Arlington Education Foundation Awards $39,355 to Arlington Schools

Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) has awarded $39,355 in grants this spring to the Arlington Public Schools in three categories: Continuing Scholars Awards, Development & Expansion Grants and Innovations in Education Grants.  AEF President Rebecca Steinitz proclaims, “We are especially pleased to announce the creation of AEF’s Continuing Scholars Award.  This Award encourages teachers to go deeper into a subject, renew themselves with a program, or pursue a passion.  We strongly feel that personal experiences like these not only reward teachers, but also have a positive impact on Arlington’s students.” 

Continuing Scholar Awards - $4,370

Awards are given directly to educators to fund courses, workshops, trips, or expeditions sponsored by universities, schools, institutes, or professional development organizations.

●       Meagan Bassett, Arlington High School, World
Languages:  Peru: History, Culture and Contemporary Life (Primary Source)

●       Abbi Holt, Ottoson Middle School, Latin: Conventiculum Bostoniense (University of Massachusetts Boston)

Development & Expansion Grants - $20,000

Development & Expansion grants support system-wide development of new educational strategies.

●       Thompson Elementary School and 1 to 1 Technology: Summer Technology University 
When the new Thompson School opens in September 2013, every student in the school will have access to an iPad of their own, and every classroom will have a full suite of technology.  This grant will fund summer technology training for  elementary school teachers at Thompson and across the district.  Teachers will learn cutting-edge strategies for using technology to enhance teaching, learning, and the curriculum. The grant will also fund advanced training for instructional technology leaders – teachers in each elementary school who are supporting their peers with technology.

●       Middle School Literacy Across the Curriculum
This grant extends the Arlington Public Schools’ partnership with the Lucy Calkins writing program into the Ottoson Middle School, with a focus on the new Common Core literacy standards. 

Innovations in Education Grants - $14,985

Innovations grants support innovative teaching and learning projects.

●       Snowshoeing – A Winter Love, Thompson School
Third through fifth graders will learn how to snowshoe during Physical
Education.

●       Reaching the New World:  Poetry and Discovery, Stratton School
During a poet residency, students will study poetry as a communication
tool.

●       Artist-in-Residence with Winfred Rembert, Arlington High School
An artist residency will integrate Visual Arts, Film, History and English.

●       Kindergarten and Fifth Grade Mentoring, Stratton School
Fifth graders will mentor and support Kindergarten students during joint
science, math and literacy programs.

●       Kiln , Brackett and Peirce Schools
Students will explore the art of clay and get to fire and glaze their creations

●       Suicide Prevention and Awareness, Arlington High School
Students will benefit from a suicide prevention theater performance, “Signs
of Suicide” program in Health Class, and Arlington Youth Consultation Center
(AYCC) therapist support.

So far, in fiscal year 2013, community donations have enabled AEF to award nearly $100,000 in grants to the Arlington Public Schools.  AEF works to support and advance public education in Arlington, Massachusetts. AEF funds system wide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experiences of Arlington’s teachers and students.  For more information on AEF’s current and past grants, or to donate, visit www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org.