Our Accomplishments 2007-2008

The Valhalla Schools Foundation is pleased to announce they have awarded thirteen
mini-grants for the 2007-2008 school year. Over fifty requests for grants came from faculty and staff at Virginia Road Elementary School, Kensico School and Valhalla Middle/High School and from community members.
This year's fundraiser, A Comedy Night, was the Foundation's most successful fundraising effort to date. Thanks to the community's generosity at that event, the following mini-grants could be funded:

Virginia Road Elementary School

• Artist in Residence Program “Let's Make Books” Sarah Elliot, teacher
  This program will give children the knowledge, ability and experience as author/illustrators of their own books. The “Let's Make Books” artists in residence, Karin Reetz and Mary Dee Merrill, supply all the materials and demonstrate how to make a book. Each student makes his or her own book which will then be displayed at the VRES Literary Fair held in the spring of '08.
  
  

• “It's a Multicultural World - Be Proud of Your Heritage” Laura Kulers, teacher
  This project will directly benefit the 34 ESL students who speak Dutch, Gujarati, Ibo, Korean, Malayalam, Portuguese, Slovak and Spanish at home. This grant will purchase an array of multicultural tales in different media: big books, storytelling kits, hardcover and paperback books to create a beautiful multicultural library. The stories will be used to supplement the themes used in the ESL curriculum, along with rich literature to build skills and vocabulary and promote a lifelong love of reading. The stories will be used in a variety of ways, such as read aloud, shared reading or independent reading, which is in conjunction with the balanced literacy approach of VRES.
  

Kensico School

• Walk Across America Linda Guzzo, teacher
  This is a multidisciplinary program to enhance the third grade curriculum, combining instruction in science, geography and physical education. During the class' six-week nutrition unit, each student will have their own pedometer to monitor how many steps they take each day and try to meet the goal of 10,000 steps per day. The steps will be charted in the front of the classroom on a giant map of the U.S. and will show a route across America from New York to California stopping at various points of interest. Each stop will have a number of steps associated with it. When a milestone is reached, the class will discuss some interesting facts about the place they are visiting.
  
  

• Family Reading Night Linda Carpentieri, Mona Voelkl, Bill Wright, teachers
  This grant provides for a series of three themed Family Reading Nights which invites families to share with their children in the joy of reading. This is an ongoing and very popular program that is open to all students and their parents in grades 3-5.
  
  

• DVD/CD Duplicator/Printer Pat Ward, teacher
  Every class at Kensico works on at least one curriculum based computer project that is saved to DVD or CD for students and parents to treasure forever. The new duplicator will allow students to create their DVDs for years to come. The purchase of this much needed duplicator will enhance the school's computer curriculum immensely. Beyond the classroom, DVDs are produced for the HS Varsity Baseball team, Boy Scouts, the Third Grade Music Infusion, Nature's Classroom trip, Fifth Grade Digital Yearbook, and after school clubs.
  

Valhalla Middle/High School

• Revolutionary War Reenactment Nori Lustig, teacher
  Enhancing the study of American History in seventh grade, this program engages students in a series of activities which bring the Revolutionary War to life. Students will join the Continental Army as soldiers. They will learn about life during this time, setting up tents, standing in formation and executing drills with authentic muskets. A visiting historian leads each class through a series of educational activities which will help students feel as though they are actually living through this event and time.
  
  

• Drama Program/Workshops Community Member
  Middle School students will explore elements of acting and performance with professional playwright, director, and actor, Frank Ingrasciotta in 16 two-hour sessions after school. The goal of each workshop is to build self-confidence and creative expression. These workshops will focus on relaxation, movement and improvisational exercises that create trust and ensemble building. Students will also discover how to create a character, motivate action and present truthful relationships on stage. Exercises in subtext, monologue and scene study will culminate in a final presentation.
  
  

• The Constitution Works Laura Booth-Freda, teacher
  This program is designed to engage seventh graders in their study of civics, government and citizenship using hands-on, learner-centered exploration of our democratic structure. In the process, the students examine their own concept of community and explore the dynamic between the community and the individual. The program has students study topical events using a case study approach and culminates with a field trip to Federal Hall in New York City where students conduct a mock trial in the Federal Courthouse.
  
  

• Decisions, Decisions computer software program Lourdes Torres, library/media specialist
  This program is designed to generate informed discussion and decision-making in the study of history for Middle School students. This classroom software sets up the scenario, directs students to passages in booklets that offer conflicting advice, records decisions as they are made and presents new decisions as a consequence of past choices. It is designed to spark student interactions and conversations on a given topic. Students articulate their understanding in their own words, which enhances student comprehension. Students benefit by seeing, explaining, showing and hearing the approaches of other students.
  
  

• Monthly Book Clubs Lourdes Torres library/media specialist
  This new program is designed to improve the literacy skills and academic achievement of students by providing them with access to school library materials during non-school hours and motivating students to read for pleasure. A Teen Advisory Board will be created to suggest, plan and publicize the monthly programs. Participants will enjoy themed monthly evening events where books and related topics will be discussed. For example, the group will read books from the series “The Traveling Pants” and will watch the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” discuss both the book and movie, decorate a pair of jeans, share the wearing of the jeans, and report back to the group about what happened on the day they wore the jeans. Other events will include a poetry slam, a cartooning workshop, and a student-produced film festival.
  
  

• Wireless Microphone Jeff Dulitz, teacher
  This grant allows the purchase of a wireless microphone system including four wireless microphones for portable use and powered amplified wireless antennas which will send a signal from the stage to the booth. This purchase will enhance all school auditorium events both for the school district and the MS/HS, including assemblies, presentations, concerts, and drama club productions.
  
  

• TV Production Equipment Jeff Dulitz, teacher
  This grant provides several enhancements in the teaching of the HS TV Production and Public Relations courses which take place in the TV studio. A teleprompter will be purchased for students so they can read directly from a monitor. New software will provide a way for students to create professional-looking storyboards. A new TV production text and CD-ROM will aid in instruction of the TV production course.
  
  

• Easels for the Art Department Ivana Masic, teacher
  Several new easels will be purchased for the art rooms that are used by both middle and high school students. The easels will provide a full painting experience for the students as they will be able to stand and examine their work at close and far ranges while painting.

Accomplishments in 2005-2006

Accomplishments in 2004-2005

Accomplishments in 2003-2004

Accomplishments in 2002-2003