Equity Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Newton Schools Foundation

Classroom Take a Break Spaces

The project aims to obtain materials to create “Take a Break” spaces. This structure provides students w/ a developmentally appropriate space w/in their classroom where they can learn to recognize/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: Michelle Ellis

Schools: Angier

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $293

The L

The L is a system of subway lines, markers, and signage. Designed to be developmentally appropriate for students and ADA compliant, this UDL supports the science of wayfinding which increases independence, reduces anxiety, and improves library usage. As part of my professional goal, I’m to visit public and school libraries to learn about the impact of wayfinding. A design for The L has been made and supplies must be ordered. Collaboration with NNHS Ed Tech program and Graphics Department will result in signage that allows students to navigate their space, meeting the required library outcomes for research and reading for leisure in NPS. By March, the system should be in place and lessons K-5 will be taught to introduce their new environment.

Applicant: Liz Donovan

Schools: Angier

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $2,400

Interactive SEL Games for Small Group Intervention

Building stronger relationships & increasing peer engagement during small group targeted SEL skill intervention groups through the use of hands-on, interactive and fun SEL focused games. Working to strengthen small group intervention in ways that make it more accessible, engaging, fun, and focused for students in need will really help students further their peer and teacher connections and gain essential SEL skills needed to be successful in their general education classrooms and throughout the school day with peers. Opportunities to learn and gain these skills in a focused small group setting has potential to really beneficially impacts students across their entire school day.

Applicant: Anna Coly

Schools: Franklin

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $347.43

Middle School Students MakeMusic

Supporting student subscriptions to MakeMusic, a web-based instructional technology that fosters the musical growth of students enrolled in middle school choral & instrumental ensembles and aids teachers in leading more efficient ensemble rehearsals. Beyond the original NSF grant in 2019-20, MakeMusic was funded by the district, cut from the FY24 budget due to budget cuts. The current subscriptions end on November 9th. This request is intended as a stopgap measure to maintain access to the student subscriptions for all students enrolled in music ensembles at each middle school. The timeline would mean a temporary pause in student subscriptions until NSF funding decisions are made in December. No other funding sources have been identified.

Applicant: Richard King

Schools: Middle School

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $14,578

Dreamfar – Helping Students Build Wellness, Purpose, and Community Through a Mentor Supported Distance Running Program

Providing equitable access for NNHS/NSHS students of diverse backgrounds and abilities to participate in Dreamfar—a free, mentor-supported, running program that helps students build physical/mental wellness, purpose, academic focus, and community. NNHS and NSHS staff help Dreamfar reach out to diverse students, promoting equity for ALL students. Last year, 50% of Dreamfar youth were diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, mental health diagnosis, disability status, or socioeconomic differences. Many Dreamfar teens are not engaged in school sports/activities, while others do participate in school sports/activities. The result is an inclusive program where all can benefit physically, academically, and emotionally.

Applicant: Ethan Peritz

Schools: Newton North / Newton South

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $7,000

Classroom Take a Break Spaces

The project aims to obtain materials to update “Take a Break” spaces. The spaces help to promote emotional regulation in a developmentally appropriate 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: Melissa Vigliotti

Schools: Williams

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $1,000

Career Day

This is a preventive mental health and community engagement event. Community members volunteer to speak about their career field. Students are surveyed about their fields of interest and then scheduled to hear from the most relevant speakers. This is a preventive mental health program designed to give students a hopeful and an optimistic outlook of their own futures, which has been identified as one of the 40 Developmental Assets. By ensuring a diverse range of speaker backgrounds, we are aiming to have professional mentors that represent the diversity of our student body. This is also a community engagement opportunity for middle school students to connect in a meaningful way with positive role models.

Applicant: Jackie Mann

Schools: Day MS

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $2,000

Diversifying the 6th Grade Novel Study Unit

A committee of MS ELA teachers, literacy specialists, library teachers, and a member of the DEI department, will revise and update the current 6th grade novel study unit to center around a text that is engaging, culturally responsive, and rigorous. Bringing a new novel study into 6th grade classrooms reflects innovation by incorporating a text that would be more engaging and culturally responsive. Creating curriculum as a grade level is excellent, job-embedded professional development, supporting collaboration and professional learning in a meaningful context. It also promotes equity in the sense of ensuring that all 6th grade students have a common reading experience and are held to common expectations across buildings.

Applicant: Joelle Pederson

Schools: Middle School

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $7,189.20

Comprehensible Input Library for Middle School Spanish Learners – District Pilot

I would like to create a library of comprehensible books written for Spanish language learners so that all of my Spanish students will be able to select and read novels that interest them and are …

Comprehensible Input Library for Middle School Spanish Learners – District Pilot

I would like to create a library of comprehensible books written for Spanish language learners so that all of my Spanish students will be able to select and read novels that interest them and are at their appropriate reading level. The world language department has been using methods of comprehensible input (CI) in order for our students to be able to acquire language. One very effective CI method, which has yet to be implemented in this district, is to have students select and read comprehensible books that interest them from a CI library (Innovations in the Classroom). Research shows that this helps every student in the class to be successful, not just the top learners (Programs that promote Equity for all).

Applicant: Laura Brady

Schools: Oak Hill

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $600

I’m Amazing, Now Where Am I Going?

Career exploration program focused on increasing opportunities for Black, Latinx, and/or low-income students in NPS. It enlists high school students to facilitate middle school students, and pairs each high schooler with an adult mentor. The NYSC and METCO endeavor to provide more opportunities for Black, Latinx, and/or low-income students to engage in career exploration leading to successful college completion. The program equips students with resources, support, and skills in 6 weeks with “near-peer” and 1:1 mentoring and opportunities to develop interviewing and leadership

Applicant: Lisa Gilbert-Smith

Schools: 6-12

Date Approved: Fall 2023

Amount: $12,240