Parkland Education Foundation Awards 57 Grants in 2013

The Parkland School District Education Foundation has awarded 57 “Celebrate Innovation” grants— totaling more than $86,000—that aim to enrich the Parkland curriculum and benefit students, staff and the community.

The following information was provided by the Parkland Education Foundation:

Elementary Schools

In all, 11 awards totalling $20,095.49, were awarded as follows:

Ironton & Jaindl, Grade 5, Brian Mauerman/Damian Goodman - iPads for Inquiry Projects & Collaboration will create long distance connections with peers in the district and beyond, $1,160.96.

Cetronia, Grades K-5, Jodi Barndt - iPads for the K-5 Learning Support Classroom will provide a wide range of educational apps that allow students with disabilities to practice skills that align with the curriculum, $1,268.82.

Cetronia, Learning Support K-5, Kelly Stohl - Bring Your Own Device Initiative allows for a 1:1 student-device ratio in the Learning Support Classroom and will provide a vision for other teachers on how to implement the initiative in the future, $1,439.94.

Kratzer, Guidance K-5, Christine Bankos - 30 copies of the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty will be circulated among staff to gain a better understanding for lower income students and families, $600.

Ironton, Grades K-5, Matthew DeFazio/Heidi Wrobel - Partnering with the Parkland Garden Club, the Stallion Outdoor Classroom & Garden will demonstrate the journey of fresh produce from the farm to table. Funds will purchase tools, a small storage facility to house equipment, seeds, plants soil and a time lapse garden camera to document progress to students, $490.83.

Jaindl, Grades 3-5 Subscription, Andrew Meeker/Diane Nolfe - BrainPOP for Intermediate Grades is an engaging series of videos for elementary students encompassing all subject areas and aligned to curriculum standards. It also offers interactive quizzes and follow-up activities. All classrooms will be able to access the content, $1,495.

Jaindl, Grades K-2 Subscription, Julie Schultz/Lynn Kelly - BrainPOP Jr. is a web-delivered, multimedia learning tool for Primary Grades that delivers instructional content using animation, graphics, audio, text, and interactive quizzes and games. All classrooms will be able to access the content for the annual subscription, $1,200.

Jaindl, Vocal Music K-5, Lauren Kostovick - Mallets for Musical Palates will expand the school's classroom instrumentarium allowing for more student hands-on time with instruments, $1,500.

Cetronia 5th Grade, Christopher Mangan - Elementary Bring Your Own Device Pilot - Funding six Netbooks will allow for a 1:1 student-device ratio in 5th grade. Students will access and complete assignments on the course Moodle as well as experience enrichment and intervention on the devices in math and reading. The pilot will serve as a learning experience for other teachers across the school district, $1,439.94.

All Parkland Elementary schools, grades K-5 Elementary Physical Education teachers - Polar Tri-Fit Software License measures biometrics, body composition, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. The students can view the recorded information throughout their academic career in the district, $8,000 (one time fee).

All Parkland Elementary Schools, Art, Nancy A. Nahrgang - Rotating Art Collection - Pays for materials to continue the Parkland Administration Center exhibit that was cut from the general fund budget, $1,500.

Middle Schools

In all, 22 awards totalling $28,400.45 were given as follows:

OMS/SMS, Beth Breiner - Trojan Tech Wizards/Trojan Tech Team will help their peers and teachers by providing training and support in emerging technologies. Teams comprised of12 students and one teacher advisor at each middle school and will follow the successful PHS program model, $1,467.14.

OMS/SMS 8th grade, Nicole McGalla - Career Awareness Stipend for MS teacher – After being awarded a matching grant from the Western Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, this grant will provide a teacher stipend to develop a monthly career exploration program for 8th graders across the District by scheduling guest presentations by various corporations and industries across the Lehigh Valley, $500.

OMS Art, Kristi S. Robbins - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Spirit of Hope Mural Installation, $1,500.

OMS Library Media Center, Linda Benner - Using Reliable Sources-Don't Google It! allows for expansion of valid and reliable online resources that will aid student research, $1,500.

OMS 6th Grade Learning Support Math, Jill Miller - Scientific Calculators in the amount of $206.22.

OMS 8th Grade Language Arts, Darrin Evans - Study Sync Subscription includes full text and materials to reach all levels of student learning including videos, audio and printed text. It will be used to design alternative assessment options for individual learners to support student growth and understanding of literature in the curriculum, $700.

OMS Grades 6-8, Jason Henry - Defined STEM License is an online resource that simulates real-world scenarios to prepare students for college and 21st Century careers, $700.

OMS Music Dept. Grades 6-8, Jude Sandt - Jazz Band Festival Involvement pays for entrance fees and transportation to competitions and festivals, $1,500.

OMS Science 7th Grade, Thomas Bryant - Hooked on Science in the Parkland Environmental Lab will entail using barbless hooks that allow students to catch and release fish during a water study for hands on data collection using cutting edge technology, $1,458.

OMS 6th Grade, Dana Mancini/Barry Kishner - CPS Response System provides a variety of lessons in a non-threatening format and provides teachers with data necessary to adjust the curriculum, $1,500.

OMS 7th Grade Teams and Learning Support, Elsa Benincasa - CPS Response System provides a variety of lessons in a non-threatening format and provides teachers with data necessary to adjust the curriculum, $1,500.

OMS 7th Grade Social Studies, Daniel Helfrich and the Explorer Team - CPS Response System provides a variety of lessons in a non-threatening format and provides teachers with data necessary to adjust the curriculum, $1,500.

OMS 6th Grade Team and school at large, Joey Lee/Amy Boltz - CPS Spark System provides a variety of lessons in a non-threatening format and provides teachers with data necessary to adjust the curriculum, $1,500.

SMS 6th Grade, Wendy Albertson - Stand Up for Learning desks will be purchased for students who need to move during class to increase their academic success. Built specifically for children diagnosed with ADHD, the desk allows students to swing their legs and feet or to stand at their desk providing for a non-disruptive outlet for pent-up energy, $1,392.60.

SMS - 8th Mathematics, Rick Clee/Kevin Hallman/Kristin Yudt - Blended Learning-Math Prep & Pre-Algebra Classes Pilot includes 3 iPads and 8 iPad minis that will allow for a blended learning pilot designed to give all math prep students an engaging and enriching paperless math curriculum that includes the utilization of free education apps including Educreation, iMovie, BrainPop!, Dropbox, Edmodo, and Go Class, $4,429.

SMS Math, J. Haines, E. Kutteroff, L. Keller, K. Hallman, K. Guelich, K. Alford - 12 Netbook Computers will enrich math classes with warm up activities, fact practice, online manipulatives, lessons, assignments, and tests that allow for small group instruction and learning support initiatives, $3,375.

SMS 7th Grade Science, Noel Mahmood - Canon R400 Camcorder - a new updated video camera will allow students to produce a digital movie to compete at the State Computer Fair, $368.25.

SMS Grades 6-8-All Depts., Jason Henry - Defined STEM License is an online resource that simulates real-world scenarios to prepare students for college and 21st Century careers, $700.

SMS Learning Support-7th Grade, Abby G. Rutch - Class set of MP3 Players which includes mics to record student speech, teacher lessons, and assessments allowing for differentiated instruction for all levels of learners, $949.25.

SMS 6th Grade Reading/Social Studies, Suzanne Nelson - ELMO Mobile Document Camera allows the teacher to face students during brainstorming process and allows students to share work for the class to analyze and enjoy, $399.99.

SMS Technology Education, Darren Dravuschak/Bob DiGiacomo - Unisaw Guard for Technology Education Class will produce a safer, more productive and efficient work environment as the tool will allow students to make cuts themselves, $625.

SMS Music, James Tully, Smart Music for Assessment allows teachers to upload playing quizzes, tests and enrichment material that can be accessed in school and/or at home, $630.

Parkland High School

In all, 15 awards totalling $18,153.85 were given as follows:

PHS Students/Elementary World Language Experience, Jill Fuller - Elementary World Language Experience grant will subsidize cost of materials and fall and spring training for student teachers in this long-standing Parkland program, $1,000.

Library, Lauren Will/Carol Dickerson - Four Hero3 Silver Edition Lending Cameras will expand and update the video camera lending library currently available to teachers and students, $1,199.96.

Transitions/Life Skills, Amanda Keifer - iPad Minis for Life Skills - Technology has become a major tool for increasing independence for students dealing with autism, physical and intellectual disabilities. Students will use the iPad Minis to communicate better and teachers will use them to increase accessibility to the curriculum, $1,500.

English/Theater, John Greth - Black Box Lighting Package will allow students to design their own light plots and implement them in the classroom, allow students to stay up to date with industry standards and promote innovation in stage lighting as well as enhance the performance area in the high school, $1,499.93.

Middle & High School Art, Richard Shemonsky - Rotating Art Collection - Pays for materials to continue the Parkland Administration Center exhibit that was cut from the general fund budget, $1,500.

English/Broadcasting, Marilyn M. Stinebaugh - Portable Teleprompter will be used by sign language students in the TV studio and also in the field when filming occurs for Parkland TV and other district projects, $1,167.99.

Biology, Vincent Fugazzotto - Campus Beautification/Hanging Flower Baskets - Biology students learn the parts of a plant and spatial arranging, color and texture blending as well as take care of baskets that are hung around PHS grounds, $605.

Mathematics, Melody M. Stinner, Transitions to College Math Pilot allows students to take a college placement math test and then work through Math XL to self-diagnoses problems and provide tutorial help in content areas that are weak. The goal is to prevent students from having to take a remedial noncredit math course at the college level, $1,300.

Math/STEM Fuse, Brian Ding - Mobile APP:IT and GAME:IT course materials will be used in an apps development course to teach math, engineering, and physics concepts utilized in app and game development for iPhone and Android devices, $998.

World Language, Kellie O'Donnell - World Language Week materials will support the week that celebrates diversity and promotes cultural awareness and language learning for K-12 students and the community at large, $1,500.

Music Department, Dr. Scott Watson -Music Technology Lab Update will replace aging controller keyboards and sustain pedals, $1,330.