BFEE Grants 2018
The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence funded eight teacher grants this spring, totaling $25,723. Grants were awarded based on a number of factors, including uniqueness, impact on the teaching/learning environment, number of students impacted, and alignment with BPS101 goals and priorities. BFEE also allocated $9,186 for the District Innovation Grant and $1,837 for ongoing projects.
Summary of teacher grants funded:
How Can We Help? Supporting Students with Social Emotional Needs
Aimee Miller, Batavia High School
This grant will fund the purchase of an e-book and print copy collection of resources to support student mental wellness. The collection includes a wide range of topics including ADD, ADHA, alcohol, anorexia, anxiety, bulimia, caregiving, cutting, depression, and where to go or how to find additional help. The e-books offer privacy as students can access the content from their own device and the print versions are ideal for students who prefer traditional books.
High Interest Classroom Book for DEAR: Year 2
Cara Schuster and Kelly Cook, Rotolo Middle School
The RMS reading culture PLC has a mission to create a reading community within the middle school. DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read independent reading time) encourages this culture. Last year, BFEE issued a grant to purchase new high-interest books in every sixth-grade classroom to encourage student participation. Due to the success of the program, the grant will fund high interest books for seventh-grade classrooms.
Number Sense Using Numicons
Jennifer Torgerson and Jodi Bird, H.C. Storm
First-grade common core standards call for students to add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Numicon manipulatives will enhance the current math curriculum. These shapes can be combined in many ways to provide visual and tactile practice in addition and subtraction, as well as quantity recognition. They are arranged in a way to help students anchor numbers from five to 10.
Retooling Learning: Innovation Through Invention
Sue Palombella and Sue Sokolinski, Grace McWayne
This grant will fund phase two of the GMS Innovation Station, stocking new tools and building materials like screwdrivers, hammers, saws, pliers, and more. With theses tools, students will be able to construct and deconstruct projects. The work at the station should be full of focus and purpose and will allow students to generate new and innovative ideas in the STEM areas.
Adidas Zone IHT Spirit System Heart Rate Monitors
Jim Lau, Louise White
This grant funds a set of wrist-style Adidas Zone IHT Spirit System Heart Rate Monitors for physical education class. The heart rate monitors give instant feedback to students telling them if they are exercising in their target heart rate or below. When students pick up the monitor, they will be scanned on the monitor reader (reader is linked to teacher’s computer) allowing them to track their progress and set new goals. The data will help the teacher plan effective physical education lessons in which students are spending the most time possible engaged in moderate to vigorous activity.
Building a Foundation for Success!
Cassie Ideran, Louise White, and Kristine Scheffert, Alice Gustafson
Purchase of a mobile magnetic wall, discovery ramp pack, and baby Swiss cheese towers for open-ended exploration and problem solving. Although designed for kindergarten students, the materials could easily be used throughout the school since the wall is easily portable. Students will get opportunities to collaborate, build, and reflect, which prepares them to think critically and problem solve. They will also experience failures within their building experiences. This will support their growth in perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving.
RMS Fab Lab
Kelly Cook and Nichol Kitzmiller, Rotolo Middle School
This grant will help convert a deconstructed computer lab into a Future Ready Library, providing the space and resources for self-directed creative discovery. The “Fab Lab” will include building, coding, engineering, and art supplies. Students can utilize this new lab independently during XTime or after school. Teachers can bring students to the lab as an extension of their instruction. Rotating challenges will be offered in the lab and open for all to participate.
Engaging and Empowering Learners Through Guided Math
Julia Parkhurst and Ashley Case, Louise White
This project will begin to build a modern math library of math manipulatives, math games, and other necessary math materials, which will be used throughout the school. Guided math benefits students in multiple ways: tailoring instruction to individual needs, building engagement, boosting student ownership by providing choices, and providing hands-on math practice opportunities.
