GRANTS - SPRING 2000

We are pleased to present to the Irvington School Board the following gifts for the 1999-2000 school term:

Grades 10-12: (Margot Weiss) English - This grant will fund attendance at a performance of Romeo and Juliet (required reading for all 10th graders) and will require the students to write a critical analysis essay. It will add a dimension to the curriculum and help prepare them for the type of writing required on the new Regents exams. Award: $725.00

Grades 9-12: (Marilyn Gizzi) - The Foundation provided support for this World of Difference program in the fall. The goal of this program is to increase awareness and understanding of diversity. It has been enthusiastically received at the high school and we have been asked to provide additional funds in support of this program. Award: $3,629.00

Grades 9-12: (Carleen Julian) - The Foundation provided support for this proposal last semester. It has been well received and additional funding will be provided to continue the program for the spring semester. At risk (social, emotional, academic) students have been identified by a team of staff members. The "Students Tackling All Risks" program which to improve: self-esteem, academic skills and performance, study strategies, tolerance, conflict resolution. It helps students to manage stress and learn to take responsibility for the choices they make. Award: $2,295.00

Key Club: (Carleen Julian) - This grant will providing funding for the Key Club which is organizing a senior citizen prom. Students will work together as a team and participate in all aspects of the planning of the event and hopefully will cause them to recognize the contributions made by these older members of our community. Award: $2,200.00

Art and Graphic Design Classes: (Thom Johnson) - This grant will fund a visit by a professional designer who will critique students' works and help students to understand how professional designers think and work. Award: $100.00

Grades 9-12: (Mary McCarthy) - Music. This grant will fund a concert of the Binghampton Men's Ensemble, an all male choir, which includes an Irvington alumnus. Students will be afforded the opportunity to attend a workshop following the performance. Award: $450.00

Eight English Classes: (Kathleen Forde) - This project will fund "Profiles of Irvington 2000", a collection of over 150 biographical stories of Irvington residents which will become a part of the Irvington Historical Society Archives. Award: $1,476.00

Grade 8: (Kathleen Fernald, Julie Ippollito, James Groven) English - This grant will fund a program designed to strengthen writing skills in the area of fiction and non-fiction. The writer in residence will help students understand the pre-writing, writing and publishing process and will also share strategies and critique the work of the students. Award: $2,500.00

Grade 6: (Kerry Sullivan, Maria Tucci, Kathleen Fernald) - This grant will fund workshops facilitated by the Juvenile Law Program and a member of the Irvington Police Department designed to teach children how to practice good decision making skills. Award: $615.00

Grades 6: (Richard Wallin) Science - This grant will support a classroom presentation that will enhance the students knowledge about birds and bird habitats and will coordinate with the current "Home is where the heart is" art theme. The consultant will help students plan a bird house which will be constructed in art. Award: $400.00

Grades 7-8: (Kathleen Fernald, Mitchell Dobbs, James Groven) - English and Social Studies. The Foundation will again fund several workshops to be conducted by a dynamic and noted storyteller in which students will be exposed to African American Stories and poetry. Award: $1,950.00

Grade 8: (Carole Seiden-Pruzan, John Nurmi) - Art & Music. This grant will support the purchase of software and a digital camera to help create a multi-media computer generated presentation of students architectural renderings with music to be displayed at the spring concert. Award: $1,920.00

Grade 8: (Julie Ippollito) - English & Social Studies. This grant will support an award winning author discussing an eyewitness account of the Holocaust and World War II. Award: $1,200.00

Grades 6-8: (Kathleen Fernald, Susan Levey, Mrinalini Rajwar) - This grant will support visual learning by providing tools that facilitate concept mapping. Inspiration Software is a visual tool for developing ideas and plans. Staff training will include instruction on how to use the software as well as strategies for integrating it with the Middle School curriculum. Award: $2,860.00

Grades 6-8: (Phil DiRuocco) Physical Education - Due to the retirement of the only certified Project Adventure Instructor, new teachers need to be certified so that the students can take full advantage of the physical education program. Award: $1,980.00

DOWS LANE ELEMENTARY

Grade 5: (Scott Andrasko, Joseph Rodriguez) Science - This grant will support a sail on the Clearwater which reinforces topics learned in the classroom during ecological studies. Award: $4,000.00

Grade 4: (Anita Ferreri and the Fourth Grade Team) Writing Skills - This grant will fund a writer's workshop three times a week after school, providing remedial instruction to identified "at risk" writers. Award: $4,284.00

Grade 2: (Phil Levine) - This grant will fund for the second time a multicultural folk tale performance. Award: $970.00

Grade 4: (Gail Osterman) Social Studies - The Plymouth Plantation Traveling Program will enchance the month long Pilgrim simulation in which all 4th graders participate. Each class hosts a Pilgrim visitor who specks the regional dialect and shares artifacts with the students. Award: $1,320.00

Grades 1-5: (Marilyn Horen) Art, Social Studies, Science, Art History, Writing and Reading - Due to the extraordinary number of students and only two art teachers, students art education is lacking. Mrs. Horen will present grade level workshops to the faculty to assist them in teaching their students artistic technique, background of several artists and their pertinent history. They will be exposed to works of the masters and will participate in hands on projects. Award: $4,374.00

Grade 1: (Corinne Daniels) Art - This will fund for the third time an artist in residence who will teach paper making. Award: $3,300.00

Grade 1: (Laurie Warager) Science, Art & Language - 1st grade teachers will work with author Colleen Carroll (How Artists See Weather and How Artists See the Elements) and then with their students to create their own weather and elements related works of art. This program will encourage art appreciation, analytical thinking, vocabulary enrichment. Award: $2,000.00

Grade 1: (Corrine Daniels) - This grant will fund a pilot program to supply all first grade teachers with portable personal microphones enhancing oral instruction and the hearing ability of all students in the classroom, no matter where they sit. Award: $6,720.00

Grade 3: (Mary Jane Roth) Reading, Writing, Science, Technology - This grant will provide funds to enhance the 3rd grade study of fish, water and animal habitats resulting in the construction of a coral reef. Award: $4,240.00

Grades K-12: (Betty Carle) Technology - This grant will support the purchase of 4 digital cameras, associated accessories and supporting software. They are used by the students for multimedia projects which incorporate text, graphics sound and video. Award: $5,115.00

Grades 7-12: (Larry Corio) Music - The number of students participating in the Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble have dramatically increased. This grant will fund the purchase of 11 additional travel drum cases and 10 stands identifying the Irvington Marching Band and the replacement of 20 windbreaker jackets. Award: $4,375.00

Total awards: $64,998.00