Photo Courtesy of Jill Connor/ The Westerly Sun
Grant requests that come from the Tower Street School Community Center (TSSCC) are always met with excitement here at WEEF. There is a unique energy that the community center elicits and it translates to experiential learning at its best! In the last 2 years, WEEF has granted funds to be used towards the construction of a greenhouse in the Grow and Go Seek Garden, the creation of a butterfly garden, a Lego & Lego Robotics program, a Think Fun Math Game program for families, the building of a child inspired outdoor play area and the construction of a rain garden/ outdoor classroom. Each initiative has emphasized family and community engagement and has given Westerly children enhanced opportunities for more creative and cooperative free play, space for structured programming surrounding teambuilding, group games and problem solving through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) challenges.
TSSCC was recently recognized for their model early learning summer program which prompted a visit from Rhode Island Education Commissioner, Deborah Gist. The program's curriculum revolves around service learning and active participation in projects relevant to our community. Commissioner Gist experienced first hand what an asset Tower Street is for the Westerly community.
WEEF was proud to be present at this noteworthy acknowledgement of the Tower Street team's hard work. The TSSCC initiatives funded by WEEF have turned our founders' vision into reality - TSSCC turns average educational experiences into extraordinary ones! Westerly is fortunate to have a resource like the Tower Street School Community Center as well as the support of Commissioner Gist. Congratulations to the Tower Street team for being recognized as one of our state's leading early learning centers!
To view pictures of WEEF supported projects at TSSCC, CLICK HERE.
TSSCC was recently recognized for their model early learning summer program which prompted a visit from Rhode Island Education Commissioner, Deborah Gist. The program's curriculum revolves around service learning and active participation in projects relevant to our community. Commissioner Gist experienced first hand what an asset Tower Street is for the Westerly community.
WEEF was proud to be present at this noteworthy acknowledgement of the Tower Street team's hard work. The TSSCC initiatives funded by WEEF have turned our founders' vision into reality - TSSCC turns average educational experiences into extraordinary ones! Westerly is fortunate to have a resource like the Tower Street School Community Center as well as the support of Commissioner Gist. Congratulations to the Tower Street team for being recognized as one of our state's leading early learning centers!
To view pictures of WEEF supported projects at TSSCC, CLICK HERE.
The greenhouse built by a group of volunteers led by Jennifer Murphy, has already been a huge success. This is something the Tower Street School Community Center will be able to use for years to come. Volunteers from the community as well as children in the after school and summer programs will be able to make use of the greenhouse as much as they wish. This greenhouse will be able to provide for the town of Westerly in addition to the Community Center itself. Every day the Grow and Go Seek Garden is evolving and becoming a beautiful and enjoyable place to do some gardening, take the kids out and introduce them to nature, or sit, relax and take in the beauty of it all. And TSSCC owes it all to the Whole Foods Foundation and the Westerly Education Endowment Fund for granting us the money for this project that will not only thrive but make the community garden something even more great.
Submitted by Rose Serra, who participated in building the greenhouse as part of her senior project study of genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Submitted by Rose Serra, who participated in building the greenhouse as part of her senior project study of genetically modified organisms (GMO)
We applied to become a certified Monarch weigh station. We planted a butterfly garden with perennials and annuals according to the suggested guide. The
students measured and built the butterfly habitat, planted and researched the butterflies. The early learning classroom attempted to hatch butterflies in the
classroom. Many students and staff were involved in the project. The butterfly garden is fun and whimsical with walking paths and encourages children to
explore.
Brandi Lamphere
students measured and built the butterfly habitat, planted and researched the butterflies. The early learning classroom attempted to hatch butterflies in the
classroom. Many students and staff were involved in the project. The butterfly garden is fun and whimsical with walking paths and encourages children to
explore.
Brandi Lamphere
