Our Accomplishments 2003-2004

Valhalla Schools Foundation Awards Almost $12,000 in Mini-Grants to Valhalla Teachers & Administrators

The Valhalla Schools Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Foundation's 2003-2004 Teacher Mini-Grants.

At the Virginia Road School

Greg McCrea, music teacher, for his grant proposal, "American Folk Music in the Classroom." This unique program will provide VRES students with a folk music curriculum that will help to preserve authentic traditional folk songs, explore the music of other cultures, and bridge traditional songs with other styles of composed music. As part of the program, Mr. McCrea will develop resources for the VRES library, including more than 50 books about folk music, and folk music CD recordings featuring artists from Pete Seeger to Raffi. Mr. McCrea has been awarded a full grant of $2,281.76 for his project.

Joan Pignataro, for her grant proposal, "Integrating E-Books & Problem Based Learning into the Classroom." This ambitious project will integrate English Language Arts and Technology by providing VRES teachers and students with access to millions of books online through a subscription to Children's Elibrary. This access will help to enhance such annual study units as the first-grade "Fairytale Project," the kindergarten "Community Project," and the second-grade "Countries Project." Access to Children's Elibrary also will make it possible for the VRES librarian to preview books before purchasing them, for students to learn more about other schools and classrooms via the Global SchoolHouse and establish "e-pal" exchanges with other schools, and for teachers to post finished projects online at childrenstory.com. We are pleased to award a grant for $1,992, which will finance the purchase of five wireless air stations and peripherals, an annual subscription to Childrens Elibrary, and an annual subscription to Ideportal, a professional development tool for teachers.

At the Kensico School

The Fourth Grade Teaching Team, for the grant proposal, "Picture This: Strengthening Writing Skills Using Visual Images." This unique program will use photographs and visual images as motivational springboards in teaching students how to write with focus, clarity and description. The program will feature four phases that will include classroom instruction, student writing, a school-wide monthly writing contest using visual prompts, and a one-day workshop with author and writer Roberta Allen, who has written the guide, "The Playful Way to Serious Writing." A partial grant to the teaching team of $1,550 will finance the purchase of two digital cameras, related books, and the author's visit. Books from the program will supplement the Kensico library collection.

Sal Miele, principal of Kensico School, for his grant proposal, "Field of Dreams." The VSF grant of $750 will provide Mr. Miele with botany-related books that will supplement the Kensico library and prepare students to work with a volunteer botanist from the Sav-a-Tree Foundation on a study of soil, temperature and plants.

Linda Carpentieri, Mona Voelkel, and Bill Wright, for their grant proposal, "Family Reading Nights." This program will feature three theme-based Family Reading Nights, held in the months of October, April and June, during which time families will share the joy of reading. The program advocates family reading time and will provide exposure to Kensico's inviting school environment and state-of-the-art library media center. We are pleased to award this program with a $500 grant.

Sheila Hulsebosch, special education teacher, for her grant proposal, which will provide leveled books for the school library. Leveled books are specifically designed to more accurately match the skills of readers with the material, and allow teachers and parents to monitor reading growth through the books that are selected. The VSF is pleased to award Ms. Hulsebosch with a full grant of $500.

At Valhalla Middle School

Dana Schaffhauser, remedial reading teacher, for her grant proposal, "Reading Investigations." This program will focus on strengthening the reading skills of middle school students by offering them the use of the "Reading Investigations" program on a computer workstation. We are pleased to award Ms. Schaffhauser with a grant of $1,805, which will finance the purchase of a computer workstation and peripherals, along with the purchase of the "Reading Investigations" program. 
Journalism/Newspaper Writing – Funding for the purchase of tape recorders to enhance the interviewing and transcription skills of the Language Arts and School Newspaper students.

At Valhalla High School

A special grant of $1,300 has been awarded by the Foundation to the Valhalla Middle/High School Librarian, Suzanne Scarola, for the purchase of books and reading materials that will enhance the new VMHS Library.

District-Wide

Sybil Daniel, Marge Carty and Laura Kulers, for their grant proposal, "Around the World with ESL." This K-12 program, impacting an estimated 50 students, would provide written materials, CD-ROMs, recorded books, CD games, and audiovisual materials that can enhance students' skills. A VSF grant of $1,319 will finance the purchase of a Califone Listening Center and written and audiovisual material geared toward ESL learners.

The Valhalla Schools Foundation will present the Valhalla Board of Education with a lump-sum donation of $11,997.76 over the summer.