Grants Awarded

Submitted by Dr. Matthew Miranda, Forrestdale Art  Teacher; Dr. Erin O’Connell, Deane Porter Principal; and Vera Ridoux, Supervisor of Curriculum  

A Book Vending Machine, including a two-year supply of books, will be used by Deane Porter teachers and faculty as part of their student incentive programs that recognize individual accomplishments such as positive decision making, kindness, academic growth and leadership. 

Submitted by Brittaney Flynn, District Wide Assistant Principal; and the NJHS advisors  

The NJHS School Store Kiosk will be a mobile kiosk transported between Deane Porter and Forrestdale and managed entirely by the students of NJHS. Overseen by their advisors, students working the store will gain hands-on experience in skills like carrying out transactions and inventory management. They’ll also develop crucial soft skills such as teamwork, responsibility, leadership, and customer service. The store will be stocked with essential school supplies. 

Submitted by the Forrestdale STEM Teachers and Brittaney Flynn, District Wide Assistant Principal  

The iRobot Root Coding Robot will be used as part of the 7th grade STEM curriculum to provide a platform for delving into essential concepts of computer science. With a user-friendly app, students create code to manage the robot’s movements, sensors, and lights, making learning the fundamentals of algorithmic thinking, programming logic, and debugging an engaging experience.  

Submitted by Jesse Johnson, Forrestdale Science Specialist  

ClassVR (Virtual Reality) is an immersive virtual reality platform. Leveraging the power of VR will help to transform traditional science education into engaging and interactive experiences. ClassVR  allows students to conduct virtual experiments that would be impractical or dangerous in real life.  Students will witness firsthand the wonders of the universe, from the surface of Mars to the depths of the ocean. Training costs will be supported by the PTO innovation fund. 

Submitted by Dr. Marla Beil, Math Interventionist 

This program involves the use of picture books that have a direct connection to specific math topics, bringing real world application and problem-solving skills of math into the classroom, helping students to better understand math concepts. These books will be used with intervention groups and included as part of a “Math Library” for all kindergarten through 4th-grade teachers to use to support students. 

Submitted by Bridget Albrizio and Jodi Cocchiola, Deane Porter Reading Specialists  

The addition of Smart Boards in the interventionist classroom and two new specialist classrooms will facilitate interactive lessons that actively engage students, allowing them to participate through touch-based activities, multimedia resources, and collaborative tools. This hands-on learning experience helps maintain student interest and fosters a deeper understanding of material.  

Submitted by Krisanne Zajac, Deane Porter Nurse, and Sandy Self, Learning Disabilities Consultant  

The otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screener is a  portable hand-held unit that uses a small probe,  fitted with a sensitive microphone that when inserted into the child’s ear canal measures hair cell function in the inner ear. An emission refers to the sound generated within the normal cochlea of the ear in response to stimulation. It does not require a behavioral response from the child, allowing very young children and those with special needs to be assessed accurately and efficiently. 

Submitted by Lu Holmes and Robin Gordon, Forrestdale  Physical Education Teachers; Danan Robinson, Community Member

Pickleball equipment, including paddles, nets and balls, for the Forrestdale School Physical Education program adds another racquet sport/activity for students in grades 4-8. The middle school programming is designed to include over 30 activities for students to participate in, with hopes of increasing lifetime activities that they can be engaged in well after their schooling ends. 

Submitted by Dr. John Bormann, Superintendent of Schools 

The goal of this project is to continue with the installation of flexible furniture throughout the district. This grant supports the furnishing of classrooms in Grades 7, 8, and Kindergarten to match the renovations the Board of Education is making to those classrooms.