2008 Grants
Forty-eight grants were awarded in 2008, totaling over $128,000! Your donations make it possible for the Hingham Education Foundation to fund these programs which enrich curriculum, encourage professional growth, foster school/community relationships, and develop creative programs in new educational areas.
The 2008 Hingham Education Foundation Grant Recipients.
We are pleased to provide a list of the grants by school:
All Schools
- “LEGO Robotics” - LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits were funded enabling the elementary and middle schools to offer science and technology enrichment opportunities. This initiative will complement the recently funded HHS robotics program sponsored by HEF.
- “Help for Handwriting” - This grant will allow teachers and paraprofessionals access to materials to enable them to teach handwriting using multi-sensory approaches by establishing Handwriting Lending Libraries at the 3 elementary schools.
- “Video Server” - A Discovery Education Media Server will allow access to 7700+ video clips through Discovery Education. The Discovery Media Server Solution provides our teachers with the only video-on-demand service proven to enhance student achievement.
- “Plant Power!” - Plant models, plant specimens, and literacy materials were purchased to enhance the current Grade 4 unit on plants. All students in Grade 4 currently study plant life cycles, growing "Wisconsin Fast Plants" from seed to flower.
- “Teachers as Scholars” - The HEF invested in an exceptional professional development opportunity benefiting all teachers in the Hingham School System. These seminars provide teachers with access to valuable scholarly content and intellectual exchange that will ultimately enrich the Hingham students.
- “Reading/Writing Instruction” - Teaching Reading Essentials is a video training program of research-based small group demonstrations that provide teachers with valuable professional development that is purposefully structured around the five components of reading and the DIBELS assessment measures.
- “Laptop for Literacy” – Purchase of a laptop for the district literacy coordinator will replace the 9 year old computer that was being used and will allow reliable communication and word processing in a more efficient manner.
Hingham High School
- “Environmental Science Program” - Supplementary funds were provided to the newly implemented environmental science course at HHS. As a result of the funding, the classes will be able to do a variety of in-field laboratory experiments in the surrounding local environment.
- “Graphic Design” – Funding was provided to the Graphic Design classroom to purchase 2 new Apple iMac computers and 1 large format color laser printer. The new equipment will allow the classroom to evolve into an in-house graphic design studio.
- “Positive Study Skills” - Funding for a 6 week pilot to implement an after school academic support program was awarded. Students referred to the program will focus on organization study skills.
- “Life Science Mobile Tech Lab” - Partially funded the grant by providing 6 of the 13 laptops required for the Mobile Tech Laboratory. Over 500 students will benefit from the laptops which will incorporate more technology into the science curriculum.
- “Renew, Review, and Retain” - Jeopardy II game, cartridges, remotes, and a link to allow the creation and individualization of games and questions was funded. This game is a review tool that can be used by teachers of all languages, at all levels, and encourages the student’s participation in a fun and innovative way.
- “Arts Partnership” - This grant was used to establish a HHS "Arts Partnership" program to be modeled after the video arm of the existing Sports Partnership program. Professional level equipment will be purchased for taping arts events at HHS. Some of the funding will pay student videographers to cover up to 15 school arts events, such as plays, concerts, exhibitions, etc.
- “Bring History Alive” - Partial funding for History Alive was granted. This will be incorporated into U.S. History using materials geared for hands on and active learning so that students are fully involved. Many lessons are simulations and historical role plays in which the students pretend to be historical figures.
- “Debate Curriculum Development” - Partial funding to enhance curriculum in Debate was provided by the HEF. Debate can be introduced in the classroom as well as to bring skills to a beginner’s tutorial to debate.
- “Architectural CAD” – Partial funding was provided to purchase products for the Industrial Technology Department. Envisioneer 3D architectural software for the Drafting Class will allow students to view a house in 3D after they design it in 2D.
- “Technology is a Tool” - Partial funding to purchase state of the art hand power tools by Festool was granted to help expand the Woodworking curriculum at the high school.
Hingham Middle School
- “Nature Trail” - Partial funding to develop an existing nature trail behind the middle school which can be used as a resource and provide an opportunity for science classes to interact first hand with local plant and animal habitats.
- “Day of the Dead” - Materials will be purchased for Spanish students to celebrate and learn about the holiday, El Dia de los Muertos. Students can appreciate the importance of this holiday to the Hispanic family and the culture in general by participating in some of the activities which Mexican children their age would customarily do with family members.
- “Carvewright” - A Carvewright Computerized carving system was purchased. This system will expose students to computer controlled machinery which would be used on wood technology projects. This would allow students to get an idea of current manufacturing methods.
- “Community Service Club” - Partial funding to be used to establish a Community Service Club at the Middle School was approved. Kids who are connected to their school and are happy to be there typically do better academically. If they are invested in the school, they will be more invested in their purpose for being there.
- “8th Grade English” – Partial funding to be used to purchase a laptop and LCD projector. All students can sharpen their editing and writing skills by "walking through" the writing process with the teacher and watching their classmates' essays change and improve on the big screen.
- “Foreign Language LCD Set-up” – Partial funding to be used to purchase LCD setup. This will support the resources available to accompany the new textbook from Vista Higher Learning. The new textbook offers a variety of internet activities that can be done in class with the LCD setup.
- Four SMART Boards
Foster School
- “Kinderlab” - A small computer lab will be created in a space between the existing kindergarten classrooms at Foster School with the grant funding. The objective of creating this lab is to help all students increase their reading skills through the utilization of computers in a mini lab. Three additional computers were purchased to add to the 4 existing ones.
- “Classroom response system” - Partial funding to set up a classroom response system was granted. The system includes individual handheld responders for the students to use along with a software system that allows every child to interact with the teacher every time a question is posed. Teachers instantly know if the class comprehends a concept and the portion that is unclear in order to clarify it before moving to the next part of the lesson.
- “Reading tools” - This partial grant will provide diagnostic tools and resources to meet specific reading needs for K-3 students identified as being at risk for reading failure. The resources this grant provided will help develop skills in visual memory, phonological awareness, phonics, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- “Mount Washington” - This grant will pay for a teacher to attend the winter overnight education trip at the top of Mount Washington. Information will be imparted to classroom teachers to enhance the experiences of observation, inquiry, predicting, data collecting and recording, central to all of the elementary science curriculum.
- “Enhancing Literacy through Listening” - Partial funding to purchase listening center equipment for four grade one classrooms was granted. Listening centers will be used during silent reading time, small group instruction, and morning work time.
- “Music Software” - Partial funding will be used to provide up-to-date software to be used with Foster's mobile computer lab. Print music will allow students to create their own songs, hear and evaluate their note choices instantly, as well as change volumes, speeds and instrument sounds.
- “The Great Wall” - 120 copies of "Yi Min's Great Wall" were purchased along with teacher guides for Designing the Wall project. The Great Wall project will integrate science, reading, and math in addition to social studies and technology.
Plymouth River School
- “Jack Gantos Author Visit” - Award-winning children's author, Jack Gantos will deliver presentations to the entire PRS as a result of this partial grant. Mr. Gantos will provide writing and literature workshops for all PRS students.
- “Orff in the Classroom” - Partial funding was provided to purchase a number of Orff instruments to replace the 30 year old existing ones. The Orff approach to music education includes pattern-based music, emphasis on rhythm, and cultural materials.
- “Catch the Wind” - This grant will fund the purchase of materials to explore alternative energy sources with a special focus on wind power. Students will design and build their own windmill prototype as well as take field trips to the wind turbine in Hull and to HHS to view the solar panels.
- “Assessment Software” - This partial grant will allow the adjustment counselor to collect data to aid in counseling assessment, treatment planning, and in the support of academic staff to teach students.
- “Everyday Math Family Games Kits” - Every day math games will be used to support the Everyday Mathematics Curriculum that was adopted by the Hingham Schools 2 years ago. Family Games Kits will provide a wonderful connection between home and school.
South School
- “Lexia Reading 5 Software” - A request to accommodate 15 more computers to be able to utilize the Lexia reading program was granted to South Elementary School. The program supports reading skills development with explicit practice in fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- “DIBELS Training” - Partial funding was granted for Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) training. It is a four day in-depth training program which will review how and why measures were developed as well as features that differentiate DIBELS from other commonly used assessments.
- “Every Child a Reader” - This partially funded grant will be used to support DIBELS for the purpose of improving early reading skills. The program will provide the materials and books to support the 1st grade reading intervention.
- “Getting Ready to Rhyme, Read & Write” - Another grant which was partially funded will support the DIBELS assessment for kindergarten students. This program would contain materials that targets specific skills.
- “Amplified Learning” – Two classroom amplification systems were funded which includes a portable sound device to enhance the sound of the teacher's voice and distribute the sound evenly in the classroom.
- “Geomagnets” – Funding to purchase magnetic rods and chromed metal spheres that allow students to create 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes. These have proven to be highly effective in teaching geometry.
- “Eggsperts” – Purchase of Eggspert, a game console with six colored answer buttons (eggs). It can be used in a "Quiz show" mode and has proven to be highly motivational to the students.