Through Grants, Chatham Education Foundation Helps Revamp Sound Systems in Schools

Say good-bye to antiquated PA systems. Sound systems in Chatham schools got a boost this past school year, thanks to the efforts of the Chatham Education Foundation.

All together, the foundation awarded nearly $60,000 to the School District of the Chathams during the year. They are spread out to all schools and are part of the new funding structure implemented by the foundation last year so grants could be awarded at any time. Teachers are invited to submit grant proposals as needs arise in their classrooms or at their schools.

The first $10,000 grant was awarded in September to Washington Avenue School for a new audio sound system, which was recently used in the school's production of "Aladdin Jr." on April 23 and 24. A second grant request for lighting was awarded earlier this year. The 60-year-old multipurpose room at the school can now be used for musical stage productions, assemblies and programs for the community. The school's PTO also helped with some additional funding.

"With increased enrollment, our multipurpose room is used constantly, so the sound system will provide good support for both children and adults who have auditory difficulties," said principal Mary Quigley. "Our school community is very appreciative of all that the Foundation continues to do for Washington Avenue School."

A third grant for high-interest, low vocabulary reading materials for second and third graders at a lower reading level than their peers was also given to Washington Avenue. All in all, the school received a total of $12,530 in grants from the foundation.

Chatham Middle School received two grants totaling $14,580, which also included a new state-of-the-art sound system for the auditorium. Seventh grade math teacher Damon Wyatt formally applied for the grant, and his name is on it.

Principal Robert Accardi said the old system wasn't very good. Now, students will be able to enjoy a better sound system, and aside from students, outside groups that use the auditorium will also benefit.

"This is a school grant, but it will something the community will benefit from," he said. 

The second grant helped purchase a SMART Response interactive system of wireless clickers that instantly give the teacher insight into how well students understand concepts and lessons. Teacher Diane Tullo's name is on that grant.

Accardi said the system will allow teachers "to provide immediate feedback to students."

At Southern Boulevard, there are new Smartboard Document cameras, thanks to a $9,900 grant. These devices act as super high-tech overhead projecters, allowing a document to be magnified, viewed, and annotated directly on to Smartboards.

Almost $13,000 was given to the Lafayette School during this past school year. The first grant—N.E.T.B.O.O.K.S.—is a district program to support the goal of creating a community of 21st century learners.  The project is to provide students with the ability to seamlessly conduct research and interact with students in other classrooms around town and around the world using newly introduced Dell Netbook computers.

The second grant, "Take a Closer Look," was for the purchase of digital hand held microscopes with computer and SmartBoard projection to enhance the fourth-grade science curriculum. 

The third grant was a Time for Kids subscription that is being used by all fifth grade students, and the fourth grant is for the purchase of the SMART Response interactive response system.

The foundation awarded Milton Avenue Elementary $9,000 for the new state-of-the-art sound system and for the purchase of authentic novels to implement Literary Circles in a third-grade classroom.

The foundation has now awarded over $500,000 in grants throughout Chatham schools since its inception 13 years ago. For more information on how to donate, visit the group's Web site.