FREEHOLD — Reading projects, dancing programs, music software and cyber world instructional DVDs are just a few of the projects students in Freehold Borough schools will participate in following the awarding of grants from the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation.
According to Jean Holtz, who chairs the group, the foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over the years the foundation has provided a total of almost $75,000 to underwrite mini-grants and other special requests for the Freehold Borough K-8 School District.
This year the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation will present $12,674 in grants, according to Holtz. She said the majority of the funds that are raised by the foundation come from sources that have no direct connection to the schools.
“Contributions are given to us by businesses, individuals, community stakeholders and others who simply understand the value of public education and give freely to support that cause,” she said.
Holtz said the foundation also receives contributions from parents, teachers and school administrators.
Grants this year include a $185.70 award to a kindergarten teacher at the Park Avenue Elementary School, Linda Talerico, for her project “Homeward Bound.” According to Holtz, Talerico wants to send between 25 and 30 math and language arts games home with pupils on a rotating basis so the youngsters can be engaged by other family members in these educational activities.
Michael Reed and Kathy Lindquist, seventh grade science teachers at the Freehold Intermediate School, received a $1,500 grant for “The Big Picture — Giving Back to Freehold Intermediate School.”
Students will transform the empty courtyard into an inviting outdoor space where pupils can study, spend free time or hold class. Students will learn about horticulture, life cycles and ecosystems through the creation of the outdoor space.
Wendy Buchanan, a fourth grade teacher at the Park Avenue Elementary School, and librarian Joan Murphy received a $2,678 grant (for the Park Avenue and Freehold Learning Center elementary schools) for “Lights, Camera, Research.” The project involves students creating an instructional DVD to teach research processes to third, fourth and fifth grade pupils.
Second grade bilingual teachers at the Freehold Learning Center will receive a $1,049 grant for “Help Me Read,” which is designed to offer students an online educational reading program created by Scholastic Books. The program is based on fiction and nonfiction books and is fun, educational and technology based, according to the teachers’ application for the grant.
Joshua Goldberg, a fourth grade teacher at the Freehold Learning Center, will receive a grant in the amount of $750 for a large screen projector for a computer video monitor and speakers.
“Unlike many surrounding school districts, ours cannot support these simple equipment requests. It is these kinds of requests that the foundation clearly understands the financial need it is fulfilling,” Holtz explained.
Four first grade teachers at the Park Avenue Elementary School, Megan Geiger, Janaina Lasota, Rhonda Palatiello and Christine Stewart, will receive a $1,500 grant for “1st Grade Book Bundles.” The teachers will create bundles of nonfiction and fiction
books for students to take home in order to promote reading. Holtz said a stuffed animal, or “book buddy” related to the topic will be included in each bundle.
Music director Eric Gross will receive a grant in the amount of $750 for “Smart Music,” which is educational software designed to make practicing musical instruments at home more fun and more effective. Holtz said the software Gross will purchase has been proven to help students develop their musical skills at an increased pace.
Another project, “Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms,” was submitted by Freehold Learning Center teachers Chris Naspo, Heather Jessurun, Josh Goldberg, Antonia Shriver and Beth Vaughn.
Holtz said the teachers worked to come up with an innovative way to combine the power of music, the latest dance moves and the scientific method to motivate students to embrace the arts, fitness and science.
“A $4,261 grant from the foundation will provide equipment (for the project), including a Dance Dance Revolution machine and six practice pads for what is probably one of the best thought-out proposals we have received,” she said. “This group of teachers hopes to counteract the neglect for creativity and feel for expression that high stakes standardized testing fosters in a structured learning environment.”
Holtz said this program will also set fitness goals to help deal with what she said is a national epidemic of childhood obesity.
“Dance Rhythms to Bio-Rhythms” will offer exercise, the setting of personal fitness goals and the monitoring of a student’s progress through biofeedback data, offering a practical application for understanding the scientific process. Students will also gain a better appreciation for the performing arts, according to the application submitted by the teachers.