Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Thank you Spaulding Educational Fund for all you do for MERSD!

 


                                                                                                                                


                                                                                                                                                                              


SPAULDING EDUCATION FUND ANNOUNCES 2016 FALL GRANT AWARDS
Non-profit organization thanks the community for their support

For Immediate Release (January 16, 2017) Spaulding Education Fund, a non-profit committed to advancing educational excellence in the Manchester-Essex regional schools for over 25 years, is pleased to announce it has awarded close to $15,000 in grants for their 2016 Fall grant cycle. Successful grant recipients have created exciting initiatives and found innovative materials to offer unique opportunities that advance, enrich and enliven the classroom experience. Grants were awarded to applicants throughout the district and across all age levels. 
To follow is a brief summary of the Spaulding Education Fund (SEF) Fall 2016 grants that we are thrilled to fund:

Speech and Debate Team:  The grant for the High School Speech and Debate Team will allow them to participate in the upcoming Columbia University Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament on January 20th, 2017.  The students, from freshmen to seniors, will be competing against top-tier teams from across the country in two debate formats: Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum debate. From the research and writing skills to prepare cases and then the public speaking skills to present quality debates and speeches, students will have numerous opportunities to hone their craft and gain skills that will serve them after High School as well.               
Robotics Team: The MERHS Robotics Team provides students a unique hands-on experience through applied engineering.  Students work intensely to design and build a robot for competitions throughout the region, hopefully qualifying for national competition.  This STEM activity also fosters teamwork and a commitment to excellence among the students.                                                                                                                         

Graphic Arts Photo Scanner:  As the High School Art Department moves toward the use of digital portfolios for their students, a high quality graphic arts photo scanner is a necessary.  This cutting-edge piece of technology will allow students to record and track the development of their work as well as easily upload their artwork for the college admissions process and submission of work for contests and juried awards.  It will also allow the students to learn the technology of scanning their own artwork to help prepare them for a 21st century work life.

Shakespeare & Co:  The three day Artist-in-Residence program at the Middle School is an exciting opportunity  to bring Shakespeare to life in an active, imaginative and personally meaningful way.  By experiencing a performance of Macbeth and then working in small groups conducted by Shakespeare and Company to act out the plays, the students are able to make better sense of the rigorous Shakespeare texts they are reading in the classroom.  

Flexible Classroom Seating: Flexible seating for classrooms throughout the Essex Elementary School will provide students with alternative options to a traditional seat and desk.  It gives students a choice in what kind of learning space works best for them, and help them to work collaboratively, communicate, and engage in critical thinking.  Research has shown that flexible classrooms empower student choice, increase student engagement, and improve student participation which allows teachers to maximize their teaching. 

As the organization’s Annual Appeal comes to close, the Spaulding Education Fund (SEF) would like to express its sincere thanks to the many members of the community who continue to generously support and fund this organization.  It is only with their support that we are able to fund these many projects, and the kind of rich learning that our students experience because of these grants. SEF is a group of parent volunteers who focus on the mission of assuring excellence in the Manchester Essex Public Schools by funding programs and resources that open doors to innovative curriculum-based learning.  To learn more or to donate, please go to spauldingeducationfund.org.
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