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Schenectady High School
 November 23, 2009

Teachers are awarded education grants

Teachers from six Schenectady schools were recently awarded education grants from the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation, an independent organization that funds programs and projects designed to enhance and enrich education in Schenectady. 

Congratulations to the following grant winners: 

Lauren Anderson
Foreign Language Teacher, Oneida Middle School
 Anderson will purchase French language books which will be used for instruction. 

Beth Chatnick
Instructional Coach, Elmer Avenue Elementary School
 Chatnick will purchase books for a sixth grade book club created to promote literacy and improve writing skills 

Lisa David and others
Art Teacher, Academy of Culture and Communication at Pleasant Valley
 David and her colleagues will use the grant to offset the costs of sets and costumes for a production of Beauty and the Beast by the Pleasant Valley Players theater club. 

Margaret Foley
Art Teacher, Schenectady High School
 Foley requested funding for a portable printing press for the Sayles School of Fine Arts.  A 9th grade teacher, visual arts teacher and an artists in residence will work with students on printmaking skills, use of a press as well as study multi-cultural myths, create solar prints and create accordion books.  The project combines literacy, multi-cultural mythology, printmaking and exploration of careers in visual arts. 

Jennifer Gensinger
Music Teacher, Mont Pleasant Middle School
 Gensinger will purchase stringed instruments for the students to use. 

Lisa Longe
Music Teacher, Elmer Avenue, Keane, Woodlawn
 Longe will purchase percussion bell kits so students can learn keyboard/mallet percussion.

Elizabeth Mark
ESL, Mont Pleasant
 Mark will use the funds for an ESL (English as a Second Language) project, Discovering Schenectady’s Treasures.  Her students will complete interviews, research, go on field trips to the Mabee Farm and the Schenectady Museum.  The project will include the creation of a book on Schenectady’s history.

Michele Steart-Mannino and others
Instructional Coach, Oneida Middle School
 Stewart-Mannino and her colleague at Oneida are creating a “Double Dutch Connections” experience.  The students will read a novel, meet the author and go on field trip to help them understand their Dutch heritage.

The foundation could not fund all of the grant requests but members are pleased that they were able to fund these.   They were also able to help other applicants find alternative funding sources.  Consequently, some fifth grade students will have the opportunity to read high-interest historical fiction while improving their reading and writing skills.  Kindergarten students will use new literature to enrich their understanding of basic math concepts. 

Congratulations to the winners.  The foundation provides funding through two grant cycles each year.  The committee encourages staff members to submit proposal in the spring.  For more information, please visit www.foundationforeducationalexcellence.com   

The Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation supports:

  • Enhanced and extraordinary fine arts opportunities for students that extend beyond school course offerings.
     
  • Projects and programs that allow students to understand and utilize state-of-the-art advancements in science and technology.
     
  • Opportunities for continued student participation in international exchange programs.
     
  • Continued support to teachers to develop innovative instructional programs supporting a rigorous curriculum at all levels.
     
  • Professional growth and development opportunities that extent beyond current offerings and traditional resources.
     
  • Reaching out to professionals-including writers, artists, musicians, philosophers, scientists, and others-to inspire the love of learning and help students at all grade levels realize the value of artistic talent.
     
  • Continued global studies opportunities, including interacting with students from around the worlds through the use of technology.
     
  • Greater opportunities for students to participate in performing arts and other developmental programs requiring the use of resources that goes beyond the school.

You can also support learning activities such as these by making a contribution to the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation, Box 3956, Schenectady, NY  12303-0956.

 

    

 

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