2014-2015 WEEF Grant Recipients
WEEF funded $19,821 to 15 different initiatives for the 2014-2015 school year. Congratulations to the following grant recipients:

1.) Skills for Academic and Social Success - To purchase a Second Step kit to be used in all elementary schools which is a proven, evidence-based program for teaching skills of empathy, self regulation, emotional management and problem solving. Michael Reeves - State Street School
2.) DCS Parent/Child Resource Library - To create a resource library of parenting handbooks, workbooks for students and children's literature that will focus on
developing parenting skills for parents of challenging students as well as teach and develop pro-social and coping skills for students that have emotional/behavioral issues related to anxiety, anger & low resiliency. Rebecca Jones, Patty Kalen & Mary Finnegan - Dunn's Corners School
3.) Taking Interactive Lessons to the Next Level - To purchase SMART Notebook software which would allow educators to create vivid and engaging lessons and have access to over 65,000 digital resources aligned with current standards across the curriculum. Bea Lukens - Dunn's Corners School
4.) Literacy Home/ School Connection - The home/school literacy connection program would invite parents and their children to 6 after school training sessions where they will learn the skills and strategies to support their children's learning at home so they have more literacy experiences when they enter school. Christine Byrne & Beth Gunning - Springbrook Elementary School
5.) Smart Board Activities - To purchase and download interactive programs for whiteboard that will pique students' interest, promote higher rates of student
participation & increase learning outcomes in reading, writing, spelling and math. Wendy Arruda, Springbrook Elementary School
6.) Eat the Rainbow - To provide a special program for the 4th grade students at SSS which will give the an in depth hands on learning experience about
nutrition, specifically the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables to give them a foundation for making healthy choices. Katherine Ziegalmayer - State Street School
7.) Zoom H4n Handy Recorder Grant - The purchase of a portable digital recorder to create high quality recordings of classroom work & live performances so students can accurately evaluate their strengths and areas to improve. Steve Johnson - State Street School
8.) Child Inspired Outdoor Playscape - Students & staff of the TSSCC BASE program would plan and build a creative outdoor play area that would give students additional opportunities for more cooperative free play & structured programs which would encourage team building, group games and problem solving through STEM challenges. Jennifer Murphy & Angela Nobile - Tower Street School Community Center
9.) Rain Garden/ Natural Outdoor Classroom - Proposal to build a roofed structure with seating underneath to reduce rain runoff and provide a shady space for students and staff to be protected from the weather and for teaching lessons outside. Jennifer Murphy - Tower Street School Community Center
10.) Highland Grille Trailer Hitch - A proposal for a trailer, hitch and logo sticker so that the culinary arts students can expand their market for catering events
and gain competencies within the food and beverage area outside of the classroom. Chef Finkelstein - Westerly High School
11.) POS System for Culinary Arts - Proposal to implement a POS system which will allow students to design, create and edit a point of sales system in the classroom as well as run a full scale restaurant which will cater to teachers, school staff and the public. Chef Finkelstein - Westerly High School
12.) 3D Printing: Innovating Design & Manufacturing - Proposal to purchase a 3D scanner and printer to connect with classrooms across the country and to reverse engineer physical models to see how real world products derive from virtual design. Carolyn Michaud - Westerly Middle School
13.) Closing the Gap through Innovation - Purchase of 6 iPads to close early numeracy gaps for WMS students in developmentally appropriate, stimulating ways. Applications have been identified and tested for efficacy and correlation to CCCS. Stephanie Lenihan - Westerly Middle School
14.) Grateful to be Playin Guitars - 8 guitars will provide all 5th-8th grade general music class students of varying learning levels or musical abilities the opportunity
to explore the musical elements of beat, rhythm, tempo, meter, melody, harmony and form on a quality guitar. Eric Pettine - Westerly Middle School
15.) Terrific Technology Tools for the WMS Art Program - To purchase an iPad, camera and projector for the WMS art program so that students can research imagery, ideas, locations and videos relevant to the curriculum & then be able to critique their artwork or view other students' artwork.
Kelly Nunes Donohue - Westerly Middle School
2.) DCS Parent/Child Resource Library - To create a resource library of parenting handbooks, workbooks for students and children's literature that will focus on
developing parenting skills for parents of challenging students as well as teach and develop pro-social and coping skills for students that have emotional/behavioral issues related to anxiety, anger & low resiliency. Rebecca Jones, Patty Kalen & Mary Finnegan - Dunn's Corners School
3.) Taking Interactive Lessons to the Next Level - To purchase SMART Notebook software which would allow educators to create vivid and engaging lessons and have access to over 65,000 digital resources aligned with current standards across the curriculum. Bea Lukens - Dunn's Corners School
4.) Literacy Home/ School Connection - The home/school literacy connection program would invite parents and their children to 6 after school training sessions where they will learn the skills and strategies to support their children's learning at home so they have more literacy experiences when they enter school. Christine Byrne & Beth Gunning - Springbrook Elementary School
5.) Smart Board Activities - To purchase and download interactive programs for whiteboard that will pique students' interest, promote higher rates of student
participation & increase learning outcomes in reading, writing, spelling and math. Wendy Arruda, Springbrook Elementary School
6.) Eat the Rainbow - To provide a special program for the 4th grade students at SSS which will give the an in depth hands on learning experience about
nutrition, specifically the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables to give them a foundation for making healthy choices. Katherine Ziegalmayer - State Street School
7.) Zoom H4n Handy Recorder Grant - The purchase of a portable digital recorder to create high quality recordings of classroom work & live performances so students can accurately evaluate their strengths and areas to improve. Steve Johnson - State Street School
8.) Child Inspired Outdoor Playscape - Students & staff of the TSSCC BASE program would plan and build a creative outdoor play area that would give students additional opportunities for more cooperative free play & structured programs which would encourage team building, group games and problem solving through STEM challenges. Jennifer Murphy & Angela Nobile - Tower Street School Community Center
9.) Rain Garden/ Natural Outdoor Classroom - Proposal to build a roofed structure with seating underneath to reduce rain runoff and provide a shady space for students and staff to be protected from the weather and for teaching lessons outside. Jennifer Murphy - Tower Street School Community Center
10.) Highland Grille Trailer Hitch - A proposal for a trailer, hitch and logo sticker so that the culinary arts students can expand their market for catering events
and gain competencies within the food and beverage area outside of the classroom. Chef Finkelstein - Westerly High School
11.) POS System for Culinary Arts - Proposal to implement a POS system which will allow students to design, create and edit a point of sales system in the classroom as well as run a full scale restaurant which will cater to teachers, school staff and the public. Chef Finkelstein - Westerly High School
12.) 3D Printing: Innovating Design & Manufacturing - Proposal to purchase a 3D scanner and printer to connect with classrooms across the country and to reverse engineer physical models to see how real world products derive from virtual design. Carolyn Michaud - Westerly Middle School
13.) Closing the Gap through Innovation - Purchase of 6 iPads to close early numeracy gaps for WMS students in developmentally appropriate, stimulating ways. Applications have been identified and tested for efficacy and correlation to CCCS. Stephanie Lenihan - Westerly Middle School
14.) Grateful to be Playin Guitars - 8 guitars will provide all 5th-8th grade general music class students of varying learning levels or musical abilities the opportunity
to explore the musical elements of beat, rhythm, tempo, meter, melody, harmony and form on a quality guitar. Eric Pettine - Westerly Middle School
15.) Terrific Technology Tools for the WMS Art Program - To purchase an iPad, camera and projector for the WMS art program so that students can research imagery, ideas, locations and videos relevant to the curriculum & then be able to critique their artwork or view other students' artwork.
Kelly Nunes Donohue - Westerly Middle School