BEF Grants to French Road Elementary School

		2009 Equipment to Support the Development of Digital Portfolios Purchase of two sets of equipment with which classroom teachers participating in a pilot project will be equipped to capture student work in digital form, for inclusion in their portfolios. Each set of equipment includes a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a digital voice recorder. Subscription to the NetTrekker Web Site Database Funding for the purchase of a one-year subscription to the NetTrekker web site database. This purchase will enable the FRES Library and Technology departments, faculty, staff, students and families to fully evaluate NetTrekker, which promises to provide a safe and valuable online research environment for elementary school students. Wii Fit Equipment Funding to purchase a Wii console and a Wii Fit balance board, for use in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and adpted PE programs throughout the district. A carrying bag makes this equipment fully portable. Funded with monies from the Al Lewis Fund. 2008 Appalachian Music Study with Mitzie Collins Funding to bring Mitzie Collins, a nationally-know expert on Appalachian music, to FRES to work both with teachers and directly with students. A teachers' study group on this topic sought Mitzie's help, and this grant will deepen this professional growth exercise and allow it to touch a broad cross-section of students in a memorable way. Geva Storytelling Workshops Funding to bring teaching artists from Geva into every 5th-grade classroom for a workshop on the art of storytelling. Bringing this theatrical experience into the classroom will not only feed the development of student self-confidence and provids an opportunity for students to tap into their own imaginations, it will also give teachers a chance to learn techniques that they can use in other classroom activities. Elmo Visual Presenter Funding for the purchase of an Elmo Visual Presenter -- a digital opaque projector -- to enhance teaching in the ESOL classroom. This purchase was funded by a targeted donation from Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Amado. Interpreting Services Funding to augment the school's budget for interpreters at plays, concerts, clubs, athletic events, and field trips, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. 2007 Materials for a Chinese Club Funding for the purchase of materials to enable the creation of a new Chinese Club. A Chinese Club at the elementary level will help spur interest in a Chinese language program at Brighton and is a perfect fit with the district's 2020 Vision. Poetry Library to Enhance the Fourth Grade Poetry Program Funding for the purchase of poetry books for each 4th grade classroom, to enrich the program for many years to come. This purchase was funded by a targeted donation from Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Amado. Field Trip to the Strong National Museum of Play Funding for a third grade class to visit the Strong National Museum of Play and the new Butterfly Exhibit was provided by a targeted donation from Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Amado. Story and photos... 2006 Cello Divas in Residence Funding for an in-residence program with professional musicians the Cello Divas (http://www.cellodivas.com). The program will include work with student groups and the full orchestra during the day, a performance with the orchestra for the entire school, and an evening performance with the orchestra for students and families. Funded by the Cultural Life Endowment Fund. Story and photos... SMART Board Purchase of a SMART board and projector for one 5th grade classroom, where it will be used by an enthusiastic early-adopter of the technology who is anxious to share his experience with his peers. 2005 Number the Stars Funding for an integrated ELA and Performing Arts artist-in-residence project involving 5th and 6th grade students. Student read Number the Stars, a Newbery Medal-winning book by Lois Lowry, and presented the musical version of the book. Students spent a day with Sean Hartley, who adapted the book to the stage. Funded by the William Dieck Fund, the Alan L. Lewis Fund, the W. Todd Harper Fund, and theCultural Life Endowment Fund. 2004 Sympodium Purchase of a Sympodium interactive pen display from SMART Technologies, Inc. The Sympodium enhances presentations to groups of all sizes, and is uniquely usable by students with mild disabilities. Funded in part by the Al Lewis Fund, the W. Todd Harper Fund, and the William Dieck Fund. CPS ("Jeopardy Game") System Purchase of a CPS system (Classroom Performance System) from eInstruction Corporation, including a single receiver unit, 30 response pads, and a carrying case. The system claims to be easy for a teacher to use, helps engage every student in the room, and provides the teacher instant feedback on student learning. Funded in part by the Al Lewis Fund. 2003 Ink-Jet Printer and Scanner for the Art Program Purchase of an HP 6127 ink-jet printer and an HP ScanJet 500Csi scanner, to enrich the art program. The scanner will be used to capture student artwork and build a digital collection. This equipment will also allow the FRES art teachers to offer students the opportunity to explore pop art, mono-chromaticism, and other advanced concepts. Funded by the Stephen Monk Gift. 2002 Leveled Texts for Special Ed Literacy Program Funding to purchase a set of "leveled texts" to support the balanced literacy program. This grant provided six-copy sets of 45 titles that span multiple genres, making challenging material available to readers of all skill levels. The purchase of teacher resource guides was included. Funded in part by BCSD, BEF grantmaking funds, and the Alan Lewis fund. Ed Klorman, Artist-in-Residence As part of a three-week artist-in-residence visit that took him to every school in the district, violist Ed Klorman taught music classes, performed a mini-recital, led a rehearsal of the orchestra's string section, and performed in concert with the orchestra. Ed's work in the schools was funded by a special gift from Robert Gianniny. Story and photos... 2001 Spontaneous Seconds Funding to implement "Spontaneous Seconds", a bi-weekly complement to FRES's new math program. During a Spontaneous Second, the whole school stops to tackle a short, engaging, thought-provoking problem that requires careful listening, brainstorming, analytical skill, and teamwork. Library Books Purchase of a collection of books in support of the new Odyssey of the Mind program and other creative work. Selected titles will address topic areas such as: - How Things Move and Work - Electricity and How to Work with It - Performing Arts - Construction Techniques for Scenery - Costumes and Masks 2000 Thom Ward, Poet-in-Residence Support to enable Thom Ward, a local poet, to spend time as a poet-in-residence in each fifth grade English class. Story and photo... Software for Special Education Program Software to assist learning-disabled students with reading and writing skills, purchased with funds given in memory of former Brighton teacher Louise Caldwell. Story and photo... 1999 Cynthia DeFelice Author Visit Funding to bring in author Cynthia DeFelice to visit the school. 1998 Math Enhancements - Orienteering Compasses and other orienteering materials to introduce a new topic to the math curriculum. Compuscore Software for Resource Room Software to facilitate the speedy evaluation of diagnostic tests, freeing the teacher to spend more time with the students. 1997 Masterworks Series for Art Program Prints of famous paintings to provide examples for the art room. Books for the Library 1996 Pilot Math Program for Grades 3-5 Mario Teaches Typing Site License for Computer Lab New software for the keyboarding lab for elementary students. A site license enabled its use on all machines in the lab. 1995 Classroom Sets Of Calculators for 3rd Grade A uniform set of calculators to introduce their use in teaching elementary math, later adopted by the entire program. 1994 Math Manipulatives A collection of materials to allow teachers to experiment with the introduction of a hands-on method of learning certain types of math. This was later adopted by the entire program. Enhanced Mac Memory for Resource Room A computer upgrade to allow the use of software particularly beneficial for some students with learning disabilities. April, 2009 Brighton Education Fund c/o Brighton Schools, 2035 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York 14618 voice (585) 461-0434 fax (208) 975-7494