The BEF funded a grant for Whisconier Middle School to launch the Upcycle Center at Whisconier Middle School. Grant Champion, Jacquelyn Whiting, has created a permanent, low-tech maker space in the school library designed to promote hands-on, non-digital learning,...

The new Career and Technical Education teacher at Whisconier Middle School, Michael Zaiko, brought the idea to launch a Robotics and 3D Printing Program to the Brookfield Education Foundation for support. Funded by the BEF in January of 2026,...

The BEF recently funded a grant brought to us by Grant Champion, Ilene Howard, with the Brookfield High School Life Skills program. This project creates a continual internship program for Brookfield special education students to develop real-world business, communication,...

A series of “Adulting 101” classes will be offered at The Brookfield Library in 2026 thanks to a grant from the BEF. Each class in the series will focus on a different life skill including financial planning, car maintenance,...

Senior Center Grant champion: Amy Diezemann The BEF recently awarded a grant to the Brookfield Senior Center for the “Fabulous 50s” program. Championed by program coordinator Amy Diezemann, this program will have the Senior Center community putting on their...

BHS Greenhouse. Grant champion: Megan Henderson and Catherine Val.

  WMS Daily Morning Announcements Whisconier Middle School Grant champion: Kim Marshall The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant request from Kim Marshall at Whisconier Middle School to launch a new student-driven live broadcast program for daily morning announcements....

The BEF is pleased to support the creation of a Digital Music MIDI Lab at WMS, enabling the 10-year-old digital music program at the middle school to remain at the forefront of innovation. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is...

Unwind the Mind and Wellness Room Whisconier Middle School Grant champion: Carina Chelso and Kristy Trotta The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant to pilot a new program, Unwind the Mind meditation classes, in a new Wellness Room at...

  Empowering Students and Families to Find Balance in a Digital World Candlewood Lake Elementary School Grant champion: Dee Pearson The Brookfield Education Foundation has awarded Dee Pearson of Candlewood Lake Elementary School a grant in the amount of...

The BEF funded a pivotal aspect of the newly established French American Exchange program, allowing forty-two Brookfield 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students, along with five chaperones, to embark on an enriching journey to France. This trip included a...

Whisconier Middle School was the recipient of a grant for the Emotion Into Art program.  Emotion into Art is an extremely unique combination of speed painting and an inspirational speaking performance. It is a nationally recognized show with the...

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant request from  the Brookfield Library for a program featuring  Brendan Slocumb, author of last summer’s One Town One Read – The Violin Conspiracy – for two innovative and thought-provoking presentations. At a presentation at the Brookfield...

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant request from Jennifer Pink (on behalf of 2nd grade teachers) at Candlewood Lake Elementary School to support a book study of a series by the author Andrea Beaty. The selected books emphasize...

The BEF recently awarded a grant to the Brookfield Senior Center for the “Brain and Body Fitness” program.  Championed by program coordinator Amy Diezemann, this initiative will bring a unique angle to exercising the brain and connecting the brain...

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant request from Willian Chen, Troop 5, Brookfield, to launch an origami program at the Brookfield Craft Center as part of his Eagle Scout project. The program involves a 5-day class where students,...

The Brookfield Education Foundation awarded a grant to the Brookfield Senior Center for the “Current Issues with Art Gottlieb” series.  Championed by Program Coordinator Amy Diezemann, this initiative will offer the senior community six discussion sessions on the nation’s...

The BEF recently awarded a grant to the Brookfield Senior Center for the “Climate, Earth, Environment” program.  Championed by Program Coordinator Amy Diezemann, this four-part lecture series on Climate, our Earth, and the Environment will be conducted by Dr....

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded the “Invasive Species: Education And Removal” grant aimed at educating the community about the removal, prevention of invasive plant/tree species. This grant was championed by the Brookfield Conservation Commission. Our local ecosystem,...

The Building a Culture of Community and Literacy with the Power of Storytelling project will offer a series of in-school presentations and breakout sessions for Brookfield students in 5th-8th grades, and one community-wide event, with acclaimed author Sherri L....

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a grant, championed by Jackie Whiting, Technology Integration Specialist, to offer Book Creator to all Brookfield Public School students and teachers.  Book Creator is a potent tool for publishing student work, including fiction and...

The Brookfield Education Foundation awarded a grant to Brookfield Parks & Recreation for the “Superpower Strategies for Single Parents and Kids” program.  Taught by Kelly Viera, the program consists of 8 classes designed to help single parents and kids...

The Learning with Bee-Bot grant was championed by Librarian Joyce Zaldo at Center Elementary School. The grant funding will allow for the purchase of a total of 12 programmable floor robots, called Bee-Bots, which will provide students with an...

The BEF was honored to fund a major grant for the WMS Oculus Initiative. Championed by 6th grade science teacher, Dennis Petrino, this grant will allow for the purchase of four Oculus virtual reality headsets to enhance the science...

The Brookfield Education Foundation is funding a request to purchase equipment for the new EMT course being offered this year.  This equipment will provide the students with the ability to practice hands-on mandatory skills such as the ability to...

The Brookfield Education Foundation funded a major grant to Whisconier Middle School for the Wellness Wednesdays Program.  Championed by Alison Fitzpatrick and the WMS Counselors, the grant provides materials and resources for stations that will promote mental health awareness,...

Aware that more people have been visiting food pantries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congregational Church of Brookfield was motivated to create a garden as both a way to teach community members how to grow produce,...

The Brookfield Education Foundation recently funded a major grant for the creation of The Wellness Room at Brookfield High School.  Championed by  Jen Gioglio, Debbie Burch, and the BHS Counseling Department, the Wellness Room provides a space where students...

The Brookfield Education Foundation was able to fund a request for an Online Platform for Education Fitness that features customizable lessons and units that include video tutorials and  assessment tools for Brookfield High School students.  Championed by Jeremy Kasack...

This grant was championed by 17 year veteran BHS educator Heather Biancheri. The BEF provided a 3D printer and associated equipment to make PPE for healthcare workers and first responders during the Covid crisis;  video tutorials for the equipment...

The Brookfield Education Foundation awarded a major grant for ongoing storywalk programming.  Championed by Debbie Brooks, Head of Children’s Services at The Brookfield Library, this reusable Storywalk will be available to the entire community for years to come.  This...

Championed by Whisconier Middle School 6th grade science teachers, The Brookfield Education Foundation granted The Art of Digital Presentations in Science.  The grant funded DJI pocket gimbal capable of capturing scientific investigations and explorations in/out of the classroom.  Students...

The BEF funded a new STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) program for school age children at the Greenknoll YMCA. The LEGO Mindstorms program is a hands-on program that engages children by providing the resources to design, build...

July 2019 Standing Desk Construction Initiative   Championed by Benjamin Bogues from Boy Scout Troop 5 the Brookfield Education Foundation funded the Standing Desks Program.  Standing desks help engage students with certain accommodations or disabilities related to trouble focusing...

A Sensory Path  was established at Huckleberry Hill thanks to a major grant by the BEF. Championed by teacher, Adrianna Hackett, this indoor path enhances student cognitive functioning through physically engaging activities. The colorful stickers used for the path...

A major grant is bringing in local teen groups to set up interactive displays and host conversations open to the public around a variety of topics relevant to the community.  The grant is funding training for the student participants...

A major grant to the Brookfield Senior Center will assist the Brookfield Senior and disabled community in the appropriate selection of their annual Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. By educating the community through careful guidance and selection, seniors...

The Sprout Early Learning Backpacks grant was brought to the BEF by the Brookfield Library. Research shows that learning begins at birth; this grant supports early literacy in our community through backpack kits. Thes kits contain books, accompanying materials...

Social Emotional Learning at Whisconier Middle School The Brookfield Education Foundation funded the RULER Grant for Whisconier Middle School.  RULER is an approach to social-emotional learning that has been developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, to teach...

The Brookfield Education Foundation has awarded a mini-grant to Erica Morey of the Brookfield Girls Scouts for her gold award. Erica’s program promotes healthy eating and exercise within the community. She recently taught students about healthy eating with the...

The Brookfield Education Foundation has awarded a major-grant to Whisconier Middle School for three aeroponic tower gardens. Championed by science teachers, Linda Bertozzi and Dennis Petrino, the goal is for students to be involved in year round growth of...

A major grant has been awarded to Whisconier Middle School for a math lab and math coaching tools. Championed by WMS Math Coaches, Jim Fitzpatrick and Caitlin Cincotti, the technology awarded will be used as an educational tool offering...

The Brookfield Career and Technical Education department developed a program that allows students  to start and run their own business and use the profits to help support their participating clubs. Through the purchase of a Laser Engraver/Cutter, students will...

The Brookfield Education Foundation has awarded a mini-grant to Whisconier Middle School for the innovative “Breakout EDU”. Championed by Media Specialist Sue Crean, this program combines problem solving with teamwork and technology by requiring students to gather information and...

A major grant helped Brookfield CARES bring acclaimed writer, comedian, and mental health activist Kevin Breel to Brookfield High School. Kevin Breel addresses his personal struggle with depression in an engaging manner, encouraging the young audience members to advocate...

A major grant has provided funding for an Online Personal Finance course at Brookfield High School. The first ever online learning course at BHS, this program was championed by School-to-Career coordinator Sue Troupe. Supplementing a CT state grant, the...

Brookfield CARES was awarded a major grant to support the start up costs for the professional facilitation for its Hope and Support Group. This is a newly formed support group for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of adolescents and...

A major grant has provided funding for an Online Personal Finance course at Brookfield High School. The first ever online learning course at BHS, this program was championed by School-to-Career coordinator Sue Troupe. Supplementing a CT state grant, the...

A major grant is enabling Whisconier Middle School teachers to proactively teach students about bullying. This topic of growing concern has evolved from discussions with teachers, students, guidance counselors and health educators. This vital dialogue is especially important for...

Championed by Nicole Mitchell and Cheryl Mitchell at the Christian Life Academy, the Brookfield Education Foundation was able to fund a robotics club in the upper elementary grades. The robotics team was able to design, build and program a...