GRANTS - FALL 2000

We are pleased to present to the Irvington School Board the following gifts for the 2000-2001 school term:

The High School Production: The Irvington Education Foundation takes great pride in its role of revitalizing the annual high school production. For the past three years, we have watched the interests of the student body, the faculty and the community blossom. The School District has agreed to assume the responsibility of perpetuating this program. As a result we are happy to gift the $11,000.00 directly to the newly created High School Theatre Fund. Award: $11,000

Grades 9-12: (Marilyn Gizzi) This grant will support the second year for the World of Difference Program which is designed to increase awareness and understanding of diversity. Twenty seven high school students have been trained as peer leaders and the program will function as a school club this coming year. The grant will provide funding for this club. Award: $830.00

Grades 9-12: (Theresa McCauley and Denise Hamlin) This grant will support the purchase of twenty Graphing Calculators which provide students with visual representation of the often complex concepts they are learning in the classroom. Award: $3014.90

Grade 12: (Ben Kwiatkowski) Environmental Science. This grant will support a program that began last year and will fund the purchase of an environmental meter which will be used to test four different parameters in aquatic ecosystems by allowing the students to measure pH, temperature and conductivity. Award: $1,549.95

Grades 9-12: (Benigna DeCurtis) This grant will support the purchase of a portable language laboratory which will enable the students to be in direct contact with the language so that they can distinguish the sounds and inflections of the language. Award: $15,323.00

Grades 7, 8 and selected 9th grade H.S. English classes : (Kathleen Fernald, Mitchell Dobbs, Julie Ippollito, James Groven, Kathleen Forde) English & Social Studies - Building on the success of this fascinating story teller, Joanna Featherstone, who has received Foundation funding for the past two years, the Foundation will again fund several workshops and assemblies. Award: $2,650.00

Grade 6: (Kerry Sullivan) - This repeat 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 and learn responsibility in relation to the law. Award: $800.00

Grade 8: (Chuck Johnson) Science and Related Disciplines - This grant will fund for the fourth year, the widely acclaimed and highly successful Jason Project. The theme, "Hawaii and its volcanoes", will expose students to environmental sensitivity, climate, continent building and volcanism.. Award: $2,385.00

Grade 7: (Toni Kelly) Camp Herrlich - This grant will fund the 7th grade outing to Camp Herrlich which will encourage the students to learn to trust and work cooperatively with one another through a variety of activities. Award: $4,375.00

Grades 6,7,8: (Maritza de Almonte, Kathleen Fernald) Last year the Foundation supported the successful World of Difference program. Students and faculty have expressed an interest in having this program continue to motivate sustainable and positive changes toward an inclusive school culture and help students develop skills to become catalysts for change through assemblies and workshops. Award: $6104.00

DOWS LANE ELEMENTARY

Grade 5, 6,7 : (Michael Gluck) Rocketry. This grant will fund an after school year long cross grade, multi-disciplinary (science, art, math, language arts, social studies, technology) enrichment program which will involve the study of rocketry including design and construction culminating in a presentation of findings and a launch at the Rocket Expo. Award: $5510.30

Grades 3-5: (Dr. Lola Garcia) To date, there has been no orchestral program at Dows Lane. The school district is committed to starting one this year. We are thrilled to launch this program by funding the purchase of "larger" string instruments (cello, bass) which many students (parents) shy away from due to size of transporting the instrument and the cost of rental. Award: $20,000.00

***The following is an adjustment to a grant previously accepted by the School Board last cycle.

Grade 1: (Corrine Daniels) - This grant was awarded in January 2000 to 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 students are situated. We are increasing the grant by $2,240.00 to accommodate all first grade classes. The original award reflected only 6 classes when in fact there are eight. Award: $2,240.00

Total awards: $75,782.15