Grant History

2024 - 2025 School Year ~ $147,803 Awarded

Theater Arts, New Lebanon School (Year 4):  a comprehensive and expanding theater arts program, experienced by all K-5 students. More students and teachers are participating in every aspect of the assorted offerings. Students can partake in the after-school Theater Club, memorize dialogue for a Declamation Contest, perform in a school musical, experience live theater at Ridgefield Playhouse and work in-school with professional theater artists. “Bard in the Yard” Reader’s Workshop, a new addition in June 2024, brought New Lebanon costumed students outside to read and act out a bit of Shakespeare.

Theater Arts, Julian Curtiss School (Year 2) after a successful program launch in 2023-2024, students and faculty are excited to participate in and expand the full range of theater offerings. Students in 4-5 grades will partake in an after-school enrichment opportunity focused on the musical arts where they will learn, perform, and design sets and costumes. This production will be performed for their school community, family and friends. Other grades will take part in theater clubs and all students will take a field trip to see a professional theater performance.

Theater Arts, International School at Dundee (ISD) (New): modeled after the New Lebanon School Theater Program, ISD has designed a theater experience to expand arts enrichment for all students in collaboration with the PTA. Fifth graders will be showcased in a musical production in the Fall. There will be a Declamation Contest for 3 & 4th grade students and all students will attend a live theater performance.

K-5 Afters, Hamilton Avenue School (Year 2): all HAS students will have the opportunity to enroll in an assortment of free afters enrichment programs to spark curiosity and have some fun.  Programming will be offered throughout the school year.

After-School Enrichment for K Students, Hamilton Avenue School (Year 2): teachers and staff spent last year designing an after-school extended day program for K students. There are limited options for students only 5 years of age. This year, eligible K students will have a three-hour, full school year, after school academic and enrichment program which aligns with the school’s STEAM magnet theme. HAS will be able to meet the needs of working families looking for a safe space for their children with extended hours after school.

Middle School Science Bowl Teams, EMS, CMS, WMS (New): each middle school will bring together students who are interested in participating in an academic competition that covers STEM topics. Teams will practice after school with a teacher/coach and compete in four scrimmages in the district and the Regional Science Bowl at UCONN Storrs. Maria Buono, GHS Science Bowl Coach will act as the Head Coach.

BookBreak, all GPS K-8 Media (New):  BookBreak is a subscription service that broadens the access for all classrooms to converse live or watch a recorded audio with authors from all over the world. Participating authors have written both fiction and nonfiction titles and are carefully vetted by the company. GPS Media Specialists are very excited to be able to share acclaimed authors with all GPS K-8 students.

2023 - 2024 School Year ~ $93,500 Awarded

Expanding Sensory Room Capacity, Western Middle School (Year 2):  funds to purchase sensory enriching items/kits for use by teachers and staff in the classroom to help all students regulate their emotions right where they need it. These smaller pieces complement the Sensory Rooms created last year, which contain larger pieces of equipment and sensory items used by students for calming and self-regulation with their mental health provider, special education teacher and/or Occupational Therapist. 

Theater Arts, New Lebanon School (Year 3)exposes all NLS students (including PreK students) to the Theater Arts and continues to grow and expand both with student and teacher participation in all aspects of the program offerings. Students can partake in the after-school Theater Club, memorize dialogue for a Declamation Contest, perform in a school musical, experience live theater at Ridgefield Playhouse and work in-school with professional theater artists. In 2022, NLS was named a Connecticut State School of Distinction in the area of high growth with high needs populations in English Language Arts. The faculty links some of the recognition to the theater program which helps students grow with background knowledge, speaking and listening skills and confidence building.

Theater Arts, Julian Curtiss School (New) funding to offer the full range of theater experiences similar to the program at NLS. Students in 4-5 grades will partake in an after-school enrichment opportunity focused on the musical arts where they will learn, perform, and design sets and costumes. This production will be performed for their school community, family and community friends.  Other grades will take part in the Declamation Contest and all students will enjoy seeing a professional theater performance.

K-5 Afters, Hamilton Avenue Schools (New): All HAS students will have the opportunity to enroll in an assortment of free afters enrichment programs to spark curiosity and have some fun.  Programming will be offered throughout the school year.

Design of an After-School Extended Day Experience for K Students, Hamilton Avenue School (New): The grant allows teachers and staff to spend the year designing a program for kindergarten students that will enrich the STEAM academics at HAS and meet the needs of working families looking for a safe space for their children with extended hours after school. HAS has many four year olds in kindergarten and there are few programs that can accomodate this age group.

2022 - 2023 School Year ~ $133,500 Awarded

Nurturing the Body and the Mind – A Sensory Room, Western Middle School (New):  funds will be used to create a dedicated space for all students to regulate their emotions during school. There will be two rooms: a Calming Room and a Movement Space. These rooms use a variety of equipment to help students relax and calm down before returning to their regular classrooms. Social workers, special ed teachers, and OTs will also be available to provide aid and support for students.

Theatre Arts, New Lebanon School (Year 2): Building on last year’s success, this program exposes all NLS students to the Theater Arts. Students can participate in a Theater Club, a Declamation Contest, perform in a musical, visit a professional theater and work with professional theater artists. The program allows students to explore their passion for theater, build confidence and improve English language skills.

Multi-Sensory Room, Cos Cob School (New) purpose is to aid approx. 80-100 students (primarily special education) to have a better and more successful educational experience. The multi-sensory room provides a dedicated space available on a regularly scheduled basis for students to understand and regulate their emotions, which ultimately improves student motivation and focus in the regular classroom. There are approximately fourteen types of equipment – examples include a Ball Pool for sensory stimulation and body awareness and a Mood Wall Panel for understating emotional expression.

Science Beyond the Classroom – All Grades 1 & 2 GPS Students (New): This program will allow all grade 1 and 2 students in the district to further engage with science through organized field trips. First-grade students will visit the Bruce Museum while second-grade students will explore the Greenwich Audubon Center. Championed by the GPS K-8 Science Coordinator, the program will work with 1200 students, 63 teachers, 11 schools, and 2 community partners.

Outdoor Classroom, Hamilton Avenue School (New): The grant will fund the creation of two outdoor spaces for all Hamilton Avenue students and anyone in the community to use. One space will be used for outdoor recitals, read-alouds, and performances. The second space offers students the ability to work together at tables, improving their critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies.

Wave Broadcast Station, Old Greenwich School (New): The funds from this grant will be used to help fourth and fifth-grade students run a broadcast studio. The experience provides an opportunity for students to present weekly student news, current events, school activities, weather reports, and recognitions for students who follow school core values. The school principal is a strong supporter of this program.

2021 - 2022 School Year ~ $109,000 Awarded

Families as Partners, Hamilton Avenue (Year 3): building on the success of Families as Partners at Julian Curtiss and New Lebanons schools, this program will now be expanded to Hamilton Avenue School (HAS). At HAS the Families as Partners in Learning workshops and conferences will be used to build the important relationships that parents and teacher need to best serve student growth and achievement. The new understanding, skills and relationships will receive guided application with the rollout of the new math curriculum, a new STEAM project,  the SEL program, and the every day of teaching & learning.

Theatre Arts, New Lebanon School (New)Theatre Arts will be introduced to all 350 students at New Lebanon by a dedicated, long term teacher. The program provides enrichment, improves teamwork and offers after-school activities. The funds will be used to cover licensing costs for plays, staffing costs, sound equipment rental and to attend a play at Ridgefield Theater. 

RULER, Eastern Middle School (New): RULER is a Social and Emotional Learning initiative that is infused into the daily structure on a school with all teachers, administrators, staff and student involved.  RULER has been time tested through the Yale University Center for Emotional Intelligence and one of the leaders at EMS have been involved in implementing the program at another school.

VR Unbound Innovations, Western Middle School (Year 3):  Virtual reality technology enhances the educational experience for a variety of learners/learning styles and facilitates an innovative, immersive and interactive personalized environment with applications across all subject matters. The program has proven to be truly innovative with multiple options for scalability throughout WMS and to other GPS schools. The sponsoring teacher remains passionate and dedicated to making this program a success. The funds will be used to purchase additional equipment and software licenses to broaden the reach of the program. Learn more at this dedicated website.

Education and Wellness Center, Greenwich High School (Year 3): “The Center”, launched in Fall 2019, continues to grow and expand, serving 90+ students full time and others on a drop-in/as needed basis under the direction of a dedicated and committed team of teachers and staff. The Center provides social emotional learning, mental health and academic supports in one centralized location. Learn more here.

eSports Club, Greenwich High School (Year 2): eSports offers opportunities for students who are interested in competitive gaming, media production, data analytics, marketing, management, coaching and sports commentary to develop these skills. Over 150 colleges and universities are expanding eSport programs and offering scholarships. The GHS eSports Club started in 2018, attracts a diverse group of students and is increasing in popularity.  The funds will be used to purchase additional equipment to support two full competitive teams. Learn more here.

2020 - 2021 School Year ~ $126,850 Awarded

Julian Curtiss After School Program (Year 2): continued funding of Eagle’s Landing, a partnership between JC professional staff and Flex Academies providing a “safe” on-site after school program for at risk students in grades K-5. The program includes academic support, SEL development, enrichment & physical exercise. The first year of the program demonstrated solid measurable results for children who exhibit anxiety when transitioning after school.

The Developing Artist – EMS, CMS, WMS: has been bringing professional studio artists working in different mediums into the middle school art classrooms since 2017. The programs offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning about art and the world by exposing young artists/students to different methods of creating. Learn more at www.thedevelopingartist.com.

The Unbound Innovations – VR Makery, Western Middle School (Year 2): Virtual reality technology enhances the educational experience for a variety of learners/learning styles and facilitates an innovative, immersive and interactive personalized environment with applications across all subject matters. Funds will be used to develop and deliver professional learning sessions for WMS teachers to build awareness and capacity to integrate AR/VR technology and creation opportunities into their individual courses.  Learn more at this dedicated website.

Education and Wellness Center, Greenwich High School (Year 2): “The Center” was launched in Fall 2019 to address the growing need of GHS students to access social emotional learning, mental health and academic supports in one centralized location. The Center’s staff train other GHS staff, advise the GHS Houses, engage and educate the family; the students receive counseling from ESS counselors, enhanced Tier II services, assistance to develop personalized learning plans and create post secondary plans. This year the Center will also explore and develop connections with outside agencies. Learn more here.

eSports Club, Greenwich High School (New): eSports offers opportunities for students who are interested in competitive gaming, media production, data analytics, marketing, management, coaching and sports commentary to develop these skills. Over 150 colleges and universities are expanding eSport programs and offering scholarships. The GHS eSports Club started in 2018, attracts a diverse group of students and is increasing in popularity. The funds will be used to purchase additional gaming consoles to support the growing demand. Learn more here.

Families as Partners – Julian Curtiss and New Lebanon Schools (Year 2): continued funding of program to enhance family engagement and increase families’ sense of being a welcomed partner/valued voice in their children’s education. Parents are taught skills during multiple workshops focused on increasing support of their child’s at home learning. Pre and post test questionnaires are administered to gather feedback and provide follow-up with teachers and administrators in each building.

Putting an “A” in STEAM, Hamilton Avenue School (New): as a STEM magnet school, Hamilton Avenue aims to create an environment where Pre-K through 5th grade students can explore, problem solve and practice critical thinking skills. The addition of art to the STEM theme will help students learn to innovate and communicate in more effective ways as well as develop practical life skills. Funds will be used to purchase a variety of materials including Makey Makey Class Kits, Lily Pad Sewable Electronics and 3 Doodler Start Learning Packs for the Tinkering Studio (previously funded with an Alliance grant).

Horizons at Brunswick School Student Enrichment Program (Year 4): helps free/reduced lunch eligible Greenwich public school students improve their educational outcomes in a 6-week summer session and Saturday school year program. During the summer of 2020, learning took place virtually for the 118 boys in K-7 grades. The grant was used to help fund a math interventionist, purchase non-fiction and fiction books for all grades and provide other supports needed to deliver a robust curriculum in a distance learning setting.

Bridge to Success, Boys and Girls Club (Year 3): an intensive tutoring program under the umbrella of the BGCG Academic Success cohort of after-school programs designed to help reduce the achievement gap for club members in the 5th through 8th grades. BGCG works in close alliance with the Greenwich Public Schools to identify at risk students and develops targeted  personal learning outcomes for each participant. Identified students receive two hours of support per week, one hour-long tutoring session with a certified teacher and a second hour long session using an adaptive computer tutoring program.

 

2019 - 2020 School Year ~ $239,000 Awarded

Peaceful Playground, Riverside School: funds to purchase new playground equipment designed to promote better utilization of the blacktop area and provide a safe, all-inclusive environment that fosters a strong social emotional learning community.

Julian Curtiss After School Program: funds to support the development, in conjunction with Flex Academies, of a school-based after school program for at risk students in grades K-5. The program includes academic support, SEL development, enrichment & physical exercise.

The Developing Artist – EMS, CMS, WMS: This program brings professional studio artists working in different mediums into the art classrooms, offering an interdisciplinary approach to learning about art and the world by exposing young artists/students to different methods of creating.

The Unbound Innovations – VR Makery, Western Middle School: purchase of virtual reality technology used to enhance the educational experience for a variety of learners and learning styles. The VR technology will facilitate an innovative, immersive and interactive personalized environment with applications across all subject matters.

Windrose Elective Experience, Greenwich High School: will enable teachers and staff to research and design a personalized elective experience for Windrose students. Electives will align with student interests and bring together career and academic topics in a project-based learning structure. (Implementation postponed to the 2020-2021 school year.)

Strong Beginnings, Greenwich High School: program identifies incoming 9th graders who require additional support in the transition to GHS. Students attend a 2.5-day specialized orientation program and continue to meet during the school year with an “advisor/mentor” during a scheduled mentor group block time.

Education and Wellness Center, Greenwich High School: the revamped center will provide coordinated on-site services to GHS students including mental health, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports. The Center will be the organizational and structural hub for all these services; centralization will result in the restructuring and streamlining of current services to improve the systematic coordination of care. Learn more here.

Family Engagement, Greenwich Public Schools: grant for the development and implementation of a framework and activities for ongoing purposeful dialogue between families and educators as partners to support students’ academic, personal, and interpersonal growth. Two elementary schools will participate in the 2019-2020 academic school year field test.

Dare 2 Care, all GPS Schools: program focusing on developing social emotional learning skills (SEL) in students in order to create a safe learning climate in all schools, including teaching mindfulness and promoting the district norms. This grants provides funds for additional teachers to be trained in classroom mindfulness practices. (Grant was rolled over to the 2020-2021 school year.)

Greenwich Odyssey of the Mind: an extra-curricular activity that teaches students to apply effective problem-solving techniques, in a creative and fun setting and fosters team-building skills, creative thinking and problem identification/resolution. The grant funds needs based scholarships.

Horizons at Brunswick School Student Enrichment Program: helps free/reduced lunch eligible Greenwich public school students improve their educational outcomes in a 6-week summer session and a Saturday school year program. Funds will support a math interventionist, books for the K and 6th grade libraries, expanded STEAM activities and a SEL program through Kids in Crisis for grade 3.

Mad Science Enrichment, Family Centers Pre-schools: serves children with varying low-income levels including the Head Start program where the opportunity gap is most prevalent. This grant funds monthly Mad Science enrichment visits to Grauer, Gateway, and Armstrong Court preschools, providing each student additional exposure to math, science, nature, animals and more.

Bridge to Success, Boys and Girls Club: targets students in fifth through eighth grades not reaching their academic potential. Identified students receive professional tutoring once a week for the 32-week school year. Tutoring is coordinated with the Greenwich Public School staff.

YMCA – Hub Afterschool Program: designed to enrich the social, emotional, physical and character development of middle school students. The “YW Hub” will offer homework assistance, S.T.E.A.M and technology programming, mentor workshops, SEL programming, volunteer opportunities and a variety of physical activities.

2018 - 2019 School Year ~ $210,000 Awarded

Innovation Lab at GHS: funding for development of 9th grade STEM program and exhibition project supplies, professional development and other program materials.

Weather Station, Old Greenwich School (OGS): curriculum-enhancing program for all grades, taking advantage of OGS’s unique location from a weather standpoint.

Strong Beginnings, GHS: program for incoming 9th graders with activities during the summer and continuing through the academic year designed to help these students adjust to life at GHS.

The Developing Artist – EMS, CMS, WMS: expansion of existing program at Eastern Middle School to Western and Central. Program brings professional studio artists working in different mediums into the art classrooms, offering an interdisciplinary approach to learning about art.

Zero Waste, Hamilton Avenue School: program designed to reduce waste through food donation, composting, recycling, and environmental conservation practices. This initiative teaches students to implement sustainable behaviors in school to make a difference on the environment.

Farm to Byram, New Lebanon School: creation of a community garden to benefit the entire student body, grades K-5. The garden provides for hands on learning, inquiry, observation and experimentation across the curriculum. Students learn about environmental issues, gardening practices, healthy eating and food preparation.

AVID Year 5, Central Middle School: this grant funds professional development to support goal of expanding effective AVID strategies school-wide, as well as funding trips for students to local colleges and supporting AVID family events and activities.

Innovation Space, Central Middle School: follow-on grant allowing an additional 6 (or more) teachers to attend professional development in project-based learning/Edtech as well as hiring a consultant to do in-school and in-classroom support.

Dare 2 Care, all GPS Schools: program focusing on developing social emotional learning skills (SEL) in students in order to create a safe learning climate in all schools. This grant provides support for a new program, “Dare2Care Find the Superhero in You,” and training additional 300 teachers in Mindfulness.

Summer School Science Enrichment, GPS Middle Schools: funding of a project-based science component tied specifically to the middle school curriculum. Grant covers cost of a Maritime Aquarium teacher providing 15 total hours of classroom instruction and a visit by the students to the Maritime Aquarium.

Horizons at Brunswick School Student Enrichment Program: helps free/reduced lunch eligible Greenwich public school students improve their educational outcomes in a 6-week summer session and a Saturday school year program. Funds cover cost of instructional materials, including guided and independent reading materials and chapter books as well as special presenters.

“What’s Next: Your Path Forward”, Community Centers: new program to assist high school aged students in planning for their futures. Twice weekly sessions for students include topics such as interview skills, trade school assessments, career-based workshops and college preparation assistance. The program initially targets 10th and “Grade 13” students, with plan to expand and include other grades.

Bridge to Success, Boys and Girls Club: intensive tutoring program focused on reducing the achievement gap for Club members in 5th through 8th grade by providing greater individualized instruction for members who need support the most. Up to 64 students receive shared (1:4), professional tutoring once a week for the 32-week school year.

Afterschool Achievement Gap Program, YMCA: strives to improve students’ academic achievement and to foster development of social emotional learning skills through a structured after school program (serving 45-50 students) that provides academic enrichment opportunities, academic assistance and health/wellness activities.

Greenwich Odyssey of the Mind: an extra-curricular activity that teaches students to apply effective problem-solving techniques, in a creative and fun setting and fosters team-building skills, creative thinking and problem identification/resolution. The grant funds needs based scholarships.

2017 - 2018 School Year ~ $208,000 Awarded

Innovation Lab, Greenwich High School: provides funds for professional development, exhibition project costs, research and development time, and other program materials

Developing Artist, Eastern Middle School: designed to broaden the art program at EMS to include school visits with artists, trips to MFA programs, and open studio sessions.

AVID Program, Central Middle School: provides funds to revamp program and expand AVID strategies on a school-wide basis.

MakerSpace, Central Middle School: a place for students to use technology and hardware to explore, define and solve complex problems, and to form action plans.

7th Grade STEM Elective, Western Middle School: continuation and expansion of the 2016-2017 pilot experiential-based learning program.

Adventures in Reading, Glenville School: continuation and expansion of program to minimize reading loss during summer months for students transitioning from kindergarten to first grade and first to second grade.

Creative Learning Lab, Glenville School: pilot school for the GPS media plan to transition from media centers to a library learning commons; grant funds additional materials for the Creative Learning Lab within this space to make it fully operational.

Tinkering Studio, Hamilton Avenue School: in conjunction with the school-wide STEM Magnet program, this initiative gives students and teachers a space inside the Learning Commons where students explore and collaborate, create, build, and solve problems.

Dance Residency, Julian Curtiss School: 6-week program for grades 3-5 students taught by a member of the Connecticut Ballet in coordination with P.E. and music teachers.

Innovation Space, New Lebanon School: creation of a space within the Media Center to inspire students to utilize technology and engineering and design to develop critical thinking through inventing, innovating and tinkering.

Dare2 Care, all GPS Schools: continuation and expansion of this Social and Emotional Learning program, which includes mindfulness and thematic classroom discussion around the district norms.

Greenwich Odyssey of the Mind: extra-curricular program that teaches students how to apply effective problem-solving techniques, in a creative and fun setting; grant funds needs based scholarships.

Personalized Math Pilot, Classroom Space Reconfiguration– Greenwich Public Schools: funds to purchase furniture for 8 classrooms at two schools to create flexible and collaborative learning spaces.

SmartMusic, GPS Arts Program: pilot program for approximately 600 students and 9 teachers (GHS, CMS and OG), which uses technology to provide real-time performance feedback.

Horizons at Brunswick School Student Enrichment Program: 6-week summer session for free/reduced lunch eligible GPS students. This grant helps with purchasing additional STEAM materials to enhance an initiative begun last summer with the LEGO Foundation.

Traveling Art Enrichment, Greenwich Arts Council: funding for materials and other requirements in support of a program, which delivers high quality, grade specific art enrichment through trained docents.

Early Childhood Achievement Gap Solutions, Greenwich United Way: two-pronged program focused on at risk children prior to entering Greenwich Public Schools. Includes Parents as Teachers (PAT) program and an enhanced Preschool Instructional Program.

Achievement Gap Afterschool Program, YMCA: continued implementation of after-school program at Hamilton Avenue School focused on improving student academic achievement and development of social-emotional learning skills.

2016 - 2017 School Year ~ $149,000 Awarded

AVID Program, Western Middle School: school-wide initiative; funds cover additional training through attendance at AVID Summer Institute

Greenwich Odyssey of the Mind: supports expansion to additional schools

Dare 2 Care, all GPS Schools: introduction of Mindfulness initiative

GPS Summer School Enrichment Program: partnership with Bruce Museum, Greenwich Audubon and a local garden educator

7th Grade STEM Elective – Western Middle School: student centered, interdisciplinary elective focused on fostering creativity, divergent and critical thinking

Innovation Lab, Greenwich High School: covers equipment and training needs, as well as professional development funds in support of the expansion to additional grades.

Let’s Tinker Space, Parkway School: funds cost of materials to create a place for self-directed tinkering and kinetic exploration.

Innovation Space, Julian Curtiss: funds for acquisition of materials to create a space focused on encouraging expanded thinking, creativity and collaboration.

Developing Artist, Eastern Middle School: designed to broaden the art program at EMS to include school visits with artists, trips to MFA programs, and open studio sessions.

Achievement Gap Afterschool Program, YMCA: implementation of new program at Hamilton Avenue School focused on improving student academic achievement and development of social-emotional learning skills.

Mastering Math, New Lebanon: Saturday morning program for parents and students (grade 1-4) designed to engage parents in their child’s math education.

Adventures in Reading, Glenville School: program designed to minimize reading loss during the summer months for those students transitioning from kindergarten to first grade.

Parents as Teachers, Greenwich United Way: new early childhood education (birth to pre-K) program underdevelopment, with anticipated launch in 2018.

2015 - 2016 School Year ~ $97,000 Awarded

AVID Program, Western Middle School: funds training of additional teachers through attendance at AVID Summer Institute to help with the goal of “AVID-izing” the entire school.

Greenwich Odyssey of the Mind: supports expansion to additional schools

Dare 2 Care, all GPS Schools: expands the current GPS Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and bullying prevention initiatives, with an increased focus on involving the entire Greenwich community by running community programs and events.

GPS Summer School Enrichment Program: enhances the effectiveness of recently added science and humanities modules through partnership with Bruce Museum, Greenwich Audubon and a local garden educator.

Innovation Space, Cos Cob School: establishment of a space within the Learning Commons where students can discover their interests through self-directed tinkering and kinetic exploration.

Innovation Lab, Greenwich High School: “School within a School” offering personalized and team-based learning, opened in Fall 2015 with its first class of 10 graders. Grant covers current year equipment and training needs, as well as R&D funds to develop the junior year curriculum for 2016-2017.

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Greenwich Alliance for Education
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