Grants Funded: Literacy, Arts & History
Brookfield High School Writing Center (2011)
A major grant by the BEF has been awarded for the creation of the Brookfield High School Writing Center. Championed by BHS teachers Michael Smith, Erin Dillon, Liz Spencer, Trish O'Connor, and Carol Zinser, this project will allow individualized one-on-one instruction to BHS students by trained peer-tutors, helping to promote writing skills as a key aspect of students' success. Funding will provide for all technology and materials required to support this valuable literary resource.
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Iditarod Dog Race Adventure (2011)
The Brookfield Library has received a mini-grant to fund a presentation by columnist, oral historian and three-time Iditarod participant Karen Land. This program will explore the history of the Iditarod Dog Race, as well as the culture and will explore the history of the Iditarod Dog Race, as well as the culture and geography of Alaska. Appearing with her sled dog, Borage, Karen Land will speak of how man and dog, with cooperation and teamwork, can survive in extreme conditions.
Grant requested by Katherine Van Leeuwen, Brookfield Library
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“Cinderella” one book-one school (2011)
This literacy initiative will bring the entire school community together around the presentation of several different cultural versions of the story “Cinderella”. Using a blended curriculum of literacy, art, music and theater, the program aims to promote text comprehension, increase awareness of cultural diversity and involve students, teachers, and families in a community literacy experience.
Grant requested by Carrie Kilian and Krys Salon, Center Elementary School
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Sharps & Flats (2011)
This mini-grant provided funding for the Brookfield Senior Center’s “Sharps and Flats” musical group. Under the direction of coordinator Rita Zullo-Lubinhis innovative group looks to enhance music education and appreciation for the entire community. Click here to enjoy a recent Sharps and Flats performance on YouTube.
Grant requested by “Sharps & Flats”, Brookfield Senior Center
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Wilson Language Program (2010)
This multi-sensory method of teaching reading and writing skills helps provide the foundation for life-long literacy for all students. This major grant enables the implementation of the Wilson’s language basics foundations program at Center Elementary School.
Grant requested by Nancy Hayes and Doreen Dupill, Center Elementary School
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One Book, One Lake (2009)
The five surrounding towns of Candlewood Lake will participate in a “one book, one lake” summer program, using A Walk in The Woods. The project will involve outreach to community organizations including scouting groups, the Historical Society, the Senior Center and Brookfield High School to ensure its success. Program funding will include 220 copies of the book, two programs hosted by the Wolf Conservation Center, and a letterboxing workshop.
Grant requested by Anita Barney, Brookfield Library
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Playaways (2009)
Students can hear books by using a device called Playaways. These small machines are similar to books on tape.
Grant requested by, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School
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“Books to Food” (2009)
Children will earn items for the Brookfield Food Bank by reading books. This will allow students to maintain or improve reading skills during school vacation months, while learning how their efforts can directly benefit others.
Grant requested by Mary Proudfoot, Brookfield Library
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Gurski farm blacksmith shop (2009)
The Brookfield Education Foundation will contribute matching funds to renovate the Brookfield Historical Society Blacksmith Shop. This renovation will be part of a major renovation of the Gurski Farm property. The blacksmith shop will house year round education programs for the school children of Brookfield, as well as the Brookfield community at large. There will be two blacksmiths that will demonstrate how tools were made during that era.
Grant requested by John Furlong, Brookfield Museum & Historical Society
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Joseph E. Baker Aviation book collection (2008)
In memory of our fellow board member, the first Joseph E. Baker Memorial Grant has been awarded for the creation of a collection of books pertaining to flight and aviation. These books will be available, in age-appropriate formats, at all Brookfield public schools and at the Brookfield library. These collections aim to ignite interest in and increase knowledge of the aviation-related topics that Joe Baker enjoyed.
Grant requested by Dottie Miles and Joan Oppenheimer
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Gender reading discrepancy (2008)
Funding was provided to two third grade classrooms for the provision of male-oriented reading materials, with the goal of narrowing the gender gap in reading skills that becomes evident in third grade and continues through high school.
Grant requested by Heather Clifford and Barry Huber, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School
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Hand in Hand literacy program (2007)
Twenty-eight volunteers – senior citizens, parents and high school students – will enhance the learning of developing readers and writers. Each trained volunteer will spend an hour a week inviting one child into the world of books and written language. Literacy tutors will demonstrate not only reading and writing but also citizenship, showing their students by example what it means to give to others.
“Hand in Hand’ Is based on Help America Read, a program and handbook for volunteers, by Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas. They cite research showing that tutored students made greater academic gains than might have been expected and greater gains than students who were not tutored. Structured on-going training for the volunteers is a cornerstone of the program.
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Grant requested by Dottie Miles, for Huckleberry Hill Elementary School
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Shakespearean Actors Workshop (2006)
Two actors from the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Artist-in-Residence program will hold a ½ day workshop for 5th and 6th grade humanities students. Students will explore the social and historical contexts for Shakespeare’s plays in a learning environment similar to that of a professional rehearsal. This workshop will supplement the Shakespeare unit of the humanities curriculum. At the end of the unit, students performed their own version of Romeo and Juliet for family and friends.
Grant requested by Marisol Cappello, Whisconier Middle School
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IRIS scanning pen (2006)
The IRIS scanning pen for enhancing special reading instruction will help students who struggle with reading.
Grant requested by Tamara Priestley and Laurie Iovanno, Whisconier Middle School
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“The Old Country” one book-one school (2005)
All Brookfield High School students read the book The Old Country, by Mordecai Gerstein, during the summer of 2005. This mini-grant contributed to bringing Mr. Gerstein to Brookfield, where he led discussions and activities designed to engage the entire school in an extensive study of the novel.
Picture of book
Grant requested by Sydnye Cohen, Brookfield High School
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