Finding A Way: Fundraising And Grants Create New Opportunities

Amazing students, parents, parent organizations, teachers, and administrators utilize fundraising and grant funding to provide new opportunities for professional development and new programs.  This article will update the reports of district-wide Autism professional development, the development of a safe walking program for Citizens Memorial and Aram J. Pothier Elementary Schools, and provide an update on the Boundless playground at Globe Park Elementary School.  

Autism Professional Development

In my April 11, 2011 column I wrote about Adam Brunetti, Richard Gramstorff and Jamel Williams efforts in organizing the Autism Benefit concert.  Adam and his mother, Linda Brunetti, sent me an email last week with some great news.  Adam's persistence has paid off and the Autism Project of RI has announced that 30 teachers from the district will be trained as a result of the group's fundraising efforts.  This is such an awesome achievement and Adam is so happy that he reached the goal he set for himself.

Mrs. Brunetti wanted to thank the schools who donated all the baskets and really played a significant part in the fundraising activities.  Those schools include Bernon Heights, Citizens Memorial, Fifth Avenue, Globe Park, Harris, and Pothier Elementary Schools.  

According to their contact at the Autism Project, the training would be done once school resumes in September.  She also said that parents would be more than welcome.  Linda Brunetti suggested that a few parents from SELAC might want to attend and then they could hold a session with the members after the training is complete so that the information learned would be passed along.  I agreed and we sent Lynn Kapiskas, SELAC Chair, an email inviting her support. 

These amazing students, parents and organizations like SELAC are providing solutions for our schools and their efforts should be recognized in the community.

Safe Routes to School Program

Governor Pothier School & Citizen's Memorial School have been granted funding to encourage and enable more children to safely walk to school. This is similar to the programs that have already begun in the Bernon and Fairmont neighborhoods.  In fact, I recently saw a blog commenting on seeing Mr. Nasuti walking with his students one morning.

This program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and is being administered by the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program and the RIDOT in collaboration with the Woonsocket Planning and Police Departments, the Woonsocket Education Department and .

The first meeting was held at Governor Pothier School on Wednesday, June 2.  The meeting actually consisted of a course offered by Safe Routes to School certified instructors.  The goal of the committee and grant is to improve infrastructure and implement various educational, encouragement, and law enforcement activities to better improve the travel routes of students attending each of these two schools.  On hand for this meeting were community leaders, parents, neighbors, health and transportation professionals, traffic engineers, school staff, and national trainers.

The course was an opportunity to address concerns about safety and traffic flow in and around the Pothier/Citizen's grounds.  Specific strategies were discussed to address safety, health, and transportation issues.  The group toured school grounds, witnessed morning and afternoon traffic flow, as well as, pickup and drop off procedures.  Part of the day was set aside to list some of the problems/concerns of school staff and neighbors and to brainstorm solutions.  Creating a clear picture of the concerns and involving the right stake holders began the process.  Looking over current school travel methods and routes, assessment of existing walking and bicycling issues, parent attitudes on walking and bicycling to school, student and parent behaviors during school travel, traffic counts and speeds, and injury data were all part of the information shared at this meeting. 

The end of the day brought some change that can take place for the opening of school in September and some larger issues that will need to be looked at further. 

"Everyone left with a sense of accomplishment and a better understanding of the needs of the two schools," said Principal Donna Coderre adding that she looks forward to the follow up meeting on June 15 at 9:30 p.m.  She is  encouraging parents, neighbors and community members to attend. 

Again, I would like to thank my Staffe, Principal Coderre and Peter Fontaine, the Director of Facitities, Transportation, and Security.  These administrators go out of their way to rpovide safe and secure school environments for our students.

Globe Park Boundless PlayGround

Also, in the April 11, Education Spotlight, I reported on the fundraising efforts  for the development of a Boundless Playground at Globe Park Elementary School.  Well those efforts are now coming to fruition next Saturday June 11, 2011.  I will be at the community build day helping all the other volunteers to begin the building process.  It will start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.  I am not a morning person but will do my best to get there early.  Early or late, all community volunteers are welcome to help us build this playground.

On Saturday, June 18, 2011 the opening ceremony for the Boundless Playground will be held in the afternoon and I would welcome everyone to attend that as well.  There will be guest speakers from the city and school departments and it will be the official opening of this incredible resource that will be used by our schools and communities for years to come. 

Again, I need to congratulate an amazing teacher, Jessica Frechette, who has lead this effort to build the Boundless Playground.  I must also recognize two amazing administrators Carole Lerner, Special Education Director and Kenny Duva, Assistant Special Education Director, who found the resources and supported Jessica's efforts.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Gerardi, Jr., Ph.D.                         

Superintendent of Schools                             

Woonsocket Education Department  

“Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.”

Henry Ford (1863-1947, American Industrialist and pioneer of the Assembly-Line Production Method)