Preparing Today's Children for Tomorrow's World

District Calendar At-a-Glance

Binghamton City Schools Foundation Awards 12 Grants for 2010-2011 Projects

Over $12,200 was recently awarded by the Binghamton City School District Foundation to fund 12 projects proposed by teachers and staff of the district.  The projects, to be completed in the 2010-2011 school year, include:

• Cooking Class (proposed by Roosevelt Elementary teacher Amy Nugent) - Mrs. Nugent's special education class will learn, first hand, how to plan and prepare meals.  Math lessons will be incorporated in the project as students learn to read recipes, plan purchases, make grocery lists and then prepare the food.  The students will create a cookbook based on what they have learned. 
  

• High School Mentoring (proposed by Binghamton High School Guidance Counselor Rick Gouldin) - This program is an extension of programs that exist in both of our middle schools.  "At-risk" students are paired with faculty members who volunteer to act as a special friend and role model.  The grant funding will allow program participants to have a kick-off party in the fall and a cookout in the spring.
  
• Super Tuesday (proposed by Wilson Elementary teacher Patty Mangan) - To improve the literacy and language skills in Mrs. Mangan's kindergarten class, parents will be encouraged to visit the class weekly to learn literacy games and activities that can be used at home with their child.  The grant will pay for language games, books and materials that families can borrow.
  
• Medieval Feast (proposed by MacArthur school librarian Lonna Pierce) Throughout the month of December, MacArthur students will experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Middle Ages as Mrs. Pierce brings this time period to life.  Costumed jugglers and dancers, a Madrigal choir and even a knight in shining armor will perform for the school.  The month will culminate in a Medieval Feast fit for a king!
  
• Parent Academy (proposed by Horace Mann Elementary teacher Suzanne Souza) - Mann teachers will plan a special open house to encourage parents to feel comfortable visiting the school.  The open house will serve to establish a rapport between parents and the school staff, which will help them become more involved in their child's education.  The grant will fund babysitting, books and materials and door prizes to encourage attendance.
  
• Planting at the Boys and Girls Club (proposed by Horace Mann Elementary teacher Dyan Andrew) - Approximately 70 first grade students will learn about community service as they develop their gardening skills and their understanding of how things grow.  Students will put their skills to use by planting shrubs, saplings, bulbs and annuals at the new Binghamton Boys and Girls Club on Clinton Street.
  
• West Mentoring (proposed by West Middle School teacher Denise Whidden) - This is a continuation of a program funded by the foundation in the past. Students are paired with staff volunteers, building a relationship and learning from each other.  The entire mentor group gets together for luncheons, bowling trips and outings to the corn maze and Roberson Museum.
  
• Reading Bags (proposed by Wilson Elementary teacher Aubrie Smith) - This project will provide every Wilson first grade student with a Literacy Bag to take home once each month.  Included in the bag will be books at the students' level, plus research-based activities that the student and his/her parents can use.  The grant will pay for the bags, books, puzzles and other literacy games.
  
• Language to Life (proposed by East Middle teachers Kaycee McHenry and Jessica Monahan) With the help of this grant, East students taking a foreign language will practice their language skills by creating menus, passports and travel brochures in the language of study.
  
• Wilson's Garden (proposed by Wilson Elementary teacher Kristina Goodrich) - Through a foundation grant last year, students in Wilson Elementary School's "Garden Growers" Club and their families have been actively involved in building a raised bed schoolyard garden.  The grant this year will fund plants, garden tools and equipment needed to expand this worthwhile educational project.
  
• Art Flags (proposed by Binghamton High School teacher Sarah Ainsworth) - Students in the BHS Graphic Design classes will work in teams to design eight banners representing the eight academic disciplines within the high school.  The double-sided banners will then be professionally constructed and hung on poles outside the school. 
  

• Mets Move/Let's Move (proposed by West teacher aide Laura Acquisto) Students in the West Middle Mentoring Program are teaming up with the Binghamton Mets to create three Public Service Announcements about health and fitness.  The group is also planning a clean-up day at Binghamton's Rec Park and a flower planting day at West Middle.  Funds from the grant will cover materials and lunches during the work sessions.