Grant Allocations for 2007
1. MARK’S MEADOW SCHOOL GARDEN $1,000
Scott McGinley, Teacher
Enhancing existing year-old elementary school garden
that provides a multidimensional outdoor educational environ-
ment for Mark’s Meadow students. Funds will be for gardening supplies,
tools, curricula-related materials and literature. Four season,
open air extension of classroom multidisciplinary learning.
Connects with families, farmers, gardeners and scientists in
Local business community and academic institutions.
2. AIMS (Academic & Other Initiatives for Maximum Success) $2000
Desiree P. Lalbeharie-Josias/ Shirley Whittaker
Community-based organization created and coordinated by
parents with children in the Amherst School system committed
to supporting the success of African heritage children and youth
(African American, Black, Bi-racial) using a three-pronged
approach: 1. Academic programming that provides math
enrichment as well as scheduled workshops in the areas of
science and literacy; 2. Broadening interaction among youth
and adult role models of African heritage through fun and
inspirational activities; and 3. Community engagement. In the
spirit of “it takes a village to raise a child,” AIMS organizes
a variety of community-building social events.
3. LEARNING COMPASSION $2000
Julie Rypysc (Crocker Farm Intervention Teacher)
Will offer communication skill workshops to parents at each of
the nine area schools (Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett), a six-session course for at least 10 teachers, a one-day advanced workshop for at least 15 teachers, and support for 3-5 teachers who will implement model classrooms based on Non-violent Communication principles.
The Amherst Area Nonviolent Communication Committee seeks
to help parents, students and school personnel connect deeply to
their own and others’ feelings and needs, resulting in improved
quality of connect ion, greater sense of cooperation and mutuality,
and more effective conflict resolution
NVC Committee includes, Julie Rypysc, Intervention Teacher
at Crocker Farm; Michael Silverstone, Second Grade Teacher at
Wildwood; Laurie Rabut, Music Teacher at Mark’s Meadow, Fort River, Pelham and Wildwood Schools; and Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, parent of two children at Wildwood and Co-Founder of the Institute for Peaceable Communities and Director of its Communicating with Compassion Project.
4. THE PORTABLE DESK PROJECT $1200
Wendy Kohler, ARHS
Part of continuing projects focusing on issues of equity and student
achievement. This project is an innovation that will provide portable
desk space, including a variety of critical desk organizers and tools
for low-income students whose homes offer no desk or study space.
Desks will be designed by ARHS students. Other items included are:
bulletin boards, organizers, calendar planners, calculators and dictionaries.
5. KINDERGARTEN INQUIRY SCIENCE $2000
(Patricia Cahill, Science Coordinator and Rebecca Fricke, Parent)
Will write and pilot a kindergarten science unit based on the
most current view of best science learning and teaching practices
as well as on “Understanding by Design” principles (Wiggins and
McTighe, 1998). After piloting the unit in two classrooms, lessons
will be revised as needed. Five sets of materials needed to teach
the unit will be assembled for each Amherst and Pelham elementary
school. A workshop will be conducted in September 2007 to present
the unit to kindergarten teachers.
6. LEYENDO JUNTOS/READING TOGETHER $1755
Marta Leve & Eileen Madison, Crocker Farm
For a series of three monthly meetings for Latino families to be
held in the evening at Crocker Farm. Families will share food and
songs. Parents will meet for discussion of a topic and book while
children are led through related activities. Aims to provide parents
with validation and support for their role as their children’s first
teacher; to provide families with shared literacy experiences in
their own mother tongue; and to provide parents with a positive,
welcoming experience at their child’s school. Involves Pre K-6.
7. CAMBODIAN STUDENTS’ LANGUAGE & CULTURE
ENRICHMENT PROJECT $1758
Joanna Morse, Teacher and Annie Leonard, Admin., ARHS
An after school Khmer language and culture class initiated by 30
Khmer-American high school students who have begun attending
a class already this year. Students will engage in service to their community at the Khmer temple in Leverett, which will in turn help give them access to their elders whom they want to interview for a documentary video project.
8. YOUNG WOMEN’S CAREER EMPOWERMENT
PROGRAM $1635
Sherry Balzano, Student Activities Director, ARHS
Aimed at providing 9th, 10th, and 11th grade females eligible
for the free and reduced lunch program with opportunities to
meet, interact with, and learn from successful women within
our region. Students will be given the chance to observe women
in the workplace, attend the Massachusetts Conference for Women
and participate in a series of lectures aimed at developing their
career and growth aspirations.
9. LATINOS UNIDAS FLAGS $569
Mari Vicente, Guidance Counselor, ARMS
For the Middle School club whose mission is to foster a sense of
pride and visibility for students of Latin American heritage. The club wishes to acquire all the flags representing 20 Latin American countries and Spain (21total), They already own five flags and will use the funds to purchase the remaining sixteen. Purpose is to display the flags during activities
organized by the club for the education of the whole student body.
10. MSAN ANNUAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE $2000
Nunia Mafi, Teacher, ARHS
For the past five years a team of ARHS students have participated in
the Minority Student Achievement Network conferences that have
taken place at members’ schools in various parts of the country. These conferences provide a unique opportunity for student leaders to network
with peers from high schools around the country to engage in discussions about the Achievement Gap, as well as devising action plans on how to improve the effectiveness of their schools in educating African American and Latino students. Students are also exposed to the teaching of amazing scholars such as Cornell West, Theresa Perry, Dr. Charles Ogletree, Erin Gruwell and Jaime Almanzan.
11. CAMBODIAN-AMERICAN: Bridging Two Cultures $770
Seiha Krouch, Teacher, Fort River School
Help to bridge the Cambodian and American cultures through the
activities of the Fort River Cambodian Culture Class. Every year
the Cambodian Culture Class prepares and presents to the Fort River
community a New Year’s performance. This project will get authentic
costumes and masks to stage the performance. It will also help these
students learn more about American culture by helping them partake in
some American events such as attending a sports event at ARHS or ARMS;
touring the UMASS campus/library; and taking local field trips.
12. MARK’S MEADOW COMMUNITY TILE PROJECT $1375
Diane Travis, Art Teacher
Continues project begun last year enhancing the pillars in front
of the school with individual tiles made by students, teachers,
staff and parents that reflect the rich diversity of the school
community. The theme is “Growing and Learning Together.”
The project beautifies the school and brings all levels of the com-
munity together.
13. YOUNG MEN OF COLOR LEADERSHIP $1500
OUTREACH PROGRAM
Rob Okun, Men’s Resource Center for Change
Group established in 2000 to provide support, mentorship, dialogue
and most recently leadership opportunities for Amherst youth. Parti-
cipants have primarily been students of the ABC program. As of 2007
the directors and facilitators of the YMCL have reaffirmed commit-
ment to expand the participation beyond ABC to a broader population
of Amherst youth of color. Funding would be to provide stipends to
YMCL participants.
Total $19,562