Grants Awarded for the 2016-17 School Year

1. Differentiation

Jason Peledge, HMS 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies/U.S. History Teacher

This new curriculum initiative supports the pilot of a stations-based model to differentiate for 7th and 8th grade Social Studies students at HMS.  This grant funds the purchase of materials to support this stations-based approach.  The goal of this added differentiation is to bridge the knowledge gaps of many Hanscom students and also to increase students’ engagement.  A stations-based concept can be more interactive and more individually tailored to specific needs.  
Click here to read the Grant Summary

2. Library Makerspace        

Alice Sajdera, Lincoln School Librarian

This new curriculum initiative supports the creation of a makerspace area in the Lincoln School Library with the purchase of materials and equipment.  A makerspace is a place where students and teachers have the opportunity to explore their own interests, learn to use tools and materials, and develop creative projects.  In a time when schools are more standards-driven and children have less unstructured time, a makerspace helps to counterbalance this by fostering independence, problem solving, collaboration, and creativity.

3. Lucy Calkins Conference

Joseph Columbo, Debbie Carpenito, Jennifer Mastrullo & Laura English
Smith School Teachers and ELL Specialist 

This professional development initiative provides funding for four teachers to attend the Lucy Calkins June Reading Institute in NYC from June 27th through July 1, 2016.  This weeklong institute is designed for educators who are committed to turning classrooms into richly literate reading workshops.  It will provide the opportunity to collaborate with professionals from both Teacher’s College as well as districts around the country in order to share best practices.  This will then be shared within the district in order to inspire colleagues to either begin or continue this work.

4. Hanscom MakerSpace

Becca Fasciano, HMS Science Teacher

This grant ties together a new curriculum initiative along with school community collaboration and professional development in order to provide funding to help equip a new makerspace area at the new Hanscom Middle School.  The goal of this makerspace is to create a shared space for the middle school that is dedicated to collaboration, creativity, and problem solving in order to provide student driven and project based learning to the entire middle school.  LSF funding will go towards materials needed for designing, building, and creating in the electronics and textile area.

5. Mindfulness & Yoga

Brian Garside, Smith School Social Worker and Jillian Daly, Smith School Teacher

This new curriculum initiative supports the creation of curriculum and resources to help encourage the use of yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation by both the students and faculty in the Smith School.  Based on staff surveys, it is clear that there is a need to address issues related to attention, focus, and managing emotions and stress. Yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation can positively impact colleagues and children in these areas.

6. Faces of Inequality and Urban Improv

Jason Peledge, HMS 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies/U.S. History Teacher

Building off of the grade 8 “Faces of Inequality” unit at HMS, this grant provides funding to host Urban Improv for both HMS and Brooks middle school students and teachers.  This will diversify the areas of inequality studied beyond socioeconomic and race, in order to address topics of LGBT, gender, and religious inequalities.  These presentations will serve as an entry point for discussing sensitive, personal topics and providing a common language for continuing these important discussions on both middle school campuses. 
Click here to read the Grant Summary