YORK EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR THE 2016 – 2017 SCHOOL YEAR
The York Education Foundation is proud to fund thirteen grants totaling $40,000 for the 2016-2017 school year, with three grants at York High School, six at York Middle School, three at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, and one at Village Elementary School.
Dynamic Literacy Library, Submitted by: Natalie Peabbles, VES:
VES will have a wide variety of leveled books in the dynamic legacy library to support differentiated learning& instruction inKindergarten and first grade. Classrooms will be stocked with books that will support students as they strive to meet reading, listening and speaking standards. With a wide range of topics and levels of difficulty, students and teachers will be able to select appropriately challenging material that is of interest to the students.
Learning Commons, Alice Rose & Nadine Donnell, CRES:
This new “maker space” will provide students more flexibility and hands-on approaches to learning. This space will promote the development of creativity, communication collaboration and critical thinking for CRES students, preparing them for the demands of the 21st century.
Shared Library, Sean Murphy, CRES:
The new shared library will have books geared towards particular topics in each grade. This will support the Lucy Calkins reading curriculum by providing many books at all levels, covering an array of topics.
Visual Literacy, Tara Morin, CRES:
Description:The CRES art studio will have a flat screen & Apple TV along with a flat screen and Chromebeit for the CRES lobby. This technology will change and greatly enhance the instruction in the art studio. It will also create a connection between the rt program and the greater CRES community by enabling CRES families, staff, students and visitors to see a consistently fresh presentation of artwork and students creating art.
Reading in Motion, Erin Mawn, YMS:
The York Education Foundation will be purchasing new equipment to support students who need to be moving while they work, read or study. Bicycle pedals, and a treadmill desk station will be housed in the York Middle School library. Students who need a place to expend some energy while getting their work done will have an opportunity to do so with this grant.
Health and wellness teachers will integrate health goals and the curriculum to track distances that students have traveled and will attempt to make connections to significant places.
Harkness Discussion, Tony Beaumier, YMS:
Students will have the opportunity to transform how they learn and interact, through Darkness method of teaching. This transformation will accumulate with the addition of a harness table to promote collaboration, active learning where students actively support each other, as well as develop higher order, thinking skills. The same approach will be taught to colleagues within the middle school. Plans to share the table with other teachers, is part of this grant. The passion for Harkness methods in teaching will spread throughout the school.
Executive Function, Rebecca Geranis, YMS:
A variety of games will be purchased to support executive functioning skills that will be kept in the library and available for students to use throughout the school year.
Election Participation, Sue Parshley, YMS:
Students at YMS will have a chance to participate in authentic elections, with the privacy screens as voting booths, a ballot box, signs and a supply of “I voted” stickers. Students will be able to use these materials for student government elections each year, and the school can conduct authentic mock elections.
MakerSpace, Nick Shuman, YMS:
York Education Foundation will help to furnish a new technology Maker Space in the 5th/6th grade wing at YMS. This will support hands unlearning, engineering and problem-solving opportunities beyond the classroom. This flexible space is designed to enable the expansion of high-interest offerings during enrichment blocks and align with the school’s commitment to promoting 21st century learning experiences.
Lego Robotics Team, Mike Harris, YMS:
Description: Using the same room that the new Maker Space is in the new YMS Lego Robotics Team, will be working in to compete in the State of Maine First Lego League. The goal is to inspire curiosity in science and technology among middle school students, as they master the dynamics of teamwork and problem solving.
Moving Toward a Learning Commons Design in the Library, Amy Robinson, YHS:
The York High School library will begin a transformation of its own. YEF will fund the purchase of specific tables and seating that will facilitate both small group study and larger, collaborative work. This environment will invite, creativity, and collaboration, and may easily be configured to meet students changing needs.
Alternative Education Program Orientation and Community Building Experience, Christine Caprio, YHS:
In the fall of 2016 an orientation program will be offered to students in the Alternative Education Program at York High School. In an effort to improve their confidence and sense of belonging within the school community, students will create a portfolio throughout the year that highlight their accomplishments and goals for their education. The information gathered will be presented to a panel of teachers and staff at the end of the school year for further evaluation.
YHS Garden Center, Mike Masi, YHS:
A student initiated grant from the environmental science class at YHS. This particular grant will start with a group of students whom encouraged the idea. It will ultimately become a school wide endeavor and food services department will be the recipient of the produce to include in student lunches. A long-term composting program will also be an outcome of the garden center with the funds provided from the York Education Foundation the purchase of materials will be to build a garden center, which will include raise beds, a seasonal hoop house and composting bins.