Elementary Archives - Newton Schools Foundation

Purposeful Emergent Writing in Kindergarten

Purposeful Emergent Writing in Kindergarten new

Our Kindergarten Team will explore the stages of writing development through a book study with our Literacy Specialist. Instruction with described moves. Kindergarten writers will move from prewriting to using sentence structure and story sense. Our study and application of moves is learned through the text Kid Writing in the 21st Century. Students will have multiple chances each week to write their own story in their writing notebook.

Applicant: Jeanne Conley

Schools: Lincoln-Eliot

Date Approved: Spring 2025

Amount: $1,060.76

The Elementary SEL Curriculum Trial – EL Educations “CREW”

The Elementary SEL Curriculum Trial – EL Educations “CREW” new

Our project will trial EL Education’s “CREW” in a 2nd grade classroom. For elementary, this is not a set of lessons. Rather, it “serves as an ethos that guides the creation of a strong school climate—belonging, accountability, service, and teamwork.” The “CREW” program integrates SEL and character education with academics. It is an approach that acknowledges that students require a strong foundation of SEL skills to be able to reach their highest academic potential. When SEL is woven into the day, classroom communities become safe, supportive environments where students are more likely to take risks and persevere. Such classrooms are places where students feel valued, respected and celebrated for their unique strengths and experiences.

Applicant: Jennifer Terrazzino

Schools: Lincoln-Eliot

Date Approved: Spring 2025

Amount: $1,083.80

Enhancing Creativity & Equity in Elementary Art Through Clay Work

Funding for 16 inch Mini Might II Table Top Slab Rollers to be used in the elementary school art room. The clay slab roller will allow all students, regardless of ability, to engage in more …

Enhancing Creativity & Equity in Elementary Art Through Clay Work new

Funding for 16 inch Mini Might II Table Top Slab Rollers to be used in the elementary school art room. The clay slab roller will allow all students, regardless of ability, to engage in more advanced and meaningful clay projects. This fosters creativity, problem-solving, and cross-disciplinary learning while increasing engagement and supporting the social-emotional development of every child.

Applicant: Hillary Irvine

Schools: Ward

Date Approved: Spring 2025

Amount: $587.00

Pollinator Garden

Second graders will design and plant a pollinator garden to support bees and butterflies while learning about pollinators, native plants, and how to care for the environment. (3 classrooms) The grant will help purchase materials: …

Pollinator Garden new

Applicant: Beth Bernier

Schools: Zervas

Date Approved: Spring 2025

Amount: $225.00

3D STEAM Lab Innovation

This grant provides funding to enhance my 3D art curriculum with tools that promote hands-on, student-centered learning. By incorporating this equipment, students will work alone or in teams to conceptualize, prototype, and build large-scale, three-dimensional projects. With the ability to cut out any cardboard shape they can imagine, students will no longer be limited by their lack of scissor skills or physical strength, leading to greater engagement and perseverance.

Applicant: Jennifer Sutherland

Schools: Lincoln-Eliot

Date Approved: Spring 2025

Amount: $432.98

Memorial-Spaulding Story Walk

A story walk is an outdoor literacy installation, where readers travel page by page through a book. We aim to support literacy and family involvement at Memorial-Spaulding by constructing a sustainable outdoor story walk on …

Memorial-Spaulding Story Walk new

Applicant: Rachael Lundquist

Schools: Memorial Spaulding

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $602.74

Adaptive Art Program

We seek to acquire specialized materials, tools, and equipment to support newly created adaptive art classes for students in the STRIDE (Cabot, Bowen, Zervas), Reflections (Williams) and SPARK (Countryside) programs. This request follows a SY24 award for adaptative art Professional Development for the art department at the schools with specialized programs.

Applicant: Christine Phillips

Schools: Cabot, Bowen, Williams, Zervas, and Countryside

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $2,500

PROMPT for Motor Speech Disorders

PROMPT for Motor Speech Disorders new

This grant is for high quality professional development in the area of motor speech disorders, specifically Childhood Apraxia of Speech. The PROMPT model is a tactile-kinesthetic approach in conjunction with a holistic approach to therapy. The PROMPT approach would be a new therapeutic technique to use with students with motor speech disorders. It has been recommended in reports from outside speech and language pathologists for Newton students. Professional development in this area would help expand my practice and improve functional outcomes for students.

Applicant: Lori Franzella

Schools: Countryside

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $850

Building Fact Fluency in Multiplication

Math coaches across 5 elementary schools will purchase Building Fact Fluency: A Toolkit for Multiplication and Division to use during grade 3 WIN block to improve multiplication fluency.

Building Fact Fluency in Multiplication new

Math coaches across 5 elementary schools will purchase Building Fact Fluency: A Toolkit for Multiplication and Division to use during grade 3 WIN block to improve multiplication fluency.

Applicant: Kelly Gartside

Schools: Memorial Spaulding and 4 others

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $3,272

Digi Blocks

Digi blocks are a fantastic math manipulative. They allow students a tactile and visual way to understand regrouping. Using this tool will increase student understanding and independence in math.

Digi Blocks new

Digi blocks are a fantastic math manipulative. They allow students a tactile and visual way to understand regrouping. Using this tool will increase student understanding and independence in math.

Applicant: Shayna Packer

Schools: Countryside

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $705

Coding with Ozobots K-5

Ozobots are robots used to teach coding. The students learn to program using color-coded patterns drawn on paper. Students will create simple programs to develop coding skills.

Coding with Ozobots K-5 new

Ozobots are robots used to teach coding. The students learn to program using color-coded patterns drawn on paper. Students will create simple programs to develop coding skills.

Applicant: Donna Busa

Schools: District-wide K-5

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $11,250

Supporting Students via Eye Gaze Technology

Supporting Students via Eye Gaze Technology new

This professional development offering is an opportunity to learn more about utilizing eye gaze technology in the classroom to ensure high quality education for students with significant disabilities. It would help ensure that these students have access to tier 1 instruction and support ways for students to show their knowledge in more creative ways.

Applicant: Stacey Crocker

Schools: Williams

Date Approved: Fall 2024

Amount: $425