Grant Projects Funded by the Binghamton City Schools Foundation
2008-2009 School Year
-
"Wilson Wares" ($750) - After noticing several needy students often wearing the same clothes to school day after day, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School teacher Patty Mangan proposed establishing an in-school clothing bank. The goal was to help these children feel better about themselves and to increase their self-esteem. The Binghamton City Schools Foundation awarded Patty a grant to purchase clothing racks, storage bins and used clothes, shoes and coats. The project was a huge success, and items were given to children on a daily basis. As the clothing bank became known within the school and the community
, it became self-sustaining and continues to receive donations of clothing and money to keep the project going.
-
"I Am America" ($1,700) - MacArthur Elementary School Librarian Lonna Pierce created an entire day of education and enlightenment for over 575 students, teachers, librarians and community members by inviting an award-winning author to visit. Charles R. Smith, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, worked with students to write their own poems and family histories, take photos and create artwork -- all centered on the theme of themselves as individuals. Mr. Smith also conducted workshops, met with staff and presented a community forum that evening. The project provided students with an African-American role model who encouraged them to celebrate themselves, their families, their communities and their country.
-
"Seasonal Changes and Planting at Camp Sertoma" ($1,100) - This project, proposed by Horace Mann Elementary School teacher Dyan Andrew, gave 75 first-graders a fun learning experience across many curriculum areas while also providing them with the opportunity to participate in a community service project. The students and their teachers visited the Binghamton Boys and Girls Club Camp Sertoma twice in the fall of 2008, to plan a garden project, clean and prepare the areas and plant flower bulbs, In the spring, the students made three trips to plant annuals, finish their beautification efforts and enjoy a picnic and day of crafts, Indian lore, horseback riding and other camp activities. The project integrarted math (measuring and plotting the garden areas), science (learning about soil and how plants grow), art (creating pictures depicting their finished work) and health/fitness lessons (learning about physical activities and healthy lifestyles).
-
"Mentoring Program" ($700) - Recognizing that middle school students are at a very vulnerable and impressionable time in their lives, teacher Denise Whidden created a mentoring program at West Middle School. Staff members identified "at-risk" students and paired them with an adult staff member who volunteered to serve as the student's mentor. Almost 70 students were paired with mentors (several mentors volunteered to work with two students) and their activities involved regular one-on-one time together as well as special activities with the entire mentor-mentee group, such as bowling trips and pot-luck luncheons. The program gave these students a committed adult friend in the school for talking, listening and helping. The funds granted were used for two bowling trips and two luncheons, which helped to strengthen the relationships between the mentors and the mentees.
|