Grants in Action

A one-man show, written and performed by actor Steve Kidd, was performed for 406 students in eighth grade at the Pollard Middle School. The play was originated by Steve following several summers of work at a camp for HIV-positive children. He wrote the play in an...

James Rojas, an activist, artist, and urban planner, came to Broadmeadow School for a week-long art and design residency involving the entire Broadmeadow community. Rojas travels the world engaging ordinary people, young and old, in the planning process through “build...

Students in grades 1 to 5 at all Needham public elementary schools were exposed to history through performance thanks to a Small Grant awarded by NEF during its spring 2013 grant cycle. The program, “Sheryl Faye Presents Historical Women,” served as the kick-off event...

Newbery Medal–winning author Grace Lin presented her seminar, How a Book Is Made, to the first- and second-graders at Mitchell Elementary School. She also read an excerpt of her book The Ugly Vegetables to the kindergarten classes. Lin provided the students with...

With help from an NEF grant, the Hillside Family Engineering Extravaganza welcomed nearly 300 parents and children on a recent Saturday morning to solve engineering design challenges together. Activities included designing REAL Angry birds (working catapults) and...

Travis Roy, former BU hockey player, will speak at three Needham elementary schools next week, with his powerful message of believing in yourself and setting positive goals, regardless of the challenges you face. Roy achieved his own goal of winning a hockey...

On a beautiful day in October 2012, a few hundred lucky students at Hillside Elementary School were transported back in time to the 1770s with the help of the Rehoboth Minute Company: 13th Continental Division. The company’s costumed revolutionary reenactors...

Needham High School senior Lynne Richman smiled with pride when the play that she directed, ”You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” received well-deserved standing ovations after both performances. The initial funds necessary to direct and produce the play were made...

Thanks to an NEF small grant, life coach and yo-yo dancer Brett Outchcunis (aka DJ Ooch) brought his upbeat SuperPOWER antibullying program to Needham for third- through fifth-graders. His program, which supports the NPS mission to address bullying, uses an...

Indian culture came alive this winter for more than 300 Broadmeadow Elementary School students during an Indian classical dance residency from international dance educator and performance artist, Tara Ahmed. Ahmed has performed and taught in India, Colombia, Brazil,...