Exploring Robotics
Through a Spring 2019 NEF Grant, several robots were ordered for teachers and students at High Rock to explore in order to determine how they could fit into future curriculum. In the fall, a Robot Exploration Day was held for all staff at High Rock and technology specialists from across the district. Many ideas surfaced that day, including the integration of the robots into math, science, music, and social/emotional learning curriculum. Students were introduced to the robots in small groups.
After lots of exploration by teachers, administrators, and students, the Sphero Bolt and Root were determined to be most useful in the Middle School classroom.
The Sphero Bolt is easily connected to the coding curriculum at High Rock and teachers noted that they can see it being used in the math curriculum (angles and graphing) and the science curriculum (waves, graphing, and sensing). The Sphero also comes with pre-made lessons connecting the Social Studies units on Egypt and Hieroglyphics to coding!
The Root is an all-around robot that works nicely with the coding curriculum, but can be used in other areas such as music, art, science, and even ELA. This robot offers 3 levels of coding, making it useful for both beginners and advanced users.
The existing robots will continue to impact students in small groups and after school, and will be available to be checked out by technology specialists at other schools. At High Rock, they plan to recommend the district purchase a class set of the Sphero Bolt, and to begin integration of the robots into the curriculum starting in the fall.
Grant recipient Erin Mack noted, “Teachers were inspired to think outside of the box while exploring these robots and I can’t wait to see what they can do once a class set is purchased.” During the exploration day a teacher reflected, “I liked the fact that it could be controlled manually or by coding and could be used to create artwork.”
NEF Honored at Staples Connect Grand Opening
Last week, members of the NEF, Needham Select Board, and Newton-Needham Chamber helped celebrate the (re)opening of Staples Connect on Highland Ave, which will offer new meeting and co-working space and expanded services to the Needham community.
The NEF was honored to receive a generous donation from Staples which will help us continue to fund innovative and impactful programs in the Needham Public Schools. Thank you, Staples!
Find out more in this recent Needham Times article!
NEF Funds 12 Fall Grants Totaling $50,102
At the Needham School Committee meeting last night, the Needham Education Foundation (NEF) announced the recipients of 12 grants totaling $50,102 in the fall grant cycle. Two of the grants provide for professional development in STEAM and visual arts, impacting instruction and curriculum across all five elementary schools. A large grant at the High School will fund an artist-in-residency program “Your Voice Matters. What’s Your Story?” to foster community and facilitate conversations around empathy and equity.
Awarded grants also include:
- Four performances for the Pollard 8th grade of “A Revolution of Her Own!” — the story of Deborah Sampson, the first woman to enlist, fight, and be honorably discharged from the American Military.
- A visit with graphic novel author of “She the People,” Jen Deaderick to host a series of workshops at the Needham High School’s One Day program.
- Cooking For Kids, a weekly cooking activity for students learning life skills in substantially separate early learning classrooms at Sunita Williams.
- Sensory Pathways at Eliot and Mitchell, which will allow students to take movement breaks using academic visuals to release energy and sensory build up..
- The addition to Broadmeadow, Eliot and Newman libraries of Vox Books — hardcover books with an integrated audio recording to help emergent and reluctant readers.
- Pedometers for each second grade classroom at Broadmeadow to reinforce math concepts such as graphing and place value, and to better understand real-life distances in geography units.
- Mindfulness workshops for students and teachers in each cluster classroom at High Rock.
- Professional development for all K-5 math coaches and grade 6-12 math teachers with Sunil Singh, co-author of “Math Recess,” a book which emphasizes learning mathematics through play and as a means to provide equity to all students.
Far From The Tree – Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Funded by a small grant from the NEF last spring, the Far From a Tree screening was held on November 6th at Mitchell Elementary School. There was a great turn out for the event and attendees found the panel discussion thoughtful and informative.
The panelists included Tracy McKay, Liza d’Hemecourt, Laurie Davis and Sarah Burton.
Low-Ropes Challenge Course at Pollard
Funded by a large grant from the NEF, the Low-Ropes Challenge Course at Pollard features seven elements presenting meaningful physical and mental challenges to help students develop social and emotional skills.
Grant writer, Michael Marcojohn is excited to see this grant come to life. He wrote, “I have always had the dream to build a course and provide students with the same positive experience I once had. I cannot wait to provide students with such a different and unique experience. Students have been asking me since the first day of school about when they will be allowed to enjoy the course.”
On October 3, Pollard teachers were trained and certified on the low-ropes course. Students at Pollard will now be able to use the course to help create an inclusive and cooperative team atmosphere.
Sensory Pathways at Broadmeadow
The NEF funded two Sensory Pathways that were installed this month at Broadmeadow and they have already made a huge impact on the students and teachers, who were instantly mesmerized. These Sensory Pathways have given students opportunities to get their movement out.
The paths are located in the first-grade wing for the kindergarten, first and second graders to use, as well as on the ground level near the occupational therapy room. Each path is designed to change a child’s body position as he/she completes the course, focusing on academic visuals while moving the body in a specific order. By jumping, bouncing, bending, pushing, and breathing, students release their energy and sensory build-ups that impacts their ability to best utilize their brains.
Although teachers were initially worried about sending students to the paths independently, after a class lesson, they gave it a try. Teachers were pleasantly surprised at how responsible students were being when they asked to go on a sensory break. Broadmeadow families have enjoyed the videos shared by Principal Gaberman shared the videos in the school’s bulletin. Grant writer, Saundra Watson noted, “It has been amazing to see so many students reading the directions and following the movements and others following along by creating their own movements.”
Take a sneak peak at how Needham students are moving their bodies and putting the pathways to good use. Thank you to grant writer Saundra Watson for making this innovative grant come to life.
NEF Announces It Has Donated Over $3 Million to Needham Public Schools
At its 2nd annual Grant Awards Reception held on Monday, May 20 at the John Eliot School, Joanna Herrera, Co-President of the Needham Education Foundation (NEF), announced that the NEF just reached a landmark $3 million given in support of the Needham Public Schools. The $3 million has funded over 715 grants written by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community members through the NEF’s grant program.
The NEF raises funds and awards grants to promote innovation and excellence in education for Needham public school students. It seeks out and supports programs that are beyond normal and expected public funding, including leading-edge projects in math and science, languages and the arts, emerging technologies, social development, and more. Community members may submit grant proposals throughout the year. The NEF also collaborates on a larger scale with the Needham Public Schools Department. For example, the foundation provided seed money for the Interdisciplinary Learning Initiative at Needham High School.
The NEF was founded in 1990 by a group of alumni from Needham High School who were celebrating their 50th class reunion. They parlayed a class gift of just $3,000 into a foundation that has now awarded more than $3 million in grant money.
“The Needham Education Foundation has been our partner in educational innovation and student learning. Not only does the NEF provide resources, they offer expertise, guidance, and perspective as they assist educators in the development of creative and exciting funding proposals. We are fortunate to live, learn, and work in a community with a partner like the NEF that values its children,” said Daniel Gutekanst, Superintendent of Needham Public Schools in a recent blog post. To view more of his blog post, click here.
The Grant Awards Reception was attended by State Representative Denise Garlick, members of the Select Board and School Committee, and Bruce Johnstone–a founding member of the NEF. The event recognized the teachers, administrators, parents and one student who had received grants during the 2018-19 school year. The grants awarded included engineering backpacks for kindergartners, a documentary screening about the challenges of educating students with differences, professional development opportunities, Spanish-language and Latino-experience literature, robotics equipment, and much more.
View coverage of the reception by the Needham Channel.
Rubik’s Cubes at Needham High School
NEF Honors 2018-2019 Grant Recipients
On May 20, 2019, NEF held a reception to honor those who were awarded grants during the 2018-2019 school year. Held at the Eliot School, the ceremony featured remarks by Superintendent Dan Gutekanst and NEF co-presidents Kelly Partridge and Joanna Herrera. Each grant recipient was provided with a certificate and thanked for their efforts in applying for a grant.
See coverage of the reception on the Needham Channel.
2018-2019 Grant Recipients
Susan Audibert
Co-Grant Writer: Seema Meloni
“Professional Development in Mindfulness and Resiliency Training“ (Hillside)
Greg Bayse
Co-Grant Writer: Jean Tower
“Modeling the 21st Century Elementary Media Center” (Mitchell)
Margaret Berges
“Literacy Lounge” (Eliot)
Karen Bourn
Co-Grant Writers: Anne Burgholzer, Stephanie Calvo, Kim Hoffman
“The Walking Classroom” (Eliot)
Liza d’Hemecourt
“Understanding Student Differences Through Film and Speaker Series” (Mitchell)
Sue Doherty
“Audiobooks and Digital Books to Support Differentiation in the ELA
Classroom” (Pollard)
Emily Gaberman
“Citizens of Broadmeadow: All Are Welcome” (Broadmeadow)
Stephanie Hamel
Co-Grant Writer: Liz Silva
“Full STEAM Ahead: Enhancing Computational Thinking & Spatial Reasoning for All Learners Through Mathematical Play” (Broadmeadow)
Heather Harris
Co-Grant Writers: Shakur Abdal-Khallaq, Arielle Mossberg
“Making Space” (Needham High)
Elizabeth Hitron
“Author Visit: Gloria Respress-Churchwell” (Hillside)
Elizabeth Hitron
Co-Grant Writer: Jennifer Guardino
“Vox Books—Books That Talk!” (Hillside)
Carol-Ann Hurley
Co-Grant Writers: Raylene Roberts, Alyson Schenker
“A 21st Century Bookroom” (Hillside)
Elizabeth Lee
“How Many Elephants? Engaging Kindergartners and Their Families in Engineering Design Challenges” (Hillside)
Erin Mack
“Examined Life: Greek Studies in the Schools Fellowship” (High Rock)
Erin Mack
“Exploring Robotics” (High Rock)
Laura Magno
“World War Women: The Unsung Heroines of World War II” (Needham High)
Laura Magno
“Smithsonian American Art Museum Summer Institute 2019” (Needham High)
Michael Marcojohn
Co-Grant Writer: Kathy Pinkham
“Pollard Low-Ropes Challenge Course” (Pollard)
Samantha Martyn
“8th Grade Experiential Education: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Equipment” (Pollard)
Teresa Marx
Co-Grant Writers: Melanie Bunda, Annapurna Vakati, Heather Hotchkiss
“Cognition and Instruction in STEM-Professional Development for 4 Science Teachers” (Needham High)
Steve Mock
“Differentiated Learning Station” (Pollard)
Shayan Raza
Co-Grant Writers: Joshua Yankell, Samantha Bookston
“The Sky’s the Limit: Drones at NHS” (Needham High)
Paige Rowse
“Gregory Katsoulis Author Visit” (Needham High)
Paige Rowse
“Rubik’s Cube Mosaics” (Needham High)
Paige Rowse
“Differentiated Learning Spaces” (Needham High)
Jenn Scheck-Kahn
“Sensory Toolkit” (Eliot)
Elyssa Schneider
Co-Grant Writer: Patricia McNamara
“Hispanic Literary Expansion” (High Rock)
Colleen Soldato
Co-Grant Writers: Sarah Burton, Karen Tiberi, Barbara Hayden
“Yoga for Every Learner-Direct Instruction” (Mitchell)
Colleen Soldato
Co-Grant Writers: Sarah Burton, Karen Tiberi, Barbara Hayden
“Yoga for Every Learner-Educator Training” (Mitchell)
Elissa Strauss
Co-Grant Writer: Maryellen Shea
“Planet Box” (Pollard)
LeeAnn Sutton
“Sons of Serendip Residency” (Pollard and Needham High)
Heather Tryon
“Ukes for Broadmeadow” (Broadmeadow)
Andrea Vargas
Co-Grant Writer: Jessica Peterson
“Cultural Conversations Through Community Book Studies” (Newman)
Saundra Watson
“Sensory Pathways” (Broadmeadow)
NEF Awards $31,345 in Spring Grants!
The Needham Education Foundation announced the recipients of 10 grants totaling $31,345 in its third and last grant cycle of the 2018-19 school year.
Elizabeth Lee, a parent at Hillside, was awarded a grant for engineering backpacks for kindergarteners that will include materials, books and instructions for students and parents to complete a critical thinking and building project. Thanks to a grant by first grade teacher Susan Audibert, 20 teachers will take part in an 8-week mindfulness course and then bring mindfulness techniques into their classrooms. Carol-Ann Hurley, literacy specialist, was awarded a grant to fund the creation of an innovative school-wide bookroom that will allow teachers to easily access individual, small group and whole-class texts by subject area.
Mitchell’s Media Center will undergo a redesign with a grant written by principal Greg Bayse. The new Media Center will house traditional and digital media, a STEAM learning center and spaces for collaborative student and adult work. Mitchell parent Liza d’Hemecourt received a grant to fund a screening of the documentary, “Far From the Tree,” which discusses the challenges of parenting and educating students with differences in areas including gender identity, physical ability, cognition, race and ethnicity.
Newman Assistant Principal Andrea Vargas received a grant to fund a Teaching Tolerance Workshop: Facilitating Difficult Conversations for a group of administrators, teachers and specialists, as well as copies of the book, “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” with a goal of deepening understanding of equity in education.
High Rock will have an expanded collection of Spanish-language and Latino-experience literature thanks to grant writer Elyssa Schneider, a Spanish teacher. Erin Mack, instructional technology teacher, received a grant to fund the purchase of robotics equipment so that teachers may determine which robot/coding would best work in their classrooms.
Sue Doherty, library media teacher at Pollard, received a grant to fund audiobooks to meet the needs of special education, general education and ELL students.
Needham High School history teacher Laura Magno received funding so she can attend the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Summer Institute and learn how to leverage their resources for the teaching of American history.