Photos
Chatham Education Foundation Awards Grant To Acquire Developmental Reading Assessment Management System
Saturday, March 2, 2013 • 11:16pm
The Chatham Education Foundation chathamedfoundation.org, a leading provider of private funding to the School District of the Chathams, today announced that it has awarded a $9,600 grant to acquire the Pearsons Education Developmental Reading Assessment Management System, which is designed to provide assessment-driven reading instruction and identify student reading levels for Grades K–5. The teacher assessment tool will be used to evaluate the reading capabilities of students in Lafayette, Milton Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Washington Avenue Schools. The grant request was submitted by School District of the Chathams Supervisor of English Language Arts K-5 Helen S. Comba, Lafayette School Principal Cheryl Caggiano, Milton Avenue School Principal Marion McCarthy, Southern Boulevard School Principal Ralph Pesapane and Washington Avenue School Principal Mary Quigley.
Including this grant, the Chatham Education Foundation has awarded five grants totaling $41,600 for the 2012-2013 academic year.
“This grant will enable teachers to utilize a developmental reading assessment tool that allows them to better evaluate the reading capabilities of District students,” said Colleen Markley, President of the Chatham Education Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of local residents and businesses the Chatham Education Foundation is able to provide funds for innovative programs that benefit students and teachers alike.”
School District of the Chathams Supervisor of English Language Arts K-5 Helen S. Comba, speaking on behalf of the school Principals who submitted the grant, said, “By having the DRA Online Management System in Chatham, teachers will have access to assessment information and resources that will enable them to make decisions about instructional practices. We are all looking forward to using this resources and seeing how it will help us to better meet the reading needs of our students."
Other grants awarded by the Chatham Education Foundation during the 2012-2013 academic year include:
STARLAB® Portable Planetarium
· Lafayette School Principal Cheryl Caggiano, Milton Avenue School Principal Marion McCarthy, Southern Boulevard School Principal Ralph Pesapane and Washington Avenue School Principal Mary Quigley requested a grant to acquire a mobile planetarium designed to encourage students’ interest and understanding of Astronomy. The planetarium will be used by students in the Lafayette, Milton Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Washington Avenue Schools.
Chatham Middle School Netbooks
· Chatham Middle School Principal Robert Accardi, and 8th grade English teachers Lisa McTague and Carmela Zack received a grant to acquire 16 Netbooks that will be utilized by students throughout the school and will promote and enhance writing across the curriculum.
CHS Theatre Lighting Technology and Design
· Chatham High School (CHS) Theatre Director Lynn Polan arranged for the CHS theater students, actors and crew members to learn about the technology and artistry of theatrical lighting by working with a professional lighting designer. The lighting designer will also work with students to design and implement the lighting for the spring musical, Legally Blonde. This grant represents a truly exciting opportunity for students to learn directly from a professional and put their learning to use in their own musical production!
Destination Imagination
· Lafayette Avenue School fourth grade students in Justin Perinotti’s classes will be completing fun and engaging activities designed by Destination ImagiNation, Inc. Teams of students will compete in challenges that require them to build, engineer and perform tasks with sets of provided materials to accomplish an initiative. In addition to strengthening science and math skills, students involved with this program will also learn that communication, problem solving and flexibility are critical to success.
During the 2011-2012 academic year, the Foundation distributed $66,000 in grants, which funded 26 innovative and creative educational programs and special projects throughout the School District of the Chathams.
Individuals interested in learning more about the Chatham Education Foundation, or financially supporting its efforts, are encouraged to visit chathamedfoundation.org.
About The Chatham Education Foundation
The Chatham Education Foundation is a leading provider of private funding to the School District of the Chathams. It supports innovative and creative educational programs and special projects that are designed to enrich the mind and body of the estimated 4,100 K-12 students enrolled in the District’s six public schools. Since its inception in 1997, the Foundation has distributed more than $600,000 to develop and support more than 275 educational programs, special projects and equipment. chathamedfoundation.org
