Schools

$11K Grant to Brings Netbooks to Middle School

Education Foundation's grant will go toward purchase to enhance student writing.

The Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) awarded an $11,000 grant to Chatham Middle School to fund the purchase of 16 Netbooks.

The Netbook computers will be used by students throughout the school to promote and enhance writing across the curriculum.

Principal Robert Accardi applied for the grant, along with eighth-grade English teachers Lisa McTague and Carmela Zack.

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Colleen Markley, the president of CEF, said the organization is "pleased to have provided these grants, which will benefit students throughout Chatham." 

The grant was made possible, Markley said, by the generosity of residents and businesses of the Chathams. Because of their support, she said, "the Foundation has been able to continue its efforts of supporting innovative and creative educational programs and special projects" in the School District of the Chathams.

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Accardi thanked the foundation "for supporting our teachers who do not see limits to their instruction or the experiences that CMS's students should have at school. These Netbooks will provide our students the opportunity to take their writing to the next level and further enhance the educational experience."

The grant is the third one CEF has awarded so far this academic year. The total financial value of the three grants is $12,700. The other grants were: 

Chatham High School Theatre Lighting Technology and Design: Chatham High Theatre Director Lynn Polan arranged for the CHS theater students, actors and crew members to learn about the technology and artistry of theatrical lighting by working with a professional lighting designer. The lighting designer will also work with students to design and implement the lighting for the spring musical, "Legally Blonde." This $1,500 grant represents a truly exciting opportunity for students to learn directly from a professional and put their learning to use in their own musical production.
 
Destination Imagination: Lafayette Avenue School fourth-grade students in Justin Perinotti's classes will be completing fun and engaging activities designed by Destination ImagiNation, Inc., thanks to this $350 grant. Teams of students will compete in challenges that require them to build, engineer and perform tasks with sets of provided materials to accomplish an initiative. In addition to strengthening science and math skills, students involved with this program will also learn that communication, problem solving and flexibility are critical to success.
 
I which funded 26 innovative and creative educational programs and special projects throughout the School District of the Chathams.
 
CEF is a nonprofit organization providing private funding for curriculum support within the School District of the Chathams. They look for innovative and creative educational programs and special projects that enrich the minds and bodies of the estimated 4,000 students enrolled in the district's six public schools. Since its inception in 1997, CEF has distributed more than $600,000 to develop and support more than 275 educational programs, special projects and equipment.
 


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