2018-2019 Grants
WEEF funded $22,464 for the 2018-2019 school year. Congratulations to the following grant recipients:
WHS Music Department Trailer was requested by the WHS music director to move equipment to and from WMS and WHS musical events, such as WHS marching band events. The trailer will display the WEEF logo to recognize the funding source of this request. Sarah Ferry—Westerly High School
Focus K2 Kindergarten Initiative will be enhanced through fulfilling the request for 16 iPads and cases to be used in four kindergarten SSS and DCS classrooms enriching the technology resources to be used with this integrated approach to teaching and learning. The intent is to help teachers promote children’s creativity and their abilities to collaborate, communicate, and think critically. Marcy Bunte—State Street School, Kara Harrison, Kim Perkins, Marcella Clark, Kelly Birrell—Dunn’s Corners School
Project Based Learning: A Modern Mockingbird is a learning initiative that would utilize "To Kill a Mockingbird" to explore questions about the justice system, mob mentality, and racial tensions. This project-based initiative will include reading the novel, connecting other text sources with common themes, and collaborating to create art pieces with the intention of sparking understanding, empathy, and change. Also, the students will travel to NYC (travel not included in request) to see the Broadway production of To Kill A Mockingbird. Melissa Tallardy—Westerly High School
Summer Skills Kits – The summer skills kits’ request for funding was granted to support the teacher with the purchase of materials to create individualized summer kits for the summer of 2019. These students will have the opportunity to practice and reinforce skills. The kits will provide all the necessary materials specific to each student’s needs to provide review during the summer. Becky Jones—Springbrook Elementary School
Westerly Education Center’s maritime sheet metal class offered a course to area high school students affiliated with Electric Boat. The Westerly Education Endowment Fund and the WHS Alumni Scholarship Fund partnered to pay the tuition for four WHS students to afford them a chance to be part of this first course opportunity for high school students to be part of a 200-hour workforce training program. This course was a mix of classroom instruction and hands on work in the lab at the education center. This lab featured machinery, drafting tables, and a markup submarine interior which enhanced and enriched the learning environment. This initial opportunity created an opportunity for WEEF to partner with community prospects to expand the possibilities available to students to be part of workforce programs which will enable them to apply to Electric Boat after graduation with initial training already completed. Amy Gryzbowski—Westerly Education Center
The CPR Manikin request enhances the classroom inventory of training materials for the medical careers in education instruction. This CPR Manikin model has red indicator lights and offers additional functions and features to help students receive immediate feedback on their CPR technique. Dawn Smith—Westerly High School
Personalized Learning Through Access to Technology will allow a teacher at State Street School to tailor the pace of student learning, individualizing instructional approaches with the use of five classroom iPads. WEEF’s funding to access this technology optimizes the needs of each learner. Kate Leach—State Street School
Babcock Smith House/Dr. Babcock Phase II was a request for grant funding to complete a video documentary which will air on PBS in 2019 and become available to educators on the PBS LEARN channel. Also, the WEEF funding will complete the development of tour guides that students will use to enhance their annual visit to the Westerly’s BSH museum. Betty-Jo Cugini—Babcock Smith House
Every Table Tells A Story requested that WEEF fund a portion of a unique community project to celebrate the town of Westerly’s 350th birthday. A granite chess table and benches has been designed and is being constructed to be placed in Wilcox Park dedicated as a gift by the Class of 1969 and to celebrate the Class of 2019 and the town’s 350th birthday, with its legacy carved in granite. A chess player needs to use critical thinking, problem solving, and planning ahead as successful strategies to enhance the success in the “game of life.” These enriching characteristics are synonymous with WEEF’s mission. The WEEF logo will appear on one of the benches in appreciation for the funding and to recognize the significance of continued support to enrich and enhance educational endeavors and community connections. Barrie Grossi—WHS Class of 1969
Teacher Appreciation Grant is awarded by lottery. This year’s winner of $1000 was Alexis Schonrog of Dunn’s Corners School who will prepare a request for sensory equipment for her behavior program. Alexis Schonrog—Dunn’s Corners School
Focus K2 Kindergarten Initiative will be enhanced through fulfilling the request for 16 iPads and cases to be used in four kindergarten SSS and DCS classrooms enriching the technology resources to be used with this integrated approach to teaching and learning. The intent is to help teachers promote children’s creativity and their abilities to collaborate, communicate, and think critically. Marcy Bunte—State Street School, Kara Harrison, Kim Perkins, Marcella Clark, Kelly Birrell—Dunn’s Corners School
Project Based Learning: A Modern Mockingbird is a learning initiative that would utilize "To Kill a Mockingbird" to explore questions about the justice system, mob mentality, and racial tensions. This project-based initiative will include reading the novel, connecting other text sources with common themes, and collaborating to create art pieces with the intention of sparking understanding, empathy, and change. Also, the students will travel to NYC (travel not included in request) to see the Broadway production of To Kill A Mockingbird. Melissa Tallardy—Westerly High School
Summer Skills Kits – The summer skills kits’ request for funding was granted to support the teacher with the purchase of materials to create individualized summer kits for the summer of 2019. These students will have the opportunity to practice and reinforce skills. The kits will provide all the necessary materials specific to each student’s needs to provide review during the summer. Becky Jones—Springbrook Elementary School
Westerly Education Center’s maritime sheet metal class offered a course to area high school students affiliated with Electric Boat. The Westerly Education Endowment Fund and the WHS Alumni Scholarship Fund partnered to pay the tuition for four WHS students to afford them a chance to be part of this first course opportunity for high school students to be part of a 200-hour workforce training program. This course was a mix of classroom instruction and hands on work in the lab at the education center. This lab featured machinery, drafting tables, and a markup submarine interior which enhanced and enriched the learning environment. This initial opportunity created an opportunity for WEEF to partner with community prospects to expand the possibilities available to students to be part of workforce programs which will enable them to apply to Electric Boat after graduation with initial training already completed. Amy Gryzbowski—Westerly Education Center
The CPR Manikin request enhances the classroom inventory of training materials for the medical careers in education instruction. This CPR Manikin model has red indicator lights and offers additional functions and features to help students receive immediate feedback on their CPR technique. Dawn Smith—Westerly High School
Personalized Learning Through Access to Technology will allow a teacher at State Street School to tailor the pace of student learning, individualizing instructional approaches with the use of five classroom iPads. WEEF’s funding to access this technology optimizes the needs of each learner. Kate Leach—State Street School
Babcock Smith House/Dr. Babcock Phase II was a request for grant funding to complete a video documentary which will air on PBS in 2019 and become available to educators on the PBS LEARN channel. Also, the WEEF funding will complete the development of tour guides that students will use to enhance their annual visit to the Westerly’s BSH museum. Betty-Jo Cugini—Babcock Smith House
Every Table Tells A Story requested that WEEF fund a portion of a unique community project to celebrate the town of Westerly’s 350th birthday. A granite chess table and benches has been designed and is being constructed to be placed in Wilcox Park dedicated as a gift by the Class of 1969 and to celebrate the Class of 2019 and the town’s 350th birthday, with its legacy carved in granite. A chess player needs to use critical thinking, problem solving, and planning ahead as successful strategies to enhance the success in the “game of life.” These enriching characteristics are synonymous with WEEF’s mission. The WEEF logo will appear on one of the benches in appreciation for the funding and to recognize the significance of continued support to enrich and enhance educational endeavors and community connections. Barrie Grossi—WHS Class of 1969
Teacher Appreciation Grant is awarded by lottery. This year’s winner of $1000 was Alexis Schonrog of Dunn’s Corners School who will prepare a request for sensory equipment for her behavior program. Alexis Schonrog—Dunn’s Corners School
