Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation
NEWS FLASH!
For Immediate Release Contact: Agnes Mattos 693-8064
December 20, 1999
DOBBS FERRY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS
The Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation has awarded nearly $25,000 in grants for nine new and innovative projects throughout the Dobbs Ferry School System. The Foundation began the 1999-2000 school year by actively soliciting grant proposals from district teachers. The response from teachers was excellent and the Foundation is happy to report that it was able to fund every request.
Six grants were awarded to the Springhurst Elementary School for the following programs:
- A Peaceful Kids Program designed to help young students develop the self-discipline necessary for being "fair minded and caring individuals who will be empathetic, cooperative, and respectful of all." Led by Springhurst educators Susie Steinthal and Mary Gallagher the program will form a kindergarten/second grade partnership and establish a lending library of books, videos and music for the faculty to use to foster the traits necessary for peaceful conflict resolution. The program will also explore other resources and approaches to expanding the Peaceful Kids concept.
- A Study Group for teachers, proposed by Springhurst educators Doug Berry and Susie Messina. The group will use a Teachers College Educational model to raise the level of literacy instruction within our schools through professional development.
- An ongoing teachers reading group to help educators encourage students to become lifelong readers. Proposed by educator Allison Colesworthy, the "Teachers as Readers" program is designed to gather groups of teachers and administrators to read and discuss children’s books, adolescent literature and professional books on a regular basis. Educators then use the knowledge and ideas they have shared to create richly literate classrooms where students read and discuss literature with confidence and pleasure.
An artist residency program through which artist/arts educator Mary Ann Lomonaco will conduct a series of in-class papermaking workshops with all K, 1 and 2 classes. The Papermaking project was proposed by Springhurst Cultural Arts Faculty Coordinator Mary Gallagher,
- An International Bookmaking Project, sponsored by a group of Springhurst teachers through which first and second grade students will create counting and alphabet books to be sent to a classroom or village in a developing nation. In addition researching and studying various alphabet/number books, this program, which involves reading, writing, research, organizing and collecting data, will help children learn historical and geographic information about the designated country.
- A Globemaking Project led by third grade teacher Karen Weber, through which third graders, working in groups, will make globes (using a beachball and plaster of paris) to gain a better understanding of basic geographical concepts.
Grants for Middle School and High School
In addition to the substantial grant to support International Baccalaureate teacher training (currently in progress) the Foundation awarded the Middle School a grant for an artist residency program featuring the Philharmonia Virtuosi, a premiere chamber orchestra. Music educators Ching Chen and John Kaste requested this grant to enhance instrumental instruction and provide additional enrichment to general music students.
The Foundation also awarded two grants to the High School. One grant will fund the purchase of state-of- the-art technology to enhance the instruction of Chemistry and other sciences in the high school. Proposed by High School educator, Ann Stanton, the grant will fund the purchase of Texas Instrument TI-83 Calculator Based Laboratory(CBL) unit and sensors. This new technology is already being used in several Westchester County schools with demonstrated benefits to students.
An additional grant was awarded for a Visual Arts Mentoring Program that is being sponsored by the Rivertowns Arts Council (RAC). This program will match visual artists working in all media with promising high-school aged artists from the four river towns. This program will also receive support from the RAC, the Westchester Arts Council, and the schools foundations from the other river towns.
Started in 1994, the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation has raised more than $2.6 million through individual contributions and educational grants. Working in cooperation with the administration and faculty from each of the three schools; Springhurst, the Middle School and the High School, the Board of Education, and the PTSA the Foundation gives financial support to creative educational programs that can not initially be funded by the school budget. In addition to Teacher Incentive Grants, which foster innovation and excellence in the classroom, the Foundation funds worthwhile educational initiatives -- such as the International Baccalaureate program in the High School and Middle School, and the Media Literacy Program, a new program in development aimed at maximizing the benefits of the Dobbs Ferry Cable TV studio for Dobbs Ferry students.