YORK EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR THE 2011 – 2012 SCHOOL YEAR
The York Education Foundation funded four grants for the 2011-2012 school year, with one grant at York High School, two at York Middle School, and one at Village Elementary School.
Picture This!, Phyllis Giordano/April Noble, VES:
This grant will fund the introduction of “Picture This!”, an art appreciation program that utilizes the permanent collection of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, and supports specific units of Kindergarten study. Classroom discussions of two works each will take place during three monthly sessions, culminating in a field trip to the Museum. Each session will be tied directly to a current academic unit, giving students the opportunity to explore these topics using different skills and perspectives. The program will be offered to all Kindergarten students.
OverDrive Advantage Program, Flo Larson & Reisz, Director, Library/Media Services, YMS:
This grant will fund the initial purchase of a school-district specific library of downloadable eBooks geared toward readers in grades 3-12, as well as six eReaders for the YMS library. This program will enable York to start a collection of high interest titles that are only accessible to York students, which is a significant improvement over what is currently available. Studies have shown that EReaders increase motivation and assignment completion in reluctant readers, and free choice in reading selection and format increase students’ motivation to read. This grant will offer students access to a wider variety of electronic titles than has ever been available, thereby providing more students a greater chance of success and enjoyment in reading.
GPS In the Classroom, Margot Simonds & Martha Borden, YMS:
This grant funds the purchase of 20 GPS units for use by science teachers in grades 5-8. The project is designed to educate students in using GPS as a scientific tool and to incorporate its use in subject areas involving spatial activities throughout their middle school education. This will include learning basic mapping skills to document data collection during habitat studies, mapping plant species and creating a geocache trail to identify tree types in forested areas around York, documenting locations of water samples and invasive species. Students from each grade will be asked to discuss their work with GPS units at a K-12 Science curriculum committee meeting. The public will have the opportunity to view work done using the GPS units at events displaying results of the 5th grade habitat and 8th grade water studies.
Activating Learners with Student Response Remotes, Michael Cleary, YHS:
This grant will fund the inclusion of a Native American storyteller as part of a project to create a Wabanaki setting for the 250 VES Kindergarten and CRES 3rd grade students studying Maine Native Americans as part of the social studies curriculum. The students will participate in hands on learning experiences representing the daily lives of the Wabanaki people of long ago. The project will have many components, planned by White Pines, and the storyteller will complete the authentic experience for the children. Projects by the students will be developed based on what they learn from this study.