Elementary Archives - Newton Schools Foundation

National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention

The NCTE Convention is an annual event for ELA and literacy educators held all over the country. This November it will be in Boston, providing an excellent opportunity for NPS literacy educators to attend a …

National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention

Literacy experts, researchers, & practitioners lead sessions in these strands:
Early Literacy - situated in social, historical, & cultural contexts.
Professional Development
LGBTQIA - critical pedagogy, and democratic teaching practices. Sessions encourage a broad definition of diversity and creation of safer, more inclusive schools
National Writing Project writing strand
Strand on issues, strategies regarding teaching and affirming BIPOC & ELL students
Research Strand - original research studies

Applicant: Deana Lew

Schools: Elementary

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $8,250

Deepening Teachers’ Math Content Knowledge

Teachers will work on math activities and examine case studies. Teachers will develop skills to identify the next step for each student and be able to formulate effective questions to push students of all levels to a deeper understanding. This will provide a meaningful professional development opportunity for teachers. Engaging in math with other adults and deepening one’s understanding of math concepts helps teachers to be prepared to challenge the range of learners in their class.

Applicant: Kelly Gartside

Schools: Memorial-Spaulding

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $4,536.28

Using a Trauma Informed and Culturally Responsive Approach for Behavioral Interventions

This project will extend training provided through a 2023 NSF grant to increase the knowledge and skills of staff in selecting and implementing behavior interventions that are Trauma Informed, Culturally Responsive, and Neurodivergent positive. Many practices used to address students’ behavioral challenges are no longer appropriate because they do not consider the cultural variables, cognitive variations, or potential trauma histories of students. This project will allow NPS to target professional training and support to specific staff (with a focus on Unit C staff) to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to select and implement interventions that are Trauma Informed, Culturally Responsive, and Neurodivergent positive.

Applicant: James Ellis

Schools: District Wide

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $8,350

Instructional Coaching Impact Cycle Professional Development

The goal of the workshop is for our team to learn how to leverage Jim Knight’s “Impact Cycle” model to grow student achievement. It aligns with the NPS goal of Academic Excellence by impacting Tier 1 instruction, improving student learning for all students, aligning with Educational Equity. The coaching model is dialogical, emphasizing CRI moves, trauma-Informed practices, and SEI tools. This workshop will increase our ability to collaborate and create a culture of learning in a meaningful way.

Applicant: Jen Terrazzino

Schools: Lincoln Eliot

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $1,884

Family Conversations: A Home and School Partnership

Countryside and Burr Elementary Schools and Newton South Preschool will host site-based racial literacy programming for students ages 3-8 years old and their caregivers in Fall 2024 in partnership with Story Starters Research shows that educational equity in younger ages is most likely to be successful when parents are involved and community norms are strong. This project would target the critical developmental window -- ages 3-8 -- when parents have a significant impact on their children's beliefs about race. All children benefit from belonging to anti-racist communities, since they acquire racial knowledge from community standards and conventions. (Hirschfeld, 2012). , a Newton nonprofit.

Applicant: Mindy Johal & Beth Herlihy

Schools: Burr & Countryside & Preschool

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $4,350.80

Elementary Adaptive Art Planning and Professional Development

Elementary schools with a citywide program will offer adaptive art in the 2024-25 school year. Visual Art teachers and Occupational Therapists require summer professional development and consultation to prepare for the launch of this initiative. The summer curriculum writing and professional development will include the Bowen art teacher sharing the work documented during the pilot and the adaptations created by the Cabot visual art teacher where no adaptive art experience occurred. Liz Loya is a consultant from CAST with expertise in Universal Design for Learning and adaptive art She will assist the art teachers and OTs design approaches for implementing an adaptive art program that will meet the needs of diverse learners.

Applicant: Richard King

Schools: Elementary

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $5,650

Psychology Department Book Study

Psychologists will continue our goal of reducing bias in assessment & counseling by reading over the summer and meeting in the fall to discuss and apply learnings in order to design more inclusive comprehensive evaluation and counseling processes. Earlier this year we read Systemic Racism and Educational Measurement: Confronting Injustice in Testing, Assessment, and Beyond, and met with the author for discussion. This led to additional thoughtful departmental discussions about bias in psychological assessments, and allowed us to review our practices and to collaborate on best practices for inclusive, comprehensive assessment and counseling practices which creates more educational equity for all students. We want to continue this work.

Applicant: Jordanna L'Esperance & Toni-Marie Kelly

Schools: District Wide

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: 1,000

Digital Citizenship Tech Cards and Literature

We request culturally diverse picture books to address digital citizenship/wellness & online safety. We will select 2 books/grade level & visit classes. We will create grade level digital citizenship conversation cards for teachers to use weekly. This project closely aligns with NSF's strategic goals of innovative classroom approaches and equitable education. By introducing digital citizenship concepts consistently across grade levels through discussion cards and engaging picture books, we are trying a new approach to empower teachers to confidently discuss these vital topics, contributing to the professional growth of Newton educators and the social emotional growth and digital wellness of all elementary students.

Applicant: Donna Busa

Schools: Elementary

Date Approved: Spring 2024

Amount: $4,000

Strengthening Inclusion and SEL: In-class Break Spaces 2 (expansion)

The project aims to obtain additional materials to already successful “Calm Corner” spaces. The current project has been hugely successful and the team recognizes the need for additional materials. "Calm Corners" allow students to remain in their learning environment while they are regulating their bodies and emotions. Seeing other students using the same space and tools allows students to recognize feelings are universal--we all need a calm corner sometimes. This program is innovative in its approach and in the fact that these corners are available in every classroom as well as every special. No matter who you are or where you are, the tools are available to everyone.

Applicant: Emily Josephsohn

Schools: Burr

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $ 1501.54

Cultural Kaleidoscope: Researching, Designing, and Promoting the District’s Monthly Heritage Celebration Resource

A few years ago, DEI began the Monthly Heritage Celebration document, and going forward, I’ll expand it for the District. This resource helps educators, students, and families as they look for ways to celebrate and …

Cultural Kaleidoscope: Researching, Designing, and Promoting the District’s Monthly Heritage Celebration Resource

A few years ago, DEI began the Monthly Heritage Celebration document, and going forward, I'll expand it for the District. This resource helps educators, students, and families as they look for ways to celebrate and learn about different heritages. Activities I will engage in include: evaluating needs assessment, setting a timeline, researching and curating resources, evaluating for quality and inclusivity, organizing the document, managing copyrights, designing layout, gathering feedback, promoting awareness, evaluating impact, and planning for long-term sustainability and growth.

Applicant: Eileen Keane

Schools: District Wide

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $1,600

Classroom Take a Break Space

To obtain materials to create “take a break” spaces. This structure provides students with developmentally appropriate space within their classroom where they can learn to recognize and react to emotions in a healthy and productive …

Classroom Take a Break Space

To obtain materials to create "take a break" spaces. This structure provides students with developmentally appropriate space within their classroom where they can learn to recognize and react to emotions in a healthy and productive way. In order for students to be highly engaged in academic content and instruction in their classrooms, self-regulation and a sense of belonging and safety is crucial. “Take a Break” spaces are a small, designated area in classrooms that help to facilitate a safe learning environment for all students. This tier one classroom structure is part of the puzzle that promotes strong belonging and connectedness for all students in our elementary classrooms

Applicant: Suzanne Rothenberg

Schools: Underwood

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $500

Futuring: Developing the Next Strategic Plan for the Newton Public Schools

After a 4-part session to develop a Profile of a Newton Graduate, the district and stakeholder groups will work to develop a 3-5 year strategic plan for the district. The entire school community would be affected and enhanced by a new strategic plan, but we aspire to 50 community members participating in the stakenolder engagement part of strategic planning.

Applicant: Anna Nolin

Schools: District Wide

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $16,800