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 2018/19 Grants

2018/19 Grants

Memorial - Revitalizing Memorial LMC’s Reading Nook

This grant provided Memorial’s LMC with flexible seating options to accommodate large groups of students, match their various learning styles, and facilitate a wide variety of student-centered activities taking place in the library.

Blake - Weather Station v1.0

This grant funded a weather station to provide real-time weather and climate data to Blake students and staff.

Wheelock - Big Blue Playground Blocks

This grant provided Wheelock students a 55 piece set of ‘Big Blue Blocks’ for indoor and outdoor creative play opportunities during student recess and physical education classes.

District Wide: Introduction to Executive Function Skills presented by Sarah Ward

This grant funded two education workshops for Medfield’s elementary teaching staff and for K-12 parents, presented by Sarah Ward, an expert on the topic of Executive Functioning.

Memorial - Sound for student and staff well-being (Redcat Systems)

This grant funded 21 Redcat classroom audio systems and 2 Flexmike microphones for students and teachers to utilize in Memorial's Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms.

Blake / MHS - Developing Reflective Learners

This Grant paid for Teachers and Administrators to attend Professional Development Seminars  on 'Assessment, Calibration, and Student Feedback'.

District Wide - National Art Association Annual Conference

This grant funded attendance for all K-12 Medfield Art teachers to the NAEA Annual conference being held in Boston, offering 1,000 educational art sessions over three days.

Blake - Whimsical Explorations in the Courtyard

This grant provided grade six “Whimsical Explorations” students with Makerspace and related materials to design and create products intended to celebrate and display their poetry, as well as enhance the courtyard space at Blake school.

Blake - Mic-Check, Mic-Check in Public Speaking!

This grant provided portable microphones to Blake students in public speaking and other classroom settings to record high quality audio for their Everyday Blakers podcasts, allowing for more student voice in the podcasts and in public speaking.

Blake entered the NPR podcasting competition with 3 different podcasts from the 7th grade public speaking class using the new microphones!. Listen to the below links to the podcasts:

 

9/11 A moment in History All Students Should Learn About

Kneeling During the National Anthem a Debatable Topic

Social Media: Grownups Just Don't Understand (or do they?)

Dale St. - Classroom STEM Kits

This grant provided each classroom in Dale Street School with supplies and resources for STEM stations for student use in school-wide challenges, integrated with engineering standards, designed to guide students in becoming expert problem solvers, doers, and inventors.

Dale St. - RedCat Sound System

This grant funded 21 Redcat classroom audio systems with an additional Redcat microphone for students and teachers to utilize in Dale’s 18 homerooms and 3 world language classrooms.

Elementary - Jessica Minahan on Anxiety and Behavior

This grant funded Social Emotional Learning programs consisting of three presentations from Jessica Minahan on Reducing Anxienty in the Classroom to parents and educators, as well copies of Jessica’s book, The Behavior Code,for Medfield’s elementary school teachers’ spring book club.

Memorial Grade 1 Classroom Book Update for Independent Reading

This grant funded nine sets of updated and current Independent Reading books, reflecting various subject areas and both fiction and nonfiction stories, for Memorial’s grade 1 classrooms.

Memorial - Model Me Kids-Social Skills Curriculum

This grant funded curriculum to support the development of social skills for children with autism through the use of video modeling and reinforcement of skills with lesson plans and weekly reinforcement charts

Memorial - Read Along With Me!

This grant provided eight upgraded listening centers, comprised of portable CD/Cassette players with Bluetooth capabilities and eight new headsets, for each Kindergarten classroom in Memorial School.

MHS & Blake - BreakOut

October 02, 2018

This grant funded 6 Breakout Edu kits designed to provide grade 6-12 science students the opportunities for collaborative problem solving, inquiry, creativity and teamwork in the context of their middle and high school science curricula.      

District - Clay Recycler

October 02, 2018

This grand funded a pug mill to implement a more efficient and effective clay recycling program in the Medfield schools,  contributing to an increased student understanding of clay materiality and an improved utilization of clay scraps. 

MHS & Blake - 3D Plastic Recycler

October 02, 2018

This grant funded a plastic recycler to provide opportunities for Bake and High School students to become stewards of their environment by reducing and reusing the waste inherent in the process of 3D printing.

Blake Middle School - 3D Printers

October 02, 2018

This grant funded four 3D printers and filament to enable Blake students the opportunity to become designers and creators using cutting-edge technology and STEAM/engineeering skills to visualize and create their own imaginations.

MHS - Project Self Success

October 02, 2018

This grant funded off- and on-campus activities focused on team building, collaboration, and problem solving for students in the High School English Seminar Class designed to help struggling learners find success in their personal and academic lives.

Memorial - Choose to be Nice

October 02, 2018

This grant funded copies of children's literature and student recognition stickers that directly support and reinforce each of the nine positive values promoted in Memorial School’s new “Choose To Be Nice” curriculum.

Memorial: Improving the school Environment

October 02, 2018

This grant funded live indoor trees and plants designed to reduce anxiety and improve air quality at Memorial School.

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2017/18 Grants

 2017/18 Grants

Wheelock - Let's Travel Around the World!

May 09, 2018

This grant funded seven picture books for each second grade  classroom (one for each of the continents). It also funded a pilot of the Passports program, which will be an after-school enrichment program offered to up to 30 students. With the help of parent and high school volunteers, students in the program will learn in depth about specific countries. The goal with both components of the grant is to broaden students' understanding of the global community.

Blake Middle School - Social Thinking

May 09, 2018

This grant funded a Social Behavior Mapping visual tool (dry-erase poster) which supports th Social Thinking curriculum, which is designed to improve the social emotional skills of all students. Social Behavior Mapping offers cognitive behavior strategies to teach students about the specific relationship between behaviors, others' perspectives, others' actions (consequences) and the student's own emotions about those around him or her. SBM is a visual tool that displays these abstract concepts through a flow chart. 

Blake - Outdoor Classroom

May 09, 2018

This grant provided funds to Blake's Community Service Club to establish an outdoor classroom space in the woods behind Blake Middle School. The space will be a place where students and teachers can gather for class, observe the natural world, and walk the trails.

MHS - Theatre Society Lighting

May 09, 2018

This grant funded MHS Theatre Societylighting equipment to enhance the high school’s theatre productions and reduce ongoing rental costs. Ownership rather than rental equipment also enables greater student participation in lighting design for productions.

District - Educational Film Series for Fall 2018

May 09, 2018

This grant funded a community wide-screening of Beyond Measure, and ownership of Race to Nowhere for community viewing. Through these hosted screenings, the MPS administration seeks to create a forum for discussion about our educational system, balance, social and emotional learning, assessments, and the current challenges we all face as educators and parents. 

District - Innovative Learning Fall 2018

May 09, 2018

This grant funded six educators, including BMS Principal Nat Vaughn and Superintendent Jeff Marsden, to attend the EdTech Teacher Summit November 2018. This conference focuses on bringing educators together to work to identify and share best practices for technology integration and innovative practices in the service of learning.

District - Relevance, Research and Practice Fall 2018

May 09, 2018

This grant funded a team of seven educators, including Jeff Marsden, Nat Vaughn, Mary Bruhl (New Director of Student Services) and 4 other educators (including content specialists who teach/lead in grades 6-12) - to the Learning and the Brain 'Reaching for Greatness' Fall 2018 conference, held in Boston November 16-18. The conference theme is "Using Brain Science to Empower Potential, Passion, and Performance in All Students."

District - Challenge Success Training

May 09, 2018

This grant funded participation in the Challenge Success program for grades 6-12. This research-based program was developed to help school communities provide students with the academic, social, and emotional skills needed to succeed in today’s current fast-paced, high-pressure culture. Funds will provide training, coaching and additional resources to 10 members of the MHS/BMS community (administrators/staff, students and a parent).

District - Inspirational Author Visit - Matt de la Pena

May 09, 2018

This grant funded a "bonus session" with Newbery-award winning author Matt de la Pena. In the extra session (following visits with elementary students), the author will meet with all K-12 teachers and staff.

District - The Innovator's Mindset

This grant funded George Couros to be the keynote speaker and facilitate workshops at Medfield Digital Learning Day. Couros is author of "The Innovator's Mindset," and is one of the most sought-after speakers in education today.

District: One author, one community… Medfield welcomes Kwame Alexander

This grant funded a speaking engagement by Newberry Award winning author and motivational speaker Kwame Alexander.

Memorial Tower Garden

This grant funded a Phase 1 pilot of a tower garden and indoor accessories to establish a vertical garden that produces herbs, fruits and vegetables through the year. The garden will support teaching and learning about life cycles and healthy eating, and also will provide edibles for the students and staff.

Wheelock - Warrior Fitness Challenge

This grant funded fitness equipment which, in conjunction with existing equipment, completed an obstacle course similar to American Ninja Warrior. The grant funded a wild web (rope climbing net), a plank walk and monkey bars.

Wheelock - Library Makerspace & STEAM Collaboration Initiative

This grant funded makerspace activities for the library as well as some classrooms. The materials will be used in Maker Clubs, when teachers/students sign up for extra library time, in a STEAM enrichment group, and in the classroom. Materials include items such as Magnatiles, Qubits, Keva Planks, Osmo Classroom Kits, ProBots, Snap Circuits Jr. and more.

Blake - Constructing Modern Knowledge to Invent the Future Summer Institute

This grant funded the conference fees for four Blake educators to attend the Constructing Modern Knowledge Summer Institute for K-12 educators. The multi-disciplinary team of educators will be immersed in professional development in the areas of MakerEd and STEAM.

MHS - Tetrix Robotics

This grant funded the purchase of four TETRIX MAX R/C Robotics sets,  eight TEXTRIX PRIZM Robotics Controllers, six TETRIX PRIZM Arduino boards, and twelve Textrix DC Motors  for the MHS Robotics Club.

District - Medfield Talks

This grant funded 50% of the cost for a speaker for the ongoing Medfield Talks parent speaker series (SEPAC funded the other half). Sarah Ward spoke on executive functioning on January 9th 2018.

District - Lead Learners 2017-2018

This grant funded conference fees for members of the MPS leadership team to attend the ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) National Conference in March 2018.

Blake - Sketchbook Initiative

The grant funded all sixth grade students with sketchbooks. The sketchbooks will be used across the curriculum, to assist students in the envisioning and planning of a variety of projects.

Blake - Creature Features Are Alive! (Phase 2 of the Power of Making)

The grant funded Little Bits circuits to allow for continued use of the circuitry in the 7th grade Creature Feature project, as well as allow for expanded use across the curriculum, including in the 6th and 8th grades and the Makerspace.

Blake - Bony Fish Dissection

This grant funded supplies for Grade 7 Science to expand the curriculum to include bony fish dissection. Plasticated bony fish models enable student understanding of the structure and function of fish anatomy.

Dale - Virtual Reality Google Expedition

This grant funded Google Expedition kits that will provide teachers, students, and staff with opportunities to explore and engage with the world. The kits enable users to go on virtual journeys to landmarks, travel through the human body, visit a variety of career opportunities, and much, much more. These comprehensive, durable, organized kits will promote students to wonder and further explore around them.

Wheelock - Playground Stencils

This grant funded four playground stencils (Basketball, Hopscotch, Four Square and a United States Map), an activity book and a line painter. Several Wheelock staff participated in training from Playworks, an organization which assists schools in fostering safe and effective recess play. This request is based on learnings and recommendations from that training, and is designed to support the whole child, as well as integrate aspects of the curriculum with the large map.

Memorial: STEAM Ahead

This grant funded 32 Makerspace tubs full of creative materials for kindergartners to build, play and experiment with. Tubs will be shared, on a rotating basis, among all eight kindergarten classrooms. Materials include a wide variety of building and design resources such as Lincoln Logs, Qubits, Magnatiles, K'nex and Tangoes.

Wheelock: Innovative Aids

This grant included two Qball wireless microphones, to be used in assemblies and classrooms, two whiteboard collaboration tables, and flexible seating (24 soft seats and 10 wobble chair stools).

Wheelock: Magical Math Tour

This grant funded a Magical Math Tour assembly (Brian Curry) that helps students relate to math in their everyday lives, through a fun and entertaining performance.

Dale: Reading Nook Enhancements #beproudbedale

This grant funded additional "comfy" seating to foster a nurturing reading and learning space; it also supports student choice and a collaborative learning environment, by providing flexible seating options. The grant includes three couches, two bean bag type chairs, and two molded chairs.

Dale: Enhancing Coding at #beproudbedale

This grant funded an Osmo classroom kit (includes four coding sets) that supports individual and group introductory coding. The coding capabilities inspire creativity, problem-solving and collaboration.

Blake: Crafting Our BlakerMakers

This grant funded a variety of materials to enhance the existing Blake Makerspace, which has grown and evolved over time. The newest phase of the Makerspace involves establishing a "maker" mindset in all subject areas, and bringing "making" into the everyday classroom. This grant provided new tools and resources including workbenches, a storage system, pegboard table, stools, and hand, cutting and measuring tools, and more.

Blake: Bridging the Gap - Introduction of Engineering Robotics Unit, Phase 2

This grant builds on a previous MCPE grant that funded a robotics pilot. Following the pilot's success, this grant funded 24 new Lego Mindstorm kits, which, in conjunction from the original three kits, enable the creation of a robotics unit within the 8th grade engineering curriculum. One cluster at a time will rotate through the robotics unit.

MHS - Project Self-Succeed!

This grant funded on- and off-campus activites to foster confidence and motivate students in a new English Seminar class. This class is designed to support struggling learners, helping them to  find success in their personal and academic lives. Activities include a visit to Five Wits, Tree-Top Adventure, martial arts self-respect seminar, de-stress workshop and a fifth activity chosen by students.

MHS: Chris Herren - Speaker

This grant funded former NBA player and substance abuser (now clean) speaker Chris Herren to address 11th and 12th graders on topics including: (1) positive choices and the impacts of poor choices (2) legacy/what you want to leave behind at MHS and (3) looking out for your peers. Funding covers 50% of speaker cost (other half funded by MHS PTO). Following the speaker, student faciliators engage their classmates in peer discussion.

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2016/17 Grants

 2016/17 Grants

Memorial Outdoor Learning Center

Author: Missy Billsborough
This grant funded the purchase and installation of a 16′ gazebo with built in benches at Memorial School which will create a new outdoor learning environment to be used by all students and faculty at the school in many different ways tied to the curriculum. The students will use the outdoor space for science, reading, writing, math, music, art, movement breaks, yoga and others applications and observations of nature. The gazebo is vinyl with composite decking.

Memorial Fund-A-Grant “Makerspace Computer Tables”

Author: Missy Billsborough
This grant funded nine computer tables and chairs to replace old-fashioned carrels. The mobile nature of these tables provides opportunities for configurations that encourage cooperative learning and collaboration.

Memorial Makerspace Tubs

Authors: Lesley Scier and Stefanie Elrick
This grant funded a wide range of makerspace materials from Legos, puzzles and blocks to pipe cleaners, wiki sticks and beads to be stored in makerspace tubs which will be rotated around between all the first grade classrooms. Each classroom will have 4 tubs at any given time. The materials will be used to encourage students to create and tinker during a less structured time. Added benefits inlude thinking creatively, problem solving and working collaboratively with peers.

Booming at Memorial

Author: Missy Billsborough
This grant funded 96 student headphones with boom microphones for students to use with iPads at Memorial School. These were special headphones for young children’s ears – with volume control and a more comfortable fit. They improve hearing and concentration and allow individual instruction with the iPads. The microphone feature allows children to interact with programs like RAZ kids and the Envisions math program. It helps with fluency practice, voice to text applications and transitioning from an iPad user to a creator.

Wheelock - Building Diversity

This grant funded a MyFamilyBuilders game for every classroom at Wheelock School (16 total). This handcrafted toy set strives to demonstrate that a family is based on relationships and love regardless of its makeup.

Wheelock - Lap Desks

This grant funded 102 lap desks which together with a school funded pilot and a grant from the PTO will provide every Wheelock classroom six lap desks to be available to students as a flexible seating alternative.

Wheelock - Bring Back Bren

This grant funded a return visit by muralist Bren Bataclan to Wheelock School. He has a unique style and encourages students to contribute to his mural ideas. He holds assemblies of small groups of students to work together to create drawings based on 2nd and 3rd grade curricula. These drawings provide the basis for his wall mural which he will spend four days painting on the second floor hallway. 

Wheelock - Diversity, Mindfulness & Empathy

This grant funded books which will create an area in the Wheelock library focused on Diversity, Mindfulness and Empathy.  Ten books will also go into each classroom to expand each class’ resources on these important topics.

Wheelock Audiobooks

This grant funded 20 Play-Aways and their accompanying texts (a total of 28 stories) for the Ralph Wheelock Library. Play-Aways are small battery operated devices that are preloaded with audio files of popular childrens’ books. When students are freed from using their energy to decode the printed text, they are able to focus their cognitive energy on the meaning of the text – which is the ultimate goal of reading.

Dale Street Makerspace Collaboration Centers

This grant funded a Makerspace at the Dale Street School Library. It included furniture (mobile stack chairs and Yogibos), 10 sets of Makey Makey, 10 Chrome Books, 10 iPad Minis, K’NEX Classic sets and Bridge, Lego Education Sets, Keva Planks, scales that measure grams, as well as other “creating” materials.

Dale Street Breakout EDU

Author: Kerry Cowell
This grant funded 3 Breakout EDU starter kits to be used by all Dale St. School teachers and students. Breakout EDU is based on the escapist room challenge, except instead of being locked in a room and needing to solve problems to find your way out, it is a locked box that you need to open. It presents a unique way to challenge students and teachers to use 21st century thinking skills to solve problems. Each kit comes with a collection of locks, hidden contraptions, timers, keys and other “diversion hardware” that can be used to play the Breakout challenges and games.

Dale/Wheelock Urban Improv – An Approach to Building Empathy

Author: Steve Grenham and Donna Olson 
This grant funded Urban Improv, a Boston Theatre group, to present six, one-hour workshops (two at Wheelock for third graders and four at Dale for fourth and fifth graders). Urban Improv is a professional acting ensemble with experience in education, psychology, and theater for young people.  The lessons can be generalized throughout the social emotional learning curriculum.  At Wheelock, the performance troupe will address important topics and issues pertinent to the environment, child development and health and safety, while weaving the subjects of diversity, mindfulness and empathy into the skits.  At Dale, the theme will be treating others with respect and/or with empathy while also addressing impulse control, conflict resolution and decision making.

Dale Street Fund-A-Grant Dash and Dots

This grant funded 10 Dash and Dots, codeable robots, to the Dale Street Library Media Center for the use of all 4th and 5th graders. The Dash and Dots provide students with the opportunity to build upon skills they learned at Wheelock and will continue to reinforce as they progress to Blake.

Dale Street Earth Day Initiative

Author: Sophia Gustafson
This grant funded seeds and soil to be part of an Earth Day Initiative with the 4th graders at Dale St. School on April 24, 2017. The students participated in a presentation about what it means to be environmentally friendly and why it is important. They planted tomato and pea plants in recycled egg cartons to bring home

Dale Street Noise Reduction Headphones

Author: Dorothy Vancura
This grant funded 183 noise reducing headphone sets to all 4th and 5th grade classrooms as well as special educators and reading and math specialists.

Dale Street Brain Pop Subscription

Author: Kerry Cowell
This grant funded a one-year Brain Pop subscription for all teachers and students at Dale St. School. Brain Pop is a digital resource which aligns with the Common Core and offers many resources for Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Engineering/Tech, Health, Arts and Music

Dale Street Standing Desk Pilot

Author: Steve Grenham
This grant funded a pilot of 15 standing desks for individual classrooms at Dale Street School. The desks will be available to any student who wishes to try an alternative to traditional desks.

Blake Middle School Fund-A-Grant “Point-Click-Create”

This grant funded tools for each cluster that will improve the production quality of presentations. The tools included iOgrapher cases, wireless speakers, and adapters for the speakers. The cases and microphones are for filming and recording, and the speakers/adapters are for presentations. These tools provide opportunities for students to create and colaborate in their learning, essential transferable skills for their current and future endeavors.

Blake Middle School Heart Rate Monitors

Authors: Mairi Nawrocki and Susan Cowell
This grant requested 62 Polar M200 Sports Watches to be used this year in all 6th grade physical education classes. The goal of the project is to increase student fitness as well as an understanding of personal fitness.

Blake Middle School Learning and the Brain

Author: Nat Vaughn
This grant funded 7 educators from Blake Middle School to attend the Learning and the Brain organization’s annual conference “Engaged, Empowered Minds: Using Brain Science To Education Ethical 21st Century Citizens And Problem Solvers”. The national conference is being held in Boston from November 17-19th, 2016.

Blake Middle School Disc Golf

Authors: Thomas Woods and Susan Cowell
This grant funded nine disc-golf baskets to begin a disc golf course on the Blake Middle School property. Baskets are situated in and along the woods abutting the baseball, softball and football practice fields. With the new course, disc golf will be an official 4-week unit within the Wellness department and available for intramurals and community use.

Blake Innovation 3.0  Author: Nat Vaughn and Administrative Technology Team

This grant funded the professional development for a cohort of representative educators from each of the five schools (Memorial, Wheelock, Dale Street, Blake and MHS) to attend and participate in three face-to-face workshops on the topics of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Project Based Learning (PBL).  These are foundation principles for effective curriculum development, design and implementation. 

Blake Fostering Our Safe Learning Environment for All Students

Author: Nat Vaughn
This grant funded Colby Swettberg, a consultant to speak to the Blake community on the topic of acceptance and fostering a safe learning environment at school.  The separate presentations will be given to the Blake Staff, Blake Site Council, an evening parent discussion and to all students at Blake Middle School in March/April 2017.  Swettberg previously presented to the Blake staff on the topic of “Working Effectively with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth.”

Blake Middle School Bridging the Gap – Introduction of Engineering Robotics Unit

Author: Orla Berry, Jason Heim, Mike Gibbs, Jillian Shaw, Phil Brown and Diane Horvath
This grant funded three Lego Mindstorm kits to be used in a small pilot robotics club in spring 2017 at Blake Middle School. If the pilot is successful, the goal would be to seek additional funding for a full set of kits in order to create an engineering robotics unit in 8th grade science classes for the 2017-2018 school year.

Blake Middle School Exploring Latin American Arts

Author: Heather Gonzalez
This grant funded Rosalba Solis, a native Spanish speaker and public school music teacher, to visit the eighth grade Spanish classes at Blake Middle School over two consecutive days. She conducted workshops exposing the students to examples of traditional crafts made in various parts of Latin America, interactive songs/games in Spanish and salsa or bachata dance steps.

Blake Middle School Learning and the Brain Conference

Author: Nat Vaughn and Jeff Marsden
This grant funded 7 educators to attend the Learning and the Brain annual conference in November 2017 in Boston. The topic is “Merging Minds and Technology: Transforming Classrooms with Robotics, Brain Science, and Virtual/Maker Spaces”.

Blake Middle School Auditorium Sound Upgrade: Can you Hear Me Now?

Author: Tracy Allen
This grant funded a new sound system for the Blake Middle School auditorium. This grant was co-funded with the district and the Blake PTO.

Blake Middle School Happy Atoms

Author: Jason Heim, Bailey Burke, Orla Berry
This grant funded one Thames and Kosmos Happy Atoms Magnetic Molecular Modeling Set and Educator’s Bundle to be used in 8th grade and 11th grade science classes. They are a hands-on way for students to discover, create and explore how atoms interact and form compounds through inquiry. The students are able to utilize their iOS device to scan molecules they have created to further the learning experience.

Blake Middle School Innovating SSR (Silent and Sustained Reading)

Author: Marissa Gumas, Amy Reynolds, Greg Keohan, Juli Dalzell, Sam Cowell
This grant funded the 7th grade red cluster teachers at Blake Middle School to develop small “book clubs” during SSR (Silent and Sustained Reading). The grant funded up to $1,000 to purchase 10 copies of 10 pre-selected books. The intent is that this will foster a love of reading and increase the time that students are choosing to read independently.

Blake Middle School Stability Ball Grant

Author: Susan Bycoff
This grant funded 40 stability balls for Blake Middle School math classrooms (3 in each). Stability balls have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, while increasing concentration and focus in the classroom.

Medfield High School Latin Music Artist in Residence

Author: Doug Olson
This grant funded an experienced and awarded Latin musician to visit Medfield classrooms and give the students authentic musical training, performance feedback and cultural insight. This “artist in residence” would spend time in several different ensembles including jazz band, concert band, orchestra and general music classes and also perform at the proposed “Latin Night” event being planned later in the year

Medfield High School Math Dept 3-D Printer

This grant funded a 3D printer for the High School math department for use by all the geometry students. Traditionally, students work with concepts of 3D objects on 2-dimensional paper (i.e. pictures of cylinders vs. actual cylinders). This 3D printer allows students to take risks, play with proportionality and measurement, collaborate and learn from each other and experience a technology makerspace in their geometry math class.

MHS Marion Blumenthal Lazan – A Holocaust Survivor’s Story

Author: Kathleen Emerson
This grant funded a program for 10th and 11th graders who study World War II to hear a presentation from a Holocaust Survivor, Mrs. Marion Blumenthal Lazen. She stresses the importance of positive thinking to overcome adversity. She spreads a message of tolerance and urges students to reject stereotyping based on religious belief, skin color, race or national origin. 

Medfield High School Turf/Track Audio System

This grant funded $10,000 (and MHS PTO funded $15,000) to provide a new microphone/audio system at the new turf field at Medfield High School.  The system will enrich the student-athlete experience and be used by Blake Middle School (athletics, band, wellness classes) and Medfield High School (athletics, marching band, wellness classes, graduation) as well as community events and use by outside organizations.

Author: Doug Olson and Eric Scott

Medfield High School Learning Commons

This grant funded new furniture in the High School library – six new soft seats with a tablet arm for laptops, chrome books, or other electronic devices and six high top tables with stools for collaborative work. School libraries are transitioning to a Learning Commons model which allows the students to work collaboratively in small groups. Medfield High School is now a 1:1 school; every student has an electronic device. Libraries must reinvent themselves as content becomes more accessible online and their role changes. It is important for a library to be a place that encourages participatory learning. 

District K12 SHAPE America National Convention for Health and Physical Educators

Author: Susan Cowell
This grant funded 13 wellness teachers representing all five schools to attend the SHAPE America National Convention for Health and Physical Educators, was held in Boston in March 2017.

Districtwide ACTFL conference in Boston 11/17-11/20

Author: Ellen Toubman
This grant funded 14 educators from Wheelock, Dale, Blake and the High School to attend a national conference for ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) in Boston from November 17-20th, 2016.

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2015/16 Grants

 2015/16 Grants

Coding Parrot's Rolling Spider Drones

This grant, which is a continuation of the Dash and Dot codeable robot grant from 2014-2015, funded 10 Parrot Rolling Spider drones which allow the students to physically manipulate real world objects (the drones) and solve real world problems based on the code they have written.  All 8th grade students have the opportunity to use the drones in conjunction with the coding unit in their science tech classes.  They are also available after school and for intramurals.

Chinese Culture Days

This grant funded culture teachers from Focal Chinese Music to visit all middle and high school Mandarin students on six days from December 2015 to February 2016 to teach the students choral, percussions, Taichi, brush painting and Chinese dance.  Students will perform what they learned on Chinese New Year.  

Jessica Cox School and Community Presentations

This grant funded Jessica Cox to visit the Medfield and Blake communities on January 21 and 22 for two presentations.  Born without arms, Jessica is the world's first armless pilot and first armless black-belt in America.  She is an author, motivational speaker and a courageous young woman who inspires people to reach beyond their perceived limitations and believes the way we think has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints.  MCPE jointly funded this grant with SEPAC and the Blake PTO.  Her message aligns with the Blake annual themes for the past five years - Community, Perseverance, Creativity, Acceptance, and Collaboration). 

Classroom HowdaHug Chairs

This grant funded 30 HowdaHug Chairs at Wheelock School, two for each classroom.  HowdaHug chairs are an alternative seating option for students.  HowdaHug chairs are designed for "fidgety kids" who present a need for deep sensory input to find focus, calm and containment.  They help to accomplish improvement in students' abilities to maintain focus and attention to participate appropriately in classroom activities by regulating their bodies and providing sensory input.  The chairs are accessible to all students as needed.

Makerspace Memorial Library Style

This grant funded a Makerspace in the Memorial School Library.  This is an expansion of the limited items they had from donations.  The Makerspace is open to all students during scheduled library classes and at other times determined by the teachers and the librarian.  The Makerspace provides the opportunity for students to think, to problem solve, to be creative, to collaborate and to share their work.  The items funded were developmentally age appropriate for the Memorial students (preschool - grade 1).  They included Wood Castle Blocks and a set of Figurines, Picassa Tiles (3D Magnetic Building Blocks), K'Nex, a Lego Storystarter Core Set, Bee-Bots (the younger version of the Pro-Bots which were funded by MCPE for Dale St. School), HOKKI stools which allow the children to move around while sitting, an iPad Mini 4, an external Microphone, Craft Supplies and Books.  

Continued Growth in Ballroom Dance

This grant funded 50 private ballroom dance lessons at Fred Astaire in Franklin (combined with weekly group classes, practice sessions, progress checks and a final exam) for Karen Renaud, Wellness, Ballroom Dance, Personal Safety, and Stress Management Teacher at Medfield High School.  This grant allowed her to further develop her skills, learn additional steps and higher level dance skills as well as new dances so that she could continue to challenge her talented and eager students.  Ballroom Dancing is taught in physical education classes starting in the 2nd grade and continues up through the high school including an elective class as well as a club. Karen worked with the other Wellness/Physical Education teachers from Wheelock, Dale and Blake to share her new skills.

Bringing the Power of Making to the Classroom #BlakeMakers

The Creature Feature has been part of the English and Math curricula for the past several years for seventh grade students.  Students use geometry skills  and knowledge to build a "creature", document their production on Google slides, measure and produce a scale drawing and then write a story about their fantasy creature in English class. The students then take their creatures to the elementary schools in town to share with siblings' classes, read their stories and inspire the younger students.  This year, the Creature Feature project took on a new aspect of innovation - bringing their creatures to life.  This grant funded a Little Bits Pro Library Kit with Wall Storage and Additional Bits to scale the Bringing the Creature Feature to Life project for the entire grade level.  The Little Bits provided students with the ability to make thier creatures "come to life".  They did this by inserting simple circuits to make eyes light, hearts beat, hands move, etc.  

Video Production and Editing

This grant funded up to date tools for video production and editing for the Video Production class.  These tools included new computers, new monitors, and Adobe Premiere editing licenses.

Desktop Fabrication Integration with DiWire Bender Machine #BlakeMakers

This grant funded 1 DiWire Bender Machine for the Blake Makerspace.  Desktop fabrication or digital modeling is a process that joins design with production through the use of 3D modeling software or computer-aided design (CAD) and additive and subtractive manufacturing processes.  The DiWire Bender can convert line vector drawings on the computer into actual bent wire to form 2D and 3D shapes and prototypes such as antennas, architecture models, design prototypes, jewelry, small crafts, signs, and more.  DiWire Bender can accomplish this in less time and material cost than a 3D printer which is another type of desktop fabrication..

A Culture of Screenagers

This grant funded four screenings of the highly acclaimed documentary, Screenagers, in which physician and filmaker Delaney Ruston dives into the topic of the impacts of too much screen time on students and families in this digital age.  The film addresses the struggles with social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction and the importance of being able to find the right balance.  Three screenings took place at Blake Middle School for the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and staff.  The fourth screening was for parents and the community.

Project Happiness

This grant funded a Project Happiness Middle School Curriculum and Training Videos to be implemented in the 2016-2017 school year with the Blake Middle School 6th graders during their Advisory period.  Project Happiness specializes in emotional resilience-building programs which provide proven techniques to empower students and their communities to thrilve.  All participants learn social and emotional learning skills.  It is connected to Common Core Standards which help students to learn to build a climate of kindness, appreciation and cooperation.

A Visit by Michael Thompson, Ph.D.

This grant funded a visit by Michael Thompson, Ph.D. in October 2016 to Medfield as the launch to a new parent speaker series.  The goal of the series of presentations is to help parents, teachers, administrators, and the community better care for the whole child.  The grant included his time spent at Blake and MHS speaking to the students as well as an evening presentation for the community and parents.  

Pro-Bots - Dale Street

50 pro-bot robots were funded to be used as a hands-on experience to program and code.

Mike Smith - Motivational Speaker

This grant funded Mike Smith; a professional inspirational speaker based out of Lincoln, NE to speak to all MHS students on the topic of “Leaving a Legacy” in Feb '16.  Student Council were the writers of this grant.  

Enhancing Science Lab Data Collection

This grant funded 2 Vernier LabQuest 2 interfaces for the High School. These are used to collect sensor data with their built-in graphing & analysis application.  The large, high res touch screens makes it easy & intuitive to collect, analyze & share data from experiments.

KIBO Robots - Memorial

Two separate grants funded 10 KIBO robot kits which teach programming through robotics for children ages 4-7.  The children manipulate wooden blocks to give the robot simple commands. 

Maker Space - Wheelock Library

This grant funded a Makerspace.  Items included Spheros balls, Creative Tower Legos, WeDo Lego, 4 iPad Airs, books and new modern and portable furniture.

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