The Bedford Education Foundation is proud to announce the funding of seven grants in our Fall 2016 grant cycle, totaling $5,300. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients! To date, the BEF has funded $180,000 towards creative and innovation projects in the Bedford Public Schools.

GRANTS FUNDED AT DAVIS SCHOOL

Davis School teachers Jennifer Wayne-Bartlett, Deborah Davies, and Carly Harary were awarded a $365 grant to support their Next Generation Shared Reading program. Shared reading is interactive reading that occurs when all students can see the print and read the text in unison. The grant will be used to purchase oversized books and eBooks for their first grade classrooms.

Sema Arakelian and Deborah Davies were awarded a $900 grant to start a school-wide composting program at Davis School. This program will reduce the amount of garbage that Davis School produces, supplement the soil in the Davis School garden, and help teach the students about the importance of caring for the earth as well as the science of composting.

Reading Interventionist Julie Sutton was awarded a $700 grant for several storytelling kits for the Kindergarten classrooms. Each kit features a big book, plus all the props the students need to retell the story—from hand puppets to soft-stuffed characters.

Special Education teachers Caitlin Hall and Alison Hannah were awarded a $600 grant for materials to help their SAIL and CASE students access the Music curriculum. These electronic devices will allow students with limited verbal skills to participate in classroom routines, sing programmed rhythms, and play instruments. Students will benefit from seeing children of all abilities become participating members of the classroom community.

GRANT FUNDED AT JOHN GLENN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Sixth grade teacher Denise Breakall was awarded a $485 grant for two standing desks for her English Language Arts classroom. These desks will help students with excess energy manage it within the confines of the classroom.

GRANT FUNDED AT BEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL

BHS teachers Celia Gisone and Brittany Morley were awarded a $1664 grant for self-regulating and self-soothing materials and tools for students in the Bridge and SAIL programs. The tools and materials included weighted blankets, a light box, exercise balls, a freestanding punching bag, and a large collection of therapy toys and puzzles.

GRANT FUNDED AT THE INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL

Integrated Preschool teacher Shannon Babu was awarded a $600 grant for a collection of drums and glockenspiels to start a Musical Mindfulness program in the three preschool classrooms.