East Greenwich Education Foundation Announces Grants

When the next school year begins, every public school in East Greenwich will be home to at least one brand new program or project funded by the East Greenwich Education Foundation (EGEF), the local non-profit announced today.

This year’s nine successful grant applications, solicited from teachers and administrators earlier this spring, came from all six of the town’s public schools (details below) and total a remarkable $30,100 in funding.

“The educators in East Greenwich never cease to amaze the EGEF Board with their innovative and exciting grant proposals,” said EGEF’s President, Susan Riley. “We are delighted to be able to fund projects at every single one of our town’s public schools for the upcoming academic year. That means EGEF-funded programs will continue to reach East Greenwich children from preschool through 12th grade. This is the perfect way to mark EGEF’s 10th anniversary year.”

EGEF provides grants that enhance classroom learning through innovative approaches to teaching in all areas of the curriculum, including math, science, social studies, English, reading, language, health, art, music, and more. Key objectives of the Foundation include piloting promising programs and supporting their replication throughout the school district.

“It’s also important to remember that EGEF is only able to provide this funding thanks to the continued generosity of the donors throughout our community,” Riley added.

Below is a detailed listing of the 2018/2019 EGEF grants:

Meadowbrook Farms Elementary:

• Mindfulness at Meadowbrook: Funds a workshop and materials for teachers, librarians, social workers, therapists, and anyone working with our students from preschool through 2nd grade, in order to bring focus, self-regulation and fun to our classrooms while fostering social/emotional learning.

Frenchtown Elementary:

• IMSE/Orton Gillingham: Supports a multi-sensory reading program that helps all students learning to read, including those with dyslexia. It can be implemented in a large group setting as well as with individuals, smalls groups, and at-risk populations.

• Google Expeditions Virtual Reality Kit: Virtual Reality devices and goggles are used in conjunction with the Google Expeditions App to set-up virtual field trips and experiences for students. There are several hundred educational based field trips available, everything from visits to historical landmarks, travel to renowned destinations, swimming with sharks, and exploring outer space.

Eldredge Elementary:

• Eldredge Library/Active Learning: To enhance the learning processes for third, fourth, and fifth grade students studying various topics by transforming the library into an “active learning center”.

• Reading & Technology Go Hand-in-Hand: The long-term goal is to close the reading achievement gap for students third, fourth, and fifth grade using iPads equipped with appropriate applications.

• Brainology: Bringing new “mindsets and learning strategies” to the classroom via interactive, multimedia online work and an in-class curriculum.

Hanaford Elementary:

• Collaboration & Innovation Station: Creates a “dynamic, technology-infused hub” for school-wide learning, while breathing new life into a popular library space that is in need of a refresh.

Cole Middle:

• 21st Century Learning Environment: This grant further develops an already successful EGEF-funded program at Eldredge and allows it to expand to Cole. Redesigned learning areas and classrooms facilitate an open exchange of ideas and encourage collaboration and creativity among students.

East Greenwich High School:

• DIY Marketplace: Supports the development of STEM/STEAM activities that allow students to develop projects that align with the scientific concepts studied in class, incorporating a 3-D printer to be used by various science classes.

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