The Education Foundation of South Brunswick Township is dedicated to enhancing the quality of the student learning experience in South Brunswick Township Public Schools.
Spark of Innovation Grant Program
The Education Foundation's Spark of Innovation Grant Program exists to assist South Brunswick teachers in creating new opportunities for teaching and learning not funded through the normal school budget process. The continuing goal of this program is to spark innovation in our schools and to give teachers an opportunity to put their creative ideas to work in the classroom.Two types of grants are offered: Mini-Grants of up to $500 which are meant to serve one teacher, one classroom and one project idea; and Collaborative Grants of up to $1,000 which may fund projects involving multiple classrooms, departments or whole schools.
Grant applications will be available every July with the application process limited to one cycle per school year. Grants awarded through this call for applications can be instituted anytime during the Spring semester.
Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis and a limited number will be awarded each cycle.
The Education Foundation of South Brunswick Township, Inc. began its Spark of Innovation grant program in the spring of 2011 and to date has provided $90,696 through 139 Mini and Collaborative grants to teachers in the South Brunswick School District.
For More Info, Contact Us At: grants@edfoundationsb.org
Spark of Innovation Grant Report
| 2019/2020 GRANTS | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Catherine O`Keefe | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $105.24 |
| Jengas for Social Studies | ||||
| 6 Jengas for Social studies unit review. | ||||
| Angela Fasanella, Melissa Bermudez | Crossroads North Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2019/2020 | $973.80 |
| Culturally Diverse Books | ||||
| Culturally diverse books for literature circles for 7th grade. | ||||
| Karen Gordon, Melissa Griffin | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $380.70 |
| Stress Management | ||||
| Materials for Stress management lunch group such as coloring materials and stress balls to use for stress discussions. | ||||
| Melyssa Boucher | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $449.00 |
| Tubelox for Tech Class | ||||
| Building with Tubelox for tech class utilizing blueprints for critical thinking, creativity, building through STEM. | ||||
| Carol Clark, Carolyn Hayward | Greenbrook Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $416.70 |
| Mindfulness Cards | ||||
| 30 sets Mindfulness kids cards. | ||||
| Karen Kinsey | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $295.00 |
| IPVO Wireless Projector | ||||
| IPVO Wireless Projector for work sample display within the class and class to class. 1st Grade. | ||||
| Patricia Del Guercio | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $295.00 |
| IPVO Wireless Projector | ||||
| IPVO Wireless Projector for work sample display within the class and class to class. 1st Grade. | ||||
| Kristine Kaufman-Marut | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $295.00 |
| IPVO Wireless Projector | ||||
| IPVO Wireless Projector for work sample display within the class and class to class. 1st Grade. | ||||
| Terri Wells | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $295.00 |
| IPVO Wireless Projector | ||||
| IPVO Wireless Projector for work sample display within the class and class to class. 1st Grade. | ||||
| Engy Shaaban | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $295.00 |
| IPVO Wireless Projector | ||||
| IPVO Wireless Projector for work sample display within the class and class to class. 1st Grade. | ||||
| Debbie Bevan | Greenbrook and Brunswick Acres Elementary Schools | Collaborative Grant | 2019/2020 | $854.50 |
| Resources for Multi-Sensory Instruction | ||||
| Additional resources for the Orton-Gillingham multisensory reading approach which are not provided in the OG kit. | ||||
| Tatiana Median | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $449.00 |
| Hi-Lo Books and Graphic Novels for ELL Students. | ||||
| Carrie Friedman, Kelli Craparotta | Dayton Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2019/2020 | $600.00 |
| Sensory Path | ||||
| Sensory path for the hallway to provide interactive learning space for children with sensory deficits. | ||||
| Ellen Gehringer | Constable Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2019/2020 | $349.63 |
| Integration of Art to Strengthen Reading Comprehension | ||||
| Integration of art to increase engagement of the text, strengthen comprehension and expand critical thinking. | ||||
| Erica DeWitte | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2019/2020 | $1,000.00 |
| Robot Kit | ||||
| Robot kit for First Tech Challenge competition for Tech class. | ||||
| Kristin Ippoliti, Pam Hernandez | Constable Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2019/2020 | $659.94 |
| Revamping Book Closet | ||||
| Funding for revamping the book closet with more global and cultural diversity texts. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Katina Ewaskiewicz | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.00 |
| Wireless Projector | ||||
| Tracy Kociolek | Constable Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.00 |
| Wireless Projector | ||||
| Ellen Kazar | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $598.00 |
| Wireless Projectors | ||||
| Jill Ward | Monmouth Junction Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.00 |
| Wireless Projector | ||||
| Jennifer Kipnis | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $598.00 |
| Wireless Projectors | ||||
| Kristin Mallon | Cambridge Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.00 |
| Wireless Projector | ||||
| Suzanne Tiedemann | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.00 |
| Wireless Projector | ||||
| Sara Boscaino | Crossroads North Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $735.16 |
| Project LIT | ||||
| Diverse and culturally relevant books for 8th grade Project LIT. | ||||
| Susan Berkey | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $494.20 |
| Culturally Relevant Literature | ||||
| Diverse and culturally relevant books for 7th grade literature circles. | ||||
| Autilia DiPalma | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $359.80 |
| Adaptive Gym | ||||
| Adaptive gym equipment fo life skills students. | ||||
| Lauren Sierotowics, Beth Nebenhaus, Courtney Franzyshen | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $299.94 |
| Echo Dots | ||||
| Echo Dot classroom implementation. | ||||
| Cristina Janis | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $500.00 |
| RENT for HiTops | ||||
| Tickets to see Rent for HiTops to further lessions on homophobia/transphobia & the spread of STIs. | ||||
| Lisa Cirone | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $478.00 |
| iPad | ||||
| iPad for Math | ||||
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $986.84 |
| Making of a Makerspace | ||||
| STEAM Makerspace using Dot and Dash Robots, 3D printer. | ||||
| Andrea Ebbinghausen, Lauren Bierman | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $421.08 |
| Fidgets for the Fidgetor | ||||
| Fidget manipulatives for kindergarten students. | ||||
| Karen Delcampe | Monmouth Junction Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $497.11 |
| STEM for Preschool | ||||
| Using STEM to increase innovative thinking. | ||||
| Rachel Kline, Ronald Ulshafer | Cambridge Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $992.41 |
| Exploration Station: Preschool STEM | ||||
| Exploration Station for STEM through multisensory learning. | ||||
| Raymond Ostrowski | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2018/2019 | $412.00 |
| Healthy Hearts | ||||
| Bridge to increase the sensor range of the heart monitor system in the gym, taken outside as well. | ||||
| Melissa Caruso | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $800.00 |
| Engaging Students in Collaborative Problem Solving | ||||
| Breakout boxes that consist of immersive learning games for ELA, Math, and team building. | ||||
| Pilar Nunez, Melissa Feliciano | Crossroads North Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2018/2019 | $1,000.00 |
| Diverse and Relevant Books | ||||
| Diverse and culturally relevant books for 6th grade literature circles. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Erica DeWitte | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $1,000.00 |
| Intro to Robotics | ||||
| Robotics team, using Mindstorm Robot, will fulfil a mission to create three new types of robots (driving, walking/crawling & jumping) that perform life-saving tasks. | ||||
| Rae Wine, Tracey Conroy | Crossroads South Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $845.85 |
| Sustainable School Store | ||||
| This project's main objective is to teach real-world job skills to students with special needs and significant disabilities. The school store will help generalize and support their vocational training they have learned in the classroom. The students will be in charge of mantaining, managing and working the school store for the other students in the building. They will use functional money, social skills, executive functioning skills and behavior basics to help sell school supplies to other students within the school community. This will also help facilitate the inclusion of students with significant disabilities into our school community, and provide character education through a natural setting to general education students. | ||||
| Marcia Walker | District Elementary Schools | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $989.00 |
| Elementary Gifted and Talented STEAM | ||||
| Pioneering the use of 3D printing in the Gifted and Talented program in each of the seven elementary schools. This technology will enhance student learning as it will allow students to design and build 3D models related to their respective STEAM projects. | ||||
| Jenna Shuster | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $988.83 |
| Life Skills Sensory Integration | ||||
| The Life Skills Sensory Integration project will help fund the purchase of sensory items such as Thera putty, body sock, manipulatives, and storage. The sensory items will be integrated into students' schedules to help support them behaviorally and academically. | ||||
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $501.70 |
| Echo Dots, Echo Show | ||||
| As information gathering for technology continues to evolve in the real world with artificial intelligence, so should our classrooms. I am writing a school wide grant for echo dots and an echo shows to be used in the classrooms and media center. I have experience with the echo dot which is solely auditory. I would like to explore the possibilities of the Echo show, which has a screen. | ||||
| Cindy Patrych | Dayton Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2017/2018 | $499.37 |
| Self-Regulation with Sensory Tools | ||||
| The intention of this project is to make resources (fidgit tools) available through the school counselor to help students with self-regulation. These resources will provide the sensory stimulation that some students require in order to focus in class. | ||||
| Michelle Morris, Jill Niebling | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $680.49 |
| Unique Learning System | ||||
| Unique Learning System, is an award winning standards-based curriculum specifically designed so that students with special needs can access the general education curriculum. This personalized system allows teachers to spend more time engaging students in valuable learning time by providing differentiated lesson materials, detailed lesson plans, standards alignment, engaging technology, and evidence-based strategies with data-driven results. | ||||
| Lisa Manganello, Jillian Trader | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $549.00 |
| SBHS We Video Pilot | ||||
| A one year subscription to WeVideo.com to use with the students enrolled in Writing for Film and Media in the 21st Century class as a pilot for a possible high school subscription. WeVideo.com is an innovative product that will better support the filming and content creation required by the course curriculum because all content resides in the cloud. | ||||
| Autilia Dipalma, Sondra Hinson | Crossroads South Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $689.12 |
| Access: STEAM | ||||
| Access: STEAM is an innovative way to "encourage excellence through creative teaching and learning." Projects will vary from designing and creating structures to coding, programming and ultimately photographing all completed work. Students in the Life Skills and Multiple Disabilities classrooms welcome typically developing peers into their classrooms to collaborate, to create and to problem-solve, side by side. | ||||
| Karen Delcampe | Monmouth Junction Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2017/2018 | $486.96 |
| Multi-Sensory Light Panels | ||||
| Light boxes and panels are a motivating way for children with varying academic, social and sensory needsto explore their senses, and develop executive functioning skills as well as academic pursuits in both mathematics and language/literacy. This grant will be used to purchase light panels and materials to give students a multi-sensory approach to learning in a preschool disabilities classroom setting. | ||||
| Roseann Cetta, Kerri Kelleher | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2017/2018 | $758.80 |
| Technology Upgrade for Autism | ||||
| This grant will bring more technology into our Autism classrooms to support learning. With the purchase of interactive toys/iPad accessories (Osmo and Tiggly) in order to facilitate academic skill acquisition. Tiggly allows students to play with real toys while being simultaneously engaged in a digital world filled with educational opportunities. Osmo is another tool that incorporates physical play with the advantage of digital, real-time feedback. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $928.76 |
| Beebot Robots | ||||
| Introduction of Beebot robots (11 & mat) into the classroom to expose students to technology and coding. Can be used to reinforce other content areas of learning. | ||||
| Rachel Olszewski | Constable Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $295.27 |
| Beebot Robots | ||||
| Introduction of Beebot robots (4) into the classroom to expose students to technology and coding. Can be used to reinforce other content areas of learning. | ||||
| Marc Lifland | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $995.66 |
| Google Cardboard & Expeditions | ||||
| Technology to create virtual reality experiences in the classroom through Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions. | ||||
| Jennifer Abbey, Alisia VanLierop, Leslie Bock, Nicole Stafford | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $1,000.00 |
| Ozobots | ||||
| 18 Ozobots which teach the basics of coding. | ||||
| Donald Strusz | Crossroads South Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $997.00 |
| Ipad Pro for Digital Music Classroom | ||||
| Ipad Pro to assist in building an all digital music classroom. | ||||
| Jessica Patterson, Diana Vander Val | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $498.75 |
| Kinesthetic Materials | ||||
| Kinesthetic materials for each unit classroom to bebfit students who need to fidget during class. | ||||
| Kristen Konowicz, Barbara Nogueras | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $350.00 |
| Flexible Seating | ||||
| Flexible seating for special needs students. | ||||
| Karen O`Brien, Aliki Socratous | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $350.00 |
| Flexible Seating | ||||
| Flexible seating for special needs students. | ||||
| Kelli Zicha, Paula Lamprecht, Mellisa Lambert, Paige Rimmer, Barbara McCarthy, Allison Lipset Young | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $500.00 |
| Sensory Materials | ||||
| Sensory materials (exercise bands and kinesthetic tools) to assist the needs of struggling learners in different environments through the school. | ||||
| Jennifer Klein | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $178.02 |
| Fidget and Sensory Toys | ||||
| Fidget and sensory toys for students struggling with focus and attention in a co-teaching classroom. | ||||
| Madelyn Neufeld, Kim Hans | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $953.34 |
| Self Regualtion Loan Closet | ||||
| Self Regulation Loan Closet designed to offer a variety of sensory strategies for teachers. Includes such items as therapy putty, Koosh balls, and weighted lap pads. | ||||
| Rae Wine, Lizabeth Steady | Crossroads South Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $800.00 |
| Sensational Sensory Room | ||||
| Sensational Sensory Room for students with severe cognitive disabilities. Includes such items as a sound machine, vibrating pillow, and body sock to pronote sensory regulation. | ||||
| Vivian Scavo, Kimerly Perillo | Crossroads North Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2016/2017 | $650.00 |
| Active Learning Stools | ||||
| Active learing stools and adjustable height sit/stand desks to increase alertness and engagement for at-risk students. | ||||
| Rose Flahive | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $150.00 |
| Flexible Seating | ||||
| Flexible seating in the form of stability balls to offer alternative seating for students to help with focus and physical health. | ||||
| Lisa Cirone | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $498.87 |
| Flexible Seating | ||||
| Flexible seating and standing desks as well as yoga mats in order to help students re-focus and self-regulate in a special education inclusion class. | ||||
| Brandi Whitaker, Jessice Heine-Steele, Victoria Schwartz | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $493.11 |
| Flexible Seating | ||||
| Flexible seating to allow At-Risk groups to be engaged in movement while learning inside the classroom. | ||||
| Arianne Dowd | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2016/2017 | $356.00 |
| Breakout Edu Games | ||||
| Breakout Edu games to transform a classroom into and escape room to engage students in a collaborative, problem solving, critical thinking experience. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Kelli Craparotta, Maureen Turkiewicz, Jennifer Hilderman | Dayton Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $1,000.00 |
| Sensory Room | ||||
| Specialized equipment to offer sensory processing stimulation for preschool and dev delayed students. | ||||
| Lois Anzek | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $875.00 |
| Family Night Events | ||||
| Events to encourage home-school interactions. Funding for supplies will allow volunteer teachers to work with community. | ||||
| Amy Dixon | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $1,000.00 |
| Library Maker Space | ||||
| Materials to add to library to encourage STEM skills and creativity | ||||
| Rachel Atzert | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $1,000.00 |
| Achieving Wellness Step by Step | ||||
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $500.00 |
| Self Regulation Tool Box | ||||
| Aline Galvano and Dominique Talbot | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $500.00 |
| Sitting is the New Smoking / Alternative Seating | ||||
| Melissa Needles | Constable Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $250.00 |
| WeVideo | ||||
| Kelli Zicha andTina Neely | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $500.00 |
| Tools for Kinesthetic Learners | ||||
| Supplies to encourage struggling students to use equipment in order to move while learning. | ||||
| Misty Malanga and Michelle Terkildsen | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $250.00 |
| Mentoring Program- Teacher/Student Connection | ||||
| Motivational rewards for students who are mentored by volunteer staff. | ||||
| Aida Gibbard | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $500.00 |
| Alternative Seating Standing Desks for students who have difficulty sitting still. | ||||
| Patti DelGuercio, Cristin Basha, Karen Kinsey, Terri Wells, Karen O'Brien | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2015/2016 | $250.00 |
| Enriching Social Studies Content - Community Helpers | ||||
| New initative to introduce Community Helpers and become aware of the different roles people have in the community. | ||||
| Jennifer Leach, Judy Federowicz, Christine McMahon | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $1,000.00 |
| Learning in Motion- Hokki stools | ||||
| CJ Hendricks | Crossorads Middle Schools | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $1,000.00 |
| Archery Program Improvements | ||||
| Elaine McGrath | Crossroads Middle Schools and S.B. High School | Collaborative Grant | 2015/2016 | $760.00 |
| National Certification for individuals who coach at interscholastic level. Online certification programs. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Jeanne Yannacci | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $498.00 |
| Ipad for Differentiating Student Learning | ||||
| Kristin Konowicz | Indian Fields Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $500.00 |
| High Interest/Low LevelFiction and Nonfiction Reading Books | ||||
| Patricia DelGuercio and Terri Wells | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $855.00 |
| Digi Blocks to Develop Place Value Skills | ||||
| Kathleen Murphy, Misty Malanga, Kathleen McMillan | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $861.09 |
| Hunger Games Physics and Graphic Design | ||||
| Kelly Boyer | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $230.93 |
| The Fleet | ||||
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $499.75 |
| Raz Kids Subscription for Second Grade | ||||
| Melissa Caruso | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $834.00 |
| Fraction Unit Enhancement | ||||
| Leah Carson & Jane Sandberg | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $981.02 |
| Paired Texts: Building Comprehension | ||||
| Mariola Lawnick | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $1,000.00 |
| Educational Classroom Math and Language Arts Indoor Recess Games | ||||
| Karen Kinsey & Alasia Bedson | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $855.00 |
| Digi Blocks to Develop Place Value Skills | ||||
| Debra Bevan, Caroline Gonzales, Karen Harbison | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $996.00 |
| Personalizing Math Instruction with 21st Century Technology | ||||
| Maryanne Boehm, Colleen Eichenlaub, Cathy Werosta, Lorrie Costanza | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $978.50 |
| Non-Fiction Guided Reading Leveled Book Sets | ||||
| Kelli Zicha | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $175.00 |
| ELA Bundles for Grades 6-8 | ||||
| Kelli Zicha | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2014/2015 | $100.00 |
| Electronic Literature Portfolio (Partially Funded) | ||||
| Allison Arey, Jennifer Cole, Jessica Patterson, Jen Poli | Crossroads North Middle School | Collaborative Grant | 2014/2015 | $1,000.00 |
| Empowering Struggling Readers | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Raymond Ostrowski | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $280.00 |
| See Your Way to Fitness | ||||
| Tim Sweeney | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $800.00 |
| Touch Screen Monitors for Video Production Platform | ||||
| Liza Geddis, Cheryl Reardon, Kimberly Martin-Jones, Maha Hadi, Anne Farrinella | Deans Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $500.00 |
| Raz Kids Subscription | ||||
| Peri Sokol | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $500.00 |
| Technical Designer/Pattern Making Curriculum | ||||
| Mariola Lawnick | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $1,000.00 |
| Leveled Class sets of Guided Reading Books | ||||
| Patrice DaCunto | Constable Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $846.75 |
| Discovering Digi-blocks | ||||
| Joan Kee-Louie | Dayton Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $1,000.00 |
| Digi-blocks for Kindergarten Math | ||||
| James Angelus | Cambridge Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $500.00 |
| We Flip for Math! | ||||
| Kimberly Perillo | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $300.00 |
| Using SMART Responders to Enhance Student Learning | ||||
| Shaun Ruymen | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $900.00 |
| Advanced DSLR Shooting for Broadcast | ||||
| Amie Chando | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $489.00 |
| iPad for Resource Center | ||||
| Kelly Iadarola | Deans Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2013/2014 | $450.30 |
| Sensory Integration Materials | ||||
| Debra Bevan and Kim Fritsch | Constable Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $1,000.00 |
| SMART Response System | ||||
| Lorraine Caswell, Shanna Jelen, Chris McMahon, Jamie Murphy, Donald Sweeney | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $1,000.00 |
| Guided Reading Leveled Book Sets | ||||
| Brianna Logan | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2013/2014 | $1,000.00 |
| Viking Closet | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Ailish McGrath | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2012/2013 | $465.00 |
| iPlan: Plan Today for Financial Success Tomorrow | ||||
| iPlan: Plan Today For Financial Success Tomorrow will be an intricate part of the Personal Financial Management course. With the use an iPad, 21st Century technology will be integrated in the class' daily discussions. In order to effectively teach Personal Finance, teachers must help students understand how these concepts will affect their lives in the future. It can be challenging to keep students engaged and motivated about topics that will not directly affect them until later in life. These topics include home ownership. Insurance and credit. | ||||
| Michelle Amoia | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $970.00 |
| Wildlife Observation Area | ||||
| My project would create a Wildlife Observation Area at Brunswick Acres where students could observe living things in their natural environment. At least five outside observations are necessary to meet the K Science Curriculum, but outside of a field trip to a preserve, there are not many living things currently visible on the school grounds. I would build an "outside classroom" where students can have first-hand experience with nature. This would include a small pond that would attract turtles, frogs, and tadpoles, plantings that attract wildlife like hummingbirds, butterflies, and hover moths, and bird baths, feeders, and houses that would attract many varieties of birds during the different seasons. | ||||
| Debra Bevan | Constable Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| Second Grade Cubs Reading Club | ||||
| The Second Grade Cubs Reading Club will help increase the amount of time students spend reading independently and help promote a love of reading by providing a collection of new reading books for each second grade classroom library. The grant will also help make the classroom a more comfortable place to read by providing each student with a Cub Reading Club themed seat cushion as well as a tote bag for students to neatly store and organize their weekly classroom library selections. | ||||
| Christina Santowasso | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2012/2013 | $500.00 |
| Through My Eyes | ||||
| "Through My Eyes" is a digital initiative to teach Life Skills students how to take pictures and videos, and edit them using appropriate software. Throughout the semester students in the Life Skills Computer class will prepare three complete videos: Daily Journal, My Friends, and What We Do. Once completed, Daily Journal will contain still images, moving video, and a song edited together to depict several days of the student's experience while at school. My Friends will allow the student to interact with other students in the class. The students will take images and videos of their friends in the class, compile the images, and create a finalized video. As a finished product, What We Do will contain images and videos of the student working in Computer class. The images and videos for this project will be taken by the teacher and paraprofessionals in the class. At completion of the semester, each student will receive a DVD with their videos. Students will be encouraged to share their DVDs with their friends and families. | ||||
| Thea Dahlberg & Gail Magid | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| Early Childhood Digi-Blocks | ||||
| To provide 4 first-grade classrooms with Digi-Blocks to support the Core Curriculum Standards and the math curriculum of South Brunswick Schools. These blocks have been shown to assist students in forming a strong understanding of our number system and place value. | ||||
| Donna Sichta & Kathleen Kirby | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| Positive You! | ||||
| The Positive You! program, introduced last year as a pilot program, is offered to girls grades 8-12. It is designed to achieve a healthy lifestyle which includes developing a positive relationship with food and exercise while supporting emotional health. Our goals include turning down the volume on what society and the media tell us about how we should look. We plan to explore cultural influences, healthy food choices, realistic activity goals, and body image perceptions. This is not a weight loss program. The emphasis will be on creating a healthy lifestyle and a Positive You! | ||||
| Shaun Ruymen | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| Shooting DSLR Video | ||||
| Shooting DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera) video is the future of on location video production. The large sensors provide extremely sharp video quality while the speed of various lens aperture allow for any depth of field focus opportunities. We are currently limited to close range shooting providing limited opportunity for the capture of supporting 'B' roll for interviews. The purchase of an additional lens will not only solve our concern on range but will illustrate to students one of the main advantages of DSLR shooting: lens selection and interchangeability. Students will learn how to select the appropriate lens for shooting based on lighting, speed, and desired outcome. | ||||
| Brianna Logan | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| Viking Closet | ||||
| With great pride we are proud to present to you our project, the South Brunswick Viking Closet. It was established in February of 2012. Our goal is to make sure that no child or family in South Brunswick goes without the basic clothing needs. The "Closet" is huge undertaking for everyone involved and is run on the donations and volunteers from the community, students, staff and businesses. Since all our clothing and accessories are donated, we offer all our items for free with no questions asked. We believe the Viking Closet has become a very important outlet in enabling the community and businesses to reach out to families in need in their own town. The Viking Closet also provides countless opportunities for members in the school or community to volunteer. | ||||
| Susan Pazinko | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| SMART Responders | ||||
| Grant to receive a classroom set of SMART responders (25) for the use of innovative and immediate data collection. The entire school will have access to the SMART responders. The feature of printed assessments will allow the teachers to differentiate instruction for their students. The "Pie Chart" will also give immediate feedback as to how the class as a whole is performing on each skill. | ||||
| Carol Rodek-Gray | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2012/2013 | $389.00 |
| SMART Responders | ||||
| Grant to receive a set of (5) SMART responders LE for the use of innovative and immediate data collection. These will supplement the 24 remotes that Brooks Crossing is applying for. The entire school will have access to the SMART responders. The feature of printed assessments will allow the teachers to differentiate instruction for their students. The "Pie Chart" will also give immediate feedback as to how the class as a whole is performing on each skill. | ||||
| Lindsey Fischer (1st Grade Teachers) | Cambridge Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $995.00 |
| Sundance Book Library | ||||
| In order to supplement and complement our new Language Arts curriculum, we are requesting funding for additional leveled reading materials for our 1st grade classroom libraries. It is an expectation of the curriculum that the students read daily and choose appropriate books for their learning and enjoyment. Having these new non-fiction and fiction titles will challenge our students with diverse reading topics. In addition, it will provide our at-risk students with a larger variety of reading materials, thus giving them more opportunities to read appropriately leveled books and practice their reading strategies independently. The popular themes of the books will keep children engaged as they build background knowledge and develop content-area vocabulary. | ||||
| Kelli Zicha | Crossroads South Middle School | Mini Grant | 2012/2013 | $60.00 |
| Student Weebly Accounts | ||||
| As a 21st century educator, I plan to implement Weebly into my classroom instruction to highlight students' reading and writing. The student Weebly sites will act as student e-portfolios. Weebly will allow students to share their language arts work with classmates through the enhancement of technology. Weebly will allow students to gain confidence in their learning and strengthen language arts skills through student collaboration. Weebly is a free website and blog accessible. At the end of each novel unit, students complete a performance task. Students will be able to share this assessment with peers using Weebly. Together, we will update Weeblys in class using school laptop computers. Students will also be able to update their site from home. Computers will also be available for students during Prime Time and Common Time. The student Weeblys will aid students in the areas of reading and writing. Enhancing student learning through technology will help close the achievement gap as students engage in the learning process through 21st century means. In addition to student growth and achievement, both technology and 21st century standards will be consistently met. | ||||
| Jennifer Kipnis | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $998.00 |
| 21st Century Learning in Elementary Art Room | ||||
| As the art teacher at Greenbrook Elementary School, I always look for new ways to engage my students in their learning. Last year, the district was able to provide my art room with two second-generation iPads. The students were excited to have the opportunity to use them as another art medium, however having only two iPads to share among 20-24 students at a time presented quite a challenge. Unfortunately, not all students had the chance to experience creating art with this amazing tool. If we were able to purchase two third-generation iPads for the art room, more students would have the opportunity to create digital art and experience lessons that coincide with their 21st Century learning in the art room. | ||||
| Dr. Arvin Gopal | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2012/2013 | $1,000.00 |
| High quality audio & video recording for the SBHS Orchestra Program | ||||
| As the director of the S.B. High School program, I lead 4 different string ensembles in rehearsal on a daily basis. Recording our rehearsals and concerts is an invaluable teaching tool that allows the students to assess their own performances. A portable audio recording studio in addition to a handheld video recorder will provide the opportunity for instantaneous feedback in the classroom. as well as an archiving performances in and out of the South Brunswick school district. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Willa Laskowitz | Crossroads North Middle School | Mini Grant | 2011/2012 | $500.00 |
| iPad2 Web 2.0 Technology Proposal | ||||
| In today's diverse society it has become clearly apparent that one must constantly change and adapt with technology in order to develop a clear and concise curriculum. With this being said, I continually strive to achieve the goals of a 21st century classroom in my subject area. In order to do this, I feel that I am lacking of certain a necessary tool that I feel would be fundamental to my leaching in an advanced technological age, specifically that of an iPad 2. An iPad 2 would add to my teaching by providing me with the additional components to teach students web 2.0 tools, create collaborative projects and most importantly bring my classroom into an advanced technology stage. An added bonus of receiving an iPad 2 would be that I would be able to develop curriculum for my department that would be innovative and ground breaking since I would be the first one to cross that divide. | ||||
| Christina Santowasso | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2011/2012 | $500.00 |
| iHelp for Special Learners | ||||
| iHelp for Special Learners will be an intricate part of the Life Skills Computer Class at the high school. 21st Century technology will be integrated in the class's daily lessons using individualized learning stations. Students will focus on mastering difficulties they are having in the computer class using an iPad and Applications (Apps) designed specifically for students with special needs. Computers play a large part in our technological world but can offer some difficulty to students with special learning needs. By combining iHelp for Special Learners and computers, the Life Skills students will receive assistance where they struggle most in the class as well as in day to day activities. | ||||
| Catherine LaMoreaux | South Brunswick High School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $1,000.00 |
| Computer for Writing for Film and Media Class | ||||
| With a laptop computer obtained through a grant from The Education Foundation of South Brunswick Township, Writing for Film and Media in the 21st Century class will be able to produce the scripts they write using diverse technologies. The resulting projects will be shared with other classes in the school, South Brunswick senior citizens and the South Brunswick community. In addition, Public Speaking classes will be able to use the computer to film their speeches and create video portfolios. | ||||
| Christine Doles | Cambridge and Brooks Crossing Elementary Schools | Mini Grant | 2011/2012 | $247.78 |
| Social Skills Training/Character Education | ||||
| In an effort to teach children social skills, it is essential to provide feedback so they may learn from their actions. With a video camera, students would be able to role play certain scenarios and learn from their interactions. In addition, children can be taped in more natural situations such as playing a game with their peers and then reflect on their interactions. In addition, I plan to use the camcorder to tape students acting out certain situations and to use these role plays as a teaching tool for character education. Areas such as handling conflicts, differentiating between bullying and conflict, empathy, cooperation and self-control are all much easier for children to understand, if they can see students demonstrating the skills. | ||||
| Mirna Roney and Jennifer Alberta | Brooks Crossing Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $653.00 |
| iPad as a Resource for Special Education Students | ||||
| Technology is a valuable tool for both teachers and students. Through the use of technology, students become empowered and take a more active role in their learning. Additionally, technology allows teachers to transition from providers of information to facilitators, assisting students with their assignments rather than simply through instruction. Incorporating an iPad into the classroom allows students to experience reading and writing in an entirely new way and expanding critical thinking and problem solving skills in mathematics. | ||||
| Carol Piza, Robert Henning and Lynne Sultan-Weinstein | Monmouth Junction Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $1,000.00 |
| Student Leadership Initiative – "The Leader in Me" | ||||
| The purpose of this initiative is to promote a variety of leadership opportunities and experiences in our school community in order to expand leadership and leadership thinking at School. We intend to integrate the CARES curriculum into our plans to develop Student Leaders who are caring, assertive, responsible, empathetic, and who exhibit self-control (CARES). At Principal's Roundtable luncheons with fourth and fifth graders, students expressed an interest in becoming "upstanders" instead of "bystanders" and making a great school, even safer and better. Therefore, this initiative will offer content and strategies to help shape student leaders at our school. We want to teach our students to be respectful of one another. Since our student population is one that is culturally diverse, it is critical that students see our "sameness" as more important than our "differences". Three years ago, (we) launched a Student Council for the first time at the school. This leadership was embraced by students, family, and the Parent Teacher Organization. As such, we want to offer a greater variety of opportunities to teach students leadership skills beyond the opportunity offered for Student Council representatives. | ||||
| Suzanne Tiedemann | Brunswick Acres Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $998.00 |
| The iPad 2 Could Provide Numerous "App"ortunities for Artists | ||||
| I am the art education teacher for the entire population of 550+ Pre K- 5th grade students. We acquired one first generation iPad just before the end of the school year last year when we were invited to participate in the district iPad pilot. Most of my students were hoping to have a chance to use the iPad as a creative tool; however, having only one device enabled only a select few to have this opportunity. If we had two iPad2's in the art room, more students would be able to utilize this 21st Century device to create digitally in a variety of cross-curricular lessons. The iPad2 is also capable of running more extensive apps and features a camera that would enable students to incorporate photos and videos into their work. The iPad2 is compatible with the television and projector in the art room, which means that I could teach using mirror imaging. The first generation iPad that we currently have cannot do these things. | ||||
| Leah Carson and Linda Mills | Greenbrook Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $1,000.00 |
| Recess with a Purpose | ||||
| In an effort to increase gross motor skills, good sportsmanship, cooperation, assertion and other pro-social behaviors, we are requesting a grant to purchase equipment for all students to use during recess. This equipment has been selected to meet the needs, skills and interests of a wide range of ages and abilities. We believe that these constructive recess alternatives will reduce the number of misbehaviors on the playground. We further believe that an active, positive recess experience will support afternoon academics. | ||||
| Judy Adam, Tracey Ricco and Heather Christopher | District Elementary Schools | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $900.00 |
| Portable Pocket Projectors for Use with the Digital Generation | ||||
| As we travel around the schools from classroom to classroom delivering Tech Infused Project Instruction, classroom space and set up time is always an issue. To be able to plan, prepare and systematically deliver these tech lessons to all classes in the elementary schools and other classrooms throughout the District, we give ourselves only a few minutes to set up between classes. As we teach the students of the digital generation, we often use the technology available in the District: Smartboard, LCD projectors, Document Cameras, laptops and desktop computers, flip cameras, etc. We deliver these lessons as well as showcase the technology equipment they have in the schools. Moving from classroom to classroom setting up the classroom projector to our laptops (where we have prepared lessons) takes time. We need to disconnect what is in the classroom and reconnect all the wires/cables to our computers and set it back up when we are finished. Also, many times the delivery of these lessons requires us to be flexible in our use of schools' space. Other activities may be taking place in the same classroom or tech lab that was planned for these projects. The use of a Portable Pocket Projector would allow us instantaneous projection of the lessons from our computer to the wall, classroom screen, or Smartboard in any area at any time without the constrains of setup and disconnecting classroom equipment. More students will be seen, spaces are shared, and Tech Educators are able to create a 21st century learning space virtually anywhere | ||||
| Jennifer Kamm | Cambridge Elementary School | Collaborative Grant | 2011/2012 | $598.00 |
| Enhancing Learning With iPads | ||||
| As an elementary school teacher, I embrace technology in meaningful ways to enhance instruction. In January 2011, I was selected to attend a technology Think Tank for our district. The focus was to determine how kindergarten through second grade teachers could use new technology to enhance instruction. Based on my input, I am currently piloting five iPads in hopes that all kindergarten teachers in the district will receive five iPads each. I was one of the first to use a SMART Board and provided volunteer professional development sessions to my colleagues during lunch. I worked with both the assistant superintendent and director of technology to create a class blog, develop podcasts, use a document camera, and help students construct and present PowerPoint presentations. As a member of the district's Technology and 21st Century Learning committee, I am looking to enhance my instruction with the iPads by requesting one iPad 2 with a device called an Apple TV that would allow students to see what I am doing on the iPad 2 on a larger screen, such as the SMART Board. By getting these two pieces of equipment, I can not only use the iPad for individualized instruction, but I will be able to enhance my whole group and small group instruction. | ||||
| Grantee(s) | School | Type | Session | Amount |
| Gina Welsh | South Brunswick High School | Collabrative Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $1,000.00 |
| Ryan's Story Assembly Program | ||||
| Debra Bevan | Constable Elementary School | Mini Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $210.00 |
| Mountain Math & Mountain Language | ||||
| Rachel Atzert, Amy Bertelsen Robles, Allison Dubois and Jennifer Leach | Indian Fields Elementary School | Collabrative Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $997.00 |
| Sensory Kits | ||||
| Patricia Bramson and Donna Sichta | South Brunswick High School | Collabrative Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $1,000.00 |
| Healthy Living Program | ||||
| Kelly Boyer | South Brunswick High School | Collabrative Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $535.00 |
| Afterschool Peer Support | ||||
| Lisa Manganello | South Brunswick High School | Collabrative Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $1,000.00 |
| Flip for Technology | ||||
| Justin Negraval | South Brunswick High School | Mini Grant | 2011 (Spring) | $500.00 |
| Google Jockeying | ||||
| Total Collabrative & Mini Grants: $90,696.07 |