Windsor Education Foundation Awards Grants to Windsor Public Schools to Fund Innovative Learning Programs

Windsor Education Foundation (WEF) has awarded a total of $15,909 in grants to fund 13 projects proposed by teachers in Windsor Public Schools, including a $1,000 science grant from The Christine Gasparino Foundation. All Windsor Public Schools certified staff were eligible to apply for the grant

WEF is a non-profit organization, now in its tenth year, that was formed with the goal of supporting excellence in Windsor Public Schools. Since 2007, WEF has awarded $131,000 to local, public school educators. The programs funded for 2017 serve grades three through 12, including:

Elementary schools

• Clover Street School received two grants. One grant allows the students to work with a visiting author to write a biography and create a bound book. The second grant will pay for assembly of math bags containing manipulatives that students can use during Math Workshop and check out to work on at home with their families.
• John F. Kennedy School’s funding will allow students to pair up with students from other countries for a course from Level-Up Village that explores the human genome.

Sage Park Middle School

• Two grants were awarded to fund two clubs: Technology Education Student Association (TSA) Club and Sage Park Leaders: A Young Men and Women Leadership Group

Windsor High School

Five grants will pay for a variety of innovative learning activities at WHS, including:

• Give a Helping Hand, a program for alternative education students to engage them in service to their communities.
• The WHS Gay/Straight Alliance, to purchase materials and bring in speakers to raise awareness about LGBTQ issues and advocate for a safe and inclusive environment in the schools and community.
• Windsor’s Team Paragon FIRST Robotics team, to buy a new digital position readout to enable precision metal cutting for their robots.
• Building an electric-powered vehicle to compete in the Connecticut Electrathon Challenge.
• Peer mediators, who will be trained to help peacefully resolve conflicts between WHS students.

• WHS seniors will serve as campaign consultants to each fifth grade class in the district as they develop candidates for the Connecticut Kid Governor Program.
• Breakout EDU Experience, an escape game where students solve clues for core subject areas to win a challenge, will be introduced in grades three through 12.
• Team 130 – Blazing Spirits robotics team will purchase supplies to create and put into competition an autonomous robot.

"Windsor Education Foundation is 100% committed to raising funds for programs that local educators are passionate about to engage students in learning districtwide. There were many worthwhile applications, and these 13 were selected for their potential to engage a large number of students with a wide range of interests,” said Heidi Sirota, President of Windsor Education Foundation. “Our grant requests are increasing as funding for creative learning experiences is becoming harder to obtain through town budgets. We thank the generous business and individual donors and those who participated in our fundraising programs for making these grants possible.”

“This continued support from the WEF allows us to put our creative ideas into motion by developing innovative projects that not only challenge our students but also further student achievement,” said Dr. Craig Cooke, Superintendent of Schools. “We are grateful to receive these grants and look forward to strengthening our dynamic learning experience for our students districtwide.”

About The Windsor Education Foundation:
Windsor Education Foundation encourages community support for excellence in public education and provides funding for innovative projects and programs in the Windsor Public Schools. WEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit windsoreducationfoundation.org or facebook.com/windsoreducationfoundation.

About Windsor Public Schools:
Windsor Public Schools serves nearly 4,000 students in the community of Windsor, Connecticut, a town located in north central Connecticut between Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Windsor Public Schools is comprised of six schools: Oliver Ellsworth School, Poquonock School, Clover Street School, John F. Kennedy School, Sage Park Middle School, and Windsor High School. The mission of Windsor Public Schools is to develop the genius in every child and to create lifelong learners. For more information about the Windsor Board of Education and any of its schools, please visit www.windsorct.org.