Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation

Dobbs Ferry School Foundation Fall 1999 Newsletter

Since its inception in 1994, the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation (DFSF) has raised more than 2.6 million dollars through grants and contributions to enhance the education of Dobbs Ferry students. The Foundation encourages and supports good, innovative programs that are endorsed by teachers, administration, the Board and the Superintendent, but that cannot initially be funded by the school budget.

In Progress: Better Use of the Cable TV Studio This summer, the Foundation, working with a committee of Dobbs Ferry-based television professionals, drafted and submitted a formal proposal to the School Board for the expansion and development of a Media Laboratory for Dobbs Ferry Schools.

The proposal calls for expanding the school’s Cable TV studio into a new Media Laboratory that would help "integrate a world increasingly impacted by information, telecommunications, and the media" into the classroom curriculum.

The proposal sets forth four key educational goals for the media lab to fulfill:

Media Literacy Education,

Learning by Doing,

Improving Communication Skills

Community Outreach.

A Well-Received Idea

The proposal has been met with enthusiasm by both the Board and school administration. The School Board formally approved the concept at its November 15^th meeting.

According to High School Principal Charlene Jordan, the first objective for the schools is to work with the teachers to help them understand how they can use the TV in their curriculum. She agrees that there are numerous possibilities to enhance the students’ learning experience with the Media Lab and looks forward to using the TV for oral histories.

"There is so much richness to tap in the Dobbs Ferry community – we have World War II veterans, and first generation immigrants. We have to learn how to connect this to what kids are doing in the classroom…The Media Lab is another new technological tool for teachers to use," says Jordan.

The next steps planned by the district are a teacher training program and the hiring of the second media professional to begin in the second quarter – toward whose salary the Foundation has agreed to to commit $20 thousand during the 1999-2000 school year.

IB proves Its Worth and Moves onto Middle School During the past two years, the Foundation has played a key role in bringing the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) program to our school district. After one full year of implementation at the high school, IB is proving its value.

"IB has begun to change the culture at the High School in a positive way," says Mitchell Combs, IB Director for the Dobbs Ferry School District and coordinator of the High School IB program. "It’s really enhancing the academic atmosphere."

The District opted to establish the IB college preparatory program in the High School for two main reasons:

IB fosters academic excellence from students by encouraging them to them to take a more active role in their learning, to think critically, and to emphasize writing in any course they take.

IB is an excelent teacher training program that raises standards and expectations for all students.

Thanks to IB, the high school now has several more college preparatory classes – notably, two more for juniors, IB Math and IB Physics. Existing AP courses are now taught as AP and IB courses and students can sit for either or both exams.

To date more than half of the High School’s 40 teachers have completed IB training. 34% of seniors and 52% of juniors are currently enrolled in at least one IB course. 18 juniors – or nearly one quarter of the junior class—are on track to receive the esteemed IB diploma next year, up from 7 seniors this year. To be eligible for the IB diploma students must complete 7 IB courses, including the Theory of Knowledge, write a 4,000 word research paper, and participate in some form of out-of-the-classroom learning through, for instance, community action and service.

IB at the Middle School

This year, IB has moved into the Middle School, with the entire 6^th grade team, members of the 7^th grade team and teachers who cross grade levels completing training.

The Middle School IB program does not change the curriculum, but it does encourage teachers to incorporate the following themes in their instruction: Approaches to Learning or helping students form the habits that will lead to critical, independent thinking; Homo faber (wo/man the maker) or helping students appreciate the human capacity and drive to transform our quality of life over time; Community Service, Environment and Health.

Dobbs Ferry is currently the only IB district in Westchester County, but Combs regularly receives calls from all over the country from educators and parents interested in learning about how IB enhances the school curriculum.

So Far This Year: Computers and a Music Enrichment Program Although the Foundation got off to a delayed start this year (the first board meeting was canceled due to mosquito sprayings) board members have been working to make sure the schools are getting what they need.

Thanks to Board member Paul Sterne and the IBM K-12 Matching Grants Program, the Foundation has already supplied Springhurst School with 5 new IBM computers, printers and scanners -- and is in the process of securing five more to completely meet principal Georgine Dempsey’s request.

In addition, the Foundation approved a request to fund a music enhancement program at the Middle School by Philharmonia Virtuosi, a premier American Chamber Orchestra.

Foundation Encourages Teachers to Submit Grant Requests The Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation has started off the 1999-2000 school year with a greatly expanded board of directors and a stronger emphasis on teacher incentive grants.

"DFSF-funded teacher incentive grants enable us to solicit new concepts and programs in learning and teaching directly from the teachers who play such an important role in the educational lives of our children." says Foundation president Judy Konowitch. "The availability of these grants helps prevent teacher burnout and fosters innovation and a dynamic learning environment for Dobbs Ferry kids."

To date, the Foundation has funded over $70 thousand in teacher incentive grants. All grant proposals need the approval of the school principal – and requests totaling more than $5 thousand also need the approval of the School Board before the Foundation will consider them.

Last Year’s Grants

During the 1998 – 99 school year, the foundation funded a variety of proposals, including:

The purchase of hand-held computers with an interactive geometry program for the high school

The purchase of computer-based practice programs for third graders with reading and comprehension disabilities.

A curriculum to teach about Indonesia to 3^rd graders.

A "book club" in which K-4 teachers and administrators gather to read and share ideas about children’s books.

The Foundation is currently reviewing proposals for the 1999-2000 school year. As in the past, this year’s grant proposals reflect the excellence of the Dobbs Ferry teaching community and range from the purchase of state-of-the art technology to enhance AP Biology and Physics instruction to a "Peaceful Kids" program that will give young students the skills they need to resolve conflicts.

The Foundation’s ability to fund these outstanding proposals is limited only by our budget -- which will grow with your contributions!

Foundation Briefs…

Mark the Date! The Foundations annual fundraising party will be held February 12, 2000.

This year, the Foundation is placing renewed emphasis on leveraging funds through small grants and other means. To that end, going forward, we will submit all requests for arts-related program funding to BOCES Arts and Education Services. This service rebates a substantial amount (50% or more) of the cost of funding these programs.

Increase the Value of Your Contribution to the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation

Take advantage of Matching funds from your employer. Many employers match funds dollar for dollar – some even double or triple the donation. When making a donation don’t forget to include your company’s matching gift form.

Make a donation in the form of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds that you have owned longer than a year. As of now, you can actually triple the value of your gift by donating securities instead of cash. For more information on how to donate securities or other assets to the Foundation, contact Max Kahn at 693-8262 (evenings) or email to maxkahn@aol.com.

Make Your Tax Deductible Donation Today. Send your check payable to the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation.