Griggs that will afford the entire student population the opportunity to increase vocabulary awareness across content areas using multisensory hip-hop videos and interactive online activities.
- A project initiated by head teacher Meghan O’Brien to develop a Clover Street Garden to increase family/community involvement.
- Clover Street School teacher Elizabeth Cichon received a grant for a 3D printer which will support 21st century skills and STEM curriculum.
- A Clover Street School “Learning By Doing” project submitted by teachers Caitlin Bramucci and Lindsay Casasanta for handson inquiry based science experiments.
- A project at Kennedy Elementary School initiated by teacher Oletha Walker which involves JFK students working with other students in a developing country through STEAM enrichment courses.
- An Oliver Ellsworth “Buddy Bench” award submitted by teacher Laura Rumrill Miller which encourages empathy, kindness, collaboration, problem solving and citizenship.
- An award for Poquonock School K2 students initiated by District Technology teacher Rebecca Zenczak which will expose them to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), Early Literacy, Creative Thinking, Common Core & Social Emotional skills.
- An award for Oliver Ellsworth School K2 students initiated by District Technology teacher Steve Rodonis which will expose them to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), Early Literacy, Creative Thinking, Common Core & Social Emotional skills.
- Oliver Ellsworth teacher Melissa Lafayette received a grant for a project that will engage families while teaching reading strategies to help develop stronger readers.
- A Windsor High School grant initiated by teacher Kathy Taranto (selected for the Christine Gasparino Grant) that will allow students to collaborate with NASA mentors through a web-based culinary program.
- An award to Windsor High School teacher Joe Mancino that will offer Science/Video Production Drones for students to use while learning “real world video skills.”
- An award to Windsor High School teacher Joe Mancino that will offer Science Infrared Cameras so students can directly visualize the flow of thermal energy.
"The Windsor Education Foundation is honored to award these grants to the teachers who presented these innovative projects to benefit the students in Windsor Public Schools,” said Maureen Parker, President of the Windsor Education Foundation. “These grants are made possible through the continued generosity of our community partnerships with Geissler's supermarket, the Kiwanis Club, community businesses and citizens of Windsor who donate generously throughout the year to WEF.”
“We are honored to receive these grants on behalf of the Windsor Education Foundation,” said Dr. Craig Cooke, Superintendent of Schools. “This continued support allows our teachers to implement innovative ideas in their classrooms by implementing projects that enrich the education of our students and further student achievement.”
About The Windsor Education Foundation:
The Windsor Education Foundation is an independent non-profit organization formed by Windsor citizens to support Windsor's teachers and students by funding original, creative educational projects for Windsor kids. These innovative projects benefit large numbers of students with varying learning abilities, all without relying on the tax-funded school budget. To learn more please go to www.WindsorEducationFoundation.org.
About Windsor Public Schools:
Windsor Public Schools serves nearly 4,000 students in the community of Windsor, Connecticut, a town located in north central Connecticut between Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Windsor Public Schools is comprised of six schools: Oliver Ellsworth School, Poquonock School, Clover Street School, John F. Kennedy School, Sage Park Middle School, and Windsor High School. The mission of Windsor Public Schools is to develop the genius in every child and to create life-long learners. For more information about the Windsor Board of Education and any of its schools, please visit www.windsorct.org.
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