Foundation Grant Winners 2014-2015
Program Descriptions and Coordinating Teacher & Participating Teachers
District
Free Little Library
Susan Behn
The Little Free Library grant is a place where children are invited to borrow a book when they need
one and return it when they are done. It is also a place where people can share and recycle books that
they love but no longer read because they have grown out of them. The Little Free Library would be
mounted in front of three elementary schools, Oak Terrace, Indian Trail and Braeside.
Elm Place
Broadway Bound
Matt Taylor
This grant is an interdisciplinary project that incorporates General Music, Band, Orchestra, and Choir
classes as they explore the history and music of Broadway. Students will engage in various activities,
lessons, and units in each of these classes. The culmination of these learning experiences will be an
evening of performances and presentations that demonstrate the students understanding of what
they have learned.
Each teacher will begin their portion of the project at various times in the fall, but all subject areas will
work together for the culminating evening performance.
All students involved in the project will be part of the Elm Place’s 10 th Annual Arts Collaboration Night
Concert on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. All students’ work will be displayed.
Culture to Culture Club
Vanessa Dugo, Miriam Schuman
At Elm Place Middle School, The Culture to Culture Club grant is an extracurricular activity opened to
all students interested in exploring various regions and cultures of the world. Examples of such events
may include a focus on Latino culture during Hispanic Heritage Month in October, a Chinese New Year
celebration in January, or African stories during Black History Month in February. During this time,
students will meet twice during that month to research and plan events that may include sugar skull
decorating for the Day of the Dead, preparing a dish from a particular culture, or making decorations
to be displayed during Chinese New Year. In addition, special guests will be invited for the first three
quarters of the school year to lead the entire student body in activities centered around the culture of
the month.
Improv Workshop with Second City
Miriam Schuman
From this grant, professionals from Second City Chicago Training Center will present an assembly-style
workshop: Introduction to Second City Improvisation and Communication. This two-hour workshop
will take place in either the gym or auditorium and be given to all the seventh grade students with
their advisory teachers. Preparation materials and follow-up activities will be organized and
distributed to advisory teachers for implementation in small advisory groups during a regularly
schedule advisory time.
Edgewood
AE Reading & LEAP Book Buddies
Maggie Allard
This grant will be the duration of the school year, September through May. AE Reading students
would buddy with a LEAP student, practicing fluency skills by reading aloud picture books centered
around “Acceptance.” After the reading activity, students will take part in an activity or a craft that
practices the acceptance ideas from the given book while building relationships with his/her buddy.
Staff members will assist in the activities, while documenting our “Book Buddy Time” with pictures
and an AE Reading Reflection. These pictures will be made into short videos to be shared three times
during the school year (Nov., Feb., May) on the Edgewood Friday Video Announcements as well as the
district’s What’s Happening or “The View.”
Grand Prix
Nicholas Novak, Todd Wooten and Kim Allen
Seventh grade students will build and race pinewood derby cars as part of the physics unit in science.
Inherit the Wind Theater Adaptation
Maggie Allard
Eighth grade English students will partner with the Chicago Children’s Theatre for a curriculum
devising program centered on reading and performing the play Inherit the Wind.
No Child Left Inside
Anthony Candella
Students in the SAIL program will participate in a Geocaching treasure hunt incorporating
interdisciplinary skills including the use of technology and compasses to find hidden items throughout
the district.
Green Bay
Music Therapy Connections
Mirela Vesa
Special needs preschool students will build social and language skills with music therapy.
Indian Trail
STEMagination Station
Lindsey Petlak and Jenna Weinstein
Infuse engaging STEM challenges in kindergarten and fourth grade classrooms. These challenges
integrate Next Generation Science Standards to meet the appropriate level of each student.
Lincoln
Kids Tell it Write
Beth Kenar and Kim Wagner
Second grade students will partake in a hands-on, experiential writing workshop with a professional
story teller.
Red White & the Blues
Janet Lubetkin
Students will learn how classic blues developed and, in turn, how it influenced early rock music.
Guidance from a Music Institute of Chicago playwright and lyricist will help students write poetry, play
instruments and study art.
Northwood
General of Voices
Suzanne Sosnowski & Chrissy Mombela
Students will learn about US history and its effect on personal histories as reflected in literature. A
Spoken Word Open Mic Night will culminate the curriculum.
Roots Fest 2015
Sara Blumberg
School Wide celebration and study of cultural diversity. Active exhibitions of dance, music and art.
Think it, Invent it, Build It!
Nancy Fell Cohen
Inventor workshops fostering group and individual projects. Students will craft, among others, simple
machines, launchers, catapults, paper airplanes, forensic labs and laser labs.
Oak Terrace
CocinandoConMatematicas
Erica Brady
Discovery, practice and review of math principles through Cooking. Coursework to include cooking
safety, dietary planning, creation of cookbook and student written, performed and filmed cooking
show.
iPads AMPLIFIED!!!
Sound mixing and amplification of student created instrumentals.
Alicia Luthardt
Social Work Express
Beth Roberts
Using iPads and the Social Express application and guided by social workers and classroom teachers,
students on the autistic spectrum will model positive interactions with peers.
Ravinia
Active Seating
Colleen Butler
Fourth grade students will have the opportunity to use special exercise balls to stand, move and work
on the floor to experience an active learning environment.
Storytelling in Kindergarten
Amy March
Kindergarten students and classroom teachers will work with a professional storyteller to help
students listen actively and creatively respond to several forms of literature. Project will culminate in a
storytelling night for teachers, parents, students.
Red Oak
Glass Fusion=Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in Art
Melinda Donelan
Students will be introduced to emerging art fields of glass slumping and glass fusion, while
incorporating STEM activities in the classroom. In creating stained glass pieces students will learn that
scientists and artists have much in common in their work, in terms of planning and design.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: We Learn Together/
Kristin O'Rourke Salamanca
Mente Sana, Cuerpo Sano: Aprendemos Juntos
Dual language learners will enhance their language acquisition through music and movement
activities directed by a certified yoga teacher, working alongside their classroom teachers.
Sherwood
Bringing Stories to Life with Puppets
Helen Weiss
Puppets will be purchased for second graders to use in dramatic performances to re-enact and
recount fables and folktales they will read.
Poetry Day at Sherwood
Helen Weiss
Third and fourth graders will participate in an interactive workshop with poet Bill Buczinsky in which
they learn to write their own poems using a variety of techniques.
Sher-will Code!
Becky Heller
Computer coding sessions will enable interested students to learn coding empowering them to
become program and app producers rather than simply consumers. Coding mentors from Highland
Park High School will be on hand to assist students.
Wayne Thomas
Leap into Reading Skills with Leap Frog
Dorene Ochsner Johnson/Wendy Tepper
Leap Frog DVD videos will be purchased for students to borrow to use at home to foster a multisensory approach to early reading skills of Kindergarten and first grade students.
Wisconsin Fast Plants
Julianne Hettich
Wisconsin Fast Plants will be purchased for students to grow as part of their third grade science unit
on life cycles. Students will measure the plants, graph their growth, draw what they are observing and
share information with their peers.