Grants
2022 to 2023 Grant Recipients
Ten grants totaling over $16,000.00 have been awarded for the 2022-23 school year. The following grants were either partially or fully funded:
Pod Upgrade-- Creating an inviting, collaborative space to build community among the two teams that share a pod.---Suzanne Machinski and Lorri Dean
Flexible Classroom-- Research shows that flexible seating in the classroom is beneficial for both students and teachers because it allows for more student movement, increases student engagement and changes the dynamics of teaching and learning.---Rebecca Lamboy
Building Community Through Play-- Funds were used to purchase outdoor games that teach students social skills, math skills, motor skills and higher thinking strategy skills. Each day the students have a variety of games to play as a community.---Mary Kay Patten
Mentor Program-- WHS students go to DCS once a week during the school year to spend time with their mentee, and interact through fun and educational experiences, developing a positive rapport and nurturing their interests. Students choose from an activity sheet which includes activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles, sports, playdough, drawing and board games. Funds were used to purchase items for these activities.---Christina Haase
Destination Staycation-- This grant will fund the purchase of kits for selected students during February and April school vacation weeks that will be both fun and educational. The purpose is aimed at serving students from homes that are experiencing financial hardship and/or are unable to provide engaging activities for their children. The kits will contain educational and engaging materials, such as books, puzzles, games and STEM activities.--- Christina Haase
Going Green-- This grant aided in the purchase of a rain barrel and a compost tumbler for Dunn’s Corners School. The aim is to support eco-friendly practices and create a sustainable environment on school grounds. This initiative will help reduce water usage in the school and ultimately promote conservation measures.---Christina Haase
Side by Side: A Community Effort-- This grant funded 5 park benches for the WHS grounds overlooking the walkways and quad. These benches will serve as conversation spots for high school students. Often, during good weather, teachers bring their students outside and students might use these benches for reading or studying. Additionally, our Westerly townspeople could utilize these benches on their strolls through the campus. The goal of these benches is to provide a comfortable and welcoming place for members of and visitors to Westerly High School.---Dylan Tallardy
WHS Reef Tank Project-- This is a continuation of a grant that was originally funded in 2022. The original grant funded the purchase of a classroom aquarium and sump, filtration equipment and fish and coral. Due to difficulty in controlling the temperature of the tank, some of the tank livestock was lost. The temperature control issue was rectified and the tank has been restocked and is operational again. The funds provided in this grant funded the purchase of equipment to monitor and treat tank conditions. The students will work together as a community to take ownership of this tank and help it thrive.---Zach Burgess
Applied Academics Community Based Opportunities-- The Elementary Applied Academics Program is a specialized program for students in grades K-4. This grant will provide community based learning opportunities for the elementary population with monthly educational community field trips. These trips would not only provide community opportunities for the students, but also for the community based members to learn about children with unique learning needs.---Brittany DeLuca
Community Outreach Project--In 2017 Bradford Elementary School, a Title 1 school, was closed and students that attended the school were redistricted to Dunn’s Corners School. Programs that were once funded through Title 1 funding were longer available to those families when their community school was closed. Understanding the importance in maintaining those close ties between family and school, Dunn’s Corners School has been holding community outreach events in Bradford. As a school community we are always seeking innovative ways to develop stronger ties with the Bradford community and improve communication and trust with families. Earlier in the school year we hosted a family pizza and movie night. This initial event provided us with some feedback from families on ways that we as a school community can serve families in the Bradford neighborhood better and what events families would like to see. We are applying for grant funding to assist us in holding more of these community events for our Bradford families. In time, we hope to increase family engagement at DCS and facilitate better communication with families, facilitating a strong school connection and improved student success.---Christina Haase
Ten grants totaling over $16,000.00 have been awarded for the 2022-23 school year. The following grants were either partially or fully funded:
Pod Upgrade-- Creating an inviting, collaborative space to build community among the two teams that share a pod.---Suzanne Machinski and Lorri Dean
Flexible Classroom-- Research shows that flexible seating in the classroom is beneficial for both students and teachers because it allows for more student movement, increases student engagement and changes the dynamics of teaching and learning.---Rebecca Lamboy
Building Community Through Play-- Funds were used to purchase outdoor games that teach students social skills, math skills, motor skills and higher thinking strategy skills. Each day the students have a variety of games to play as a community.---Mary Kay Patten
Mentor Program-- WHS students go to DCS once a week during the school year to spend time with their mentee, and interact through fun and educational experiences, developing a positive rapport and nurturing their interests. Students choose from an activity sheet which includes activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles, sports, playdough, drawing and board games. Funds were used to purchase items for these activities.---Christina Haase
Destination Staycation-- This grant will fund the purchase of kits for selected students during February and April school vacation weeks that will be both fun and educational. The purpose is aimed at serving students from homes that are experiencing financial hardship and/or are unable to provide engaging activities for their children. The kits will contain educational and engaging materials, such as books, puzzles, games and STEM activities.--- Christina Haase
Going Green-- This grant aided in the purchase of a rain barrel and a compost tumbler for Dunn’s Corners School. The aim is to support eco-friendly practices and create a sustainable environment on school grounds. This initiative will help reduce water usage in the school and ultimately promote conservation measures.---Christina Haase
Side by Side: A Community Effort-- This grant funded 5 park benches for the WHS grounds overlooking the walkways and quad. These benches will serve as conversation spots for high school students. Often, during good weather, teachers bring their students outside and students might use these benches for reading or studying. Additionally, our Westerly townspeople could utilize these benches on their strolls through the campus. The goal of these benches is to provide a comfortable and welcoming place for members of and visitors to Westerly High School.---Dylan Tallardy
WHS Reef Tank Project-- This is a continuation of a grant that was originally funded in 2022. The original grant funded the purchase of a classroom aquarium and sump, filtration equipment and fish and coral. Due to difficulty in controlling the temperature of the tank, some of the tank livestock was lost. The temperature control issue was rectified and the tank has been restocked and is operational again. The funds provided in this grant funded the purchase of equipment to monitor and treat tank conditions. The students will work together as a community to take ownership of this tank and help it thrive.---Zach Burgess
Applied Academics Community Based Opportunities-- The Elementary Applied Academics Program is a specialized program for students in grades K-4. This grant will provide community based learning opportunities for the elementary population with monthly educational community field trips. These trips would not only provide community opportunities for the students, but also for the community based members to learn about children with unique learning needs.---Brittany DeLuca
Community Outreach Project--In 2017 Bradford Elementary School, a Title 1 school, was closed and students that attended the school were redistricted to Dunn’s Corners School. Programs that were once funded through Title 1 funding were longer available to those families when their community school was closed. Understanding the importance in maintaining those close ties between family and school, Dunn’s Corners School has been holding community outreach events in Bradford. As a school community we are always seeking innovative ways to develop stronger ties with the Bradford community and improve communication and trust with families. Earlier in the school year we hosted a family pizza and movie night. This initial event provided us with some feedback from families on ways that we as a school community can serve families in the Bradford neighborhood better and what events families would like to see. We are applying for grant funding to assist us in holding more of these community events for our Bradford families. In time, we hope to increase family engagement at DCS and facilitate better communication with families, facilitating a strong school connection and improved student success.---Christina Haase
