Each year, school staff members, administrators, parents and community members are invited to submit proposals for special programs or projects that benefit the students and staff of District 13. Any individual or group may submit a written grant application that describes the project, the method of implementation, a cost estimate, and the value of the program to students. Members of the Board of Directors serve as a review committee. Based upon selection criteria established by the board, the committee reviews, selects, and prioritizes the recommended grants. The full board will determine the available funds and then approve the final selections based upon the recommendations of the committee. 2006
Grants Susie Conway, a Kindergarten teacher at Erickson Elementary School, received a $200 grant to purchase a Magnetic Write and Wipe Big Book Center for use with Literacy and Writing. Betsy Niemic and Heather Grover, two Erickson Elementary School Teachers, received funds to purchase an E.A.G.L.E. Award, books, audio books, AR tests and snacks for a total of $250-500. These items will enhance the Reading and LA programs at Erickson. Leslie Fischer, a Westfield Middle School Math teacher, was awarded $450-500 to purchase a digital camera, memory card, binder and sleeves, and photo paper. Jean Raimondi, a Westfield Middle School teacher, received $435 to purchase 3 book titles - 15 copies each - to use in her Reading and Language Arts classes. Tiffany Denning, a Westfield Middle School teacher, was awarded $200-$250 to purchase historical pictures books to use with her Social Studies classes. Cynthia Bringer, the Drama teacher at Westfield Middle School, received funds to purchase 1-2 garment racks, for a total of $150-300. 2005
Grants Jean Raimondi, an eighth grade teacher at Westfield Middle School, received a $400 grant to create two Literature Circles. One will focus on novels written from several different perspectives, and the second on novels written entirely in poetry form. “The Literature Circle format is helpful because there is much room for student discussion,” Raimondi, says. “The grant will allow me to purchase books at different reading levels and to meet different interests.” Erickson third grade teacher Erin Hess was awarded $224.75 for the purchase of five book sets from National Geographic covering a range of science topics. These books also will be used for Literature Circles, where student groups will independently read the same book then meet to discuss it. “Not only will students have the opportunity to read nonfiction text in a motivational setting, but they will also be exposed to science concepts beyond the curriculum,” Hess says. Westfield’s Reading Motivation Committee received a $500 grant to help pay for a visit from author Gordon Korman on February 3, 2006. Committee members include: Teddie Torney, Jean Raimondi, Tiffany Denning, Mark Stamatakos, Tina Demetrio, Jodi Gaffey, and Donna Marino. Teachers will familiarize their students with the author’s works in preparation for Mr. Korman’s visit. Multiple copies of his books will be bought for the IMC with an Illinois Title I Grant. Last year, an Education Foundation grant allowed Westfield’s drama program to buy a sound mixer, and this year teachers Jon Perry and Cynthia Bringer were awarded a grant to purchase a wireless lapel microphone to be used on the Westfield stage. (In the past, the equipment was rented or borrowed.) The equipment will be used for the upcoming talent show (Nov. 30) and for the spring play and other projects. Karen Petelle, supportive reading teacher at DuJardin, and LD resource teacher Julie Hecker were awarded $500 for the purchase of reading materials for struggling readers. Betsy Niemiec, reading specialist, and Nancy Green, assistant principal, received $300 for a creative story-writing contest at Erickson, and Mark Stamatakos was awarded $500 for Westfield’s Chess Club. 2004 Grants Donna Kerr, second grade teacher at Erickson Elementary School received a grant in the amount of $431.14 for the Literacy Bags project. Literacy Bags include a book, puppet and activities that go home with the child for the parents and child to complete the activity together. “This is just one more way to encourage good reading habits of good literature,” Kerr says. Two grants in the amount of $400 each were awarded to fund a visit from author Neil Shusterman scheduled for Friday, November 19, at Westfield Middle School. Shusterman’s books include Scorpion Shards, Thief of Souls, Shattered Sky, Downsiders, and Full Tilt. The grant applications were submitted by the Westfield Motivation Committee (Nancy Beesley, Tiffany Denning, Jodi Gaffey, Jean Raimondi, Mark Stamatakos, Teddie Tourney) and the Seventh Grade Language Arts/Reading Team (Tina Demetrio, Donna Marino, Jodi Gaffey, Denise Irving). Westfield IMC Director Nancy Beesley received a $500 grant to fund the Student Professional Project Cart. A ‘student-safe’ machine that cuts letters and objects in multiple layers will be placed, with paper, on a cart that can be checked out by classroom teachers when it is appropriate for their curricula. “Students can use the machine to creatively enhance their presentation ideas,” Beesley says. DuJardin first grade teachers Rita Jensen and Marilou Watson were awarded $200 toward their At Home Reading Program. “Through this program, we encourage the students to read with their parents or someone at home every day,” Jensen says. Each day the students choose a book they would like to take home. When they bring it back, they can choose a different one. “Our purpose is to get the children into the habit of reading at home every day.” In the past, Westfield rented or borrowed sound equipment for the annual drama/variety show. “For the cost of a few year’s rental, we could buy our own,” says show director Cyndi Bringer. So she and Donna Marino applied for a $467 grant from the foundation aptly titled, “Can You Hear Me Now?” The grant will cover the cost of a sound mixer and four microphones, and the equipment will be available to other Westfield groups as well. Additional grants were awarded to Westfield sixth grade teacher Leslie Fischer for Buddy Books ($300) and the RSVP program ($200). Bloomingdale
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