2007/2008 NEF Spring Grant Awards
Meet Abigail Adams
All Elementary |
$3,672.50 |
| This theatrical production brings Abigail Adams to life for all 5th grade students across the district. The program includes telling the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of Abigail Adams giving the students the opportunity to relive history by actively participating in the performance using Colonial style props. This grant also includes the purchase of two books to be placed in each 5th grade classroom and media center throughout the district. |
Opera Presto
All Schools |
$5,000 |
| Musical ensemble Opera Presto will provide a unique opportunity for students to experience opera firsthand, presented in a manner that is suitable and accessible to students ranging from the elementary to the high school level. The program consists of condensed versions of the original operas “Hansel & Gretel”, “The Magic Flute”, and “La Boheme”. |
Poetry in Motion
Broadmeadow |
$2,000 |
| David Zucker makes poetry come alive using costumes, masks and puppets in a dynamic performance which will be presented to students K-5. Program also includes both pre and post performance activities. |
Early Childhood Multicultural Literature Initiative
Hillside |
$685 |
| This grant will provide for the purchase of books to create a meaningful multicultural presence in the kindergarten literacy program. A variety of age-appropirate texts by people of color and diverse cultures will be prominently placed in the classroom libraries to more effectively build an awareness and appreciation of different cultures. |
Drumming Together at Mitchell School
Mitchell |
$4,940 |
| This grant will be used for drumming demonstrations, teacher instruction and the purchase of drums to be made available to all students at Mitchell. Drumming circles will be integrated into classroom morning meetings and school assemblies. |
Playaway Library: Audiobooks for Needham Students and Families
Mitchell/Hillside |
$5,000 |
| This grant will purchase digitally recorded audio books for Mitchell and Hillside schools in an effort to provide literacy enrichment. This alternative to reading aims to provide many of the fundamental building blocks for students to become stronger readers and writers in a novel way. |
Seeing is Believing: Using a Document Camera
Newman |
$3,291 |
| This grant will purchase a high resolution digital presenter or document camera which magnifies and displays text, images, 3-dimensional objects, slides and transparencies. In addition to being used by the media center to demonstrate the research process, it will also be available to the rest of the faculty and administrators.
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Harnessing Technology for Foreign Language Acquisition
NHS |
$4,740 |
| In an effort to enrich instruction and engage students who otherwise struggle with language learning, this grant will purchase 25 Nintendo DS Lite game machines as well as 25 copies of “My Spanish Coach”. These games will be used with students in the standard and basic levels of Spanish classes at the High School. |
Needham Community Cooperative Program
NHS |
$3,600 |
| Discovering meaningful, relevant service opportunities for high school students who are unable to find them on their own is the focus of this grant. The funds will provide six service-learning seminars and six community days to help students determine an appropriate project. Students must complete sixty hours of community service in order to graduate. |
Needham Schools-A Village of Global Citizens
NHS |
$5,000 |
| This grant proposes to bring together a group of Needham High School students with K-12 Needham Public Schools staff for a day of inspiration and best practice during a system-wide day of professional development on November 4, 2008. The focus of the day will be District Goal #3, Promoting Active Citizenship. The grant will provide training for the High School students to prepare them to lead workshops and presentations with the teachers. |
Wind Measurement Equipment to Determine Feasibility of Wind Power in Needham
NHS |
$5,000 |
| This grant will purchase wind-measuring instrumentation for a project which involves Needham High School students in a feasibility study to determine if wind power is a viable alternative energy source in Needham. Additional funding has been secured from Dedham Savings Bank and the Solar Wind Challenge Matching Fund. Needham High Physics students will be involved in measuring the wind as part of their energy and technology curriculum.
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OrigiNation Dance Culture Workshop
Pollard/NHS |
$4680 |
| OrigiNation was well-received by elementary students this year. This program will provide participatory dance workshops and instruction which will include highlighting the historical journey of the enslaved Africans traveling ultimately to freedom in America today. |
Cognitive Behavioral Training for Guidance Counselors
Guidance Dept |
$5,000 |
| The Guidance Department is requesting Cognitive Behavioral Training for all of the Guidance Counselors in the system. CBT is a therapy approach that is effective in reducing anxiety and depression in children. Currently, only a couple of counselors are trained in CBT and the department would like this to be a skill shared by all members of the department. |
Teacher Resource & Curriculum Support Center & Data Project
Needham Science Center |
$4,983.16 |
| The Science Center received a mandate in 2007 to become an active Teacher Resource and Curriculum Support Center. In order to meet this mandate, the Science Center is asking for funds to organize itself in a similar manner to libraries so that an accurate inventory is maintained and a systematized check-out procedure can be established and maintained. |
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| Total |
$ 57,591.66 |
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