AEF Grants Have Done So Much and

Future AEF Grants Have the Potential for So Much More To Be Accomplished
Since its inception in 2004, donations to AEF have impacted the Avon community in countless ways.

The grants awarded to the Avon Schools, Avon Free Library and Senior Center are described below.

Grants Awarded

All Grant Awards Have Been Funded Through Contributions Received From The Avon Community.

Avon Community- Library & Senior Center

Spring 2022 ASL: Avon Sign Language

Avon Free Public Library’s Technology Assistant, Victoria Kiszka received a grant for her project, “ASL: Avon Sign Language.” Victoria’s project was designed to further develop the library’s inclusivity and accessibility, by expanding the library’s American Sign Language collection and providing small group sign language classes for the staff and the public.

Spring 2017 Grant, Launchpads for Kids @ The Avon Library

Kari Ann St. Jean, Children’s and Teen Services Librarian: This grant award will purchase a core collection of 26 Launchpads, secure learning tablets pre-loaded with at least 10 high quality, ad-free learning apps grouped by age, grade level, subject area and theme and into six learning categories; English language arts, math, science, language learning, creativity, and critical thinking. Tablets are created specifically for library circulation and locked down without camera or Wi-Fi access.

Spring 2016 Avon Reads: Build a 1903 Wright Brothers Glider

Tina Panik, Reference & Adult Services Manager, and Jessica Palmer, Technology & Technical Services Librarian, received a grant for the purchase of a 1/4 scale model kit of the 1903 Wright Brothers Glider to be built by community members. This activity is part of the Library’s Fall 2016 Avon Reads town-wide project, which will bring David McCullough’s book, The Wright Brothers, to life with a series of programs from scientists, historians, and experts that will extract the details of the age of American innovation at the beginning of the 20th century.

Fall 2015 The Avon Education Foundation Chairman’s Grant in honor of Joanne Beers and Beth Zweibel, LyndaLibrary, Glenn Grube, AFPL Director

LyndaLibrary builds upon the Library’s LyndaKiosk, and allows access to Lynda.com’s vast array of online courses that teach business, technical and creative skills to all users. LyndaLibrary’s course selection will put industry experts on various topics directly into Avon classrooms, offices and homes via the Internet. Multiple simultaneous use of Lynda’s content will be available 24/7/365 to anyone with an Internet connection and an Avon Free Public Library card.

Fall 2014 Mardelle & David Pena Mini-Grant, My Story, My Gift

Jennifer Bennett, Avon Senior Center- A collaborative project with AHS students to record senior center participants’ life stories to share with family and friends. Funded by the generosity of Mardelle & David Pena, this funding will focus on intergenerational programming and will also involve recent AEF Grant Recipient and AHS teacher Jill Paterson who, along with the students, will record the stories utilizing AHS TV studio technology.

Spring 2014 CreeBeers Family Mini-Grant, Local Author Festival

Tina Panik, AFPL, Adults, Reading – The 2014 theme for adult summer reading is “The Magic of Local,” and will feature a program theme that repeats for seven weeks. Focusing on local talents, businesses, and families, the programming includes a farmers market, computer classes, two magic shows for adults, afternoon hobby and craft sessions, a series of Friday films with cinematic themed food and a Local Author Festival on Tuesday evenings in July and August to showcase the talents of area writers. This grant will fund the grand finale event for the festival featuring Johnny Heller, a the narrator for the professionally recorded audiobooks produced by Recorded Books, Inc. He will share stories and anecdotes from his career. His program is titled, “The Audiobook Experience.”

2012 AEF Service Award

Richard Kisiel, Ed.D., Retired Superintendent, Funds will support the library’s “2013 One Book” initiative. This is a community read project. Funds will be used to acquire additional copies of Rebecca Skloot’s book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and to support other aspects of this project.

2011 Hyatt Family Grant, Avon to Appomattox: Lives and Legacy of the Civil War

Patrice Celli, Avon Free Public Library, All Ages, History – Through diverse displays and events, demonstrate the role of CT in the Civil War and its impact on CT’s citizens, economy and social fabric. Examples: the portrayal of William Webb, an African American soldier from CT, to be performed in the schools; letters of Pvt. Eugene Hawley from Avon who served for 3 years.

2011 Mary Durant Grant, iPads for Lifelong Learning

Jennifer Bennett, Avon Senior Center, Seniors and high school student volunteers, Technology – This project will pilot the use of iPads in the senior community to promote lifelong learning. Unlike computers which require one to sit at a desk, use a mouse and a monitor, the touch screen technology is especially suited to people with physical issues. The intergenerational approach to learning will benefit both the seniors and the high school students working with them.

2009 Program, Promoting Peace

Tina Panik and Patrice Celli, AFPL, Grade 7-Adult, Humanitarianism – This program will host authors Alepho Deng, Benson Deng and Benjamin Ajak, three “Lost Boys” whose autobiography, They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky, recounts their survival of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The high school, middle school and Senior Center are collaborating. Middle schoolers will read a less graphic companion book. The event is scheduled for October 2009.

Avon High School

Fall 2022 Go CNC

Matthew Dadona, Technology and Engineering Teacher: Go CNC (Computer Numeric Control) is designed to broaden students’ skills in engineering, including the ability to apply the engineering design process. Students will be able to process wood to be machined on the CNC router, setup the jobs for the projects that they’ve designed, and finish processing the product by adding specific edging. The request of $1,000.00 will be used to purchase a router table, thickness planer, router bit set, wood chisel set, 2 tape measures, and a combination square.

Fall 2022 Grant, Starting Grounds

Awarded to Jennifer Malz and Alexander Mancini at Avon High School, established a student operated coffee delivery service for teachers and staff at the high school. Students benefited from vocational training in receiving and fulfilling orders, working with money, following multi-step directions, and collaborating with others.

Fall 2016 Grant, Will you please NOT sit still?

Michael Marella, Michael Fernandes, Jessie Shaw, Athena Kosinski, Scott Percival, Grade 9 Science: This funding will provide alternative seating options for four different freshman science classrooms with the intent of promoting increased mastery of the curriculum by improving students’ focus, attention and on-task behavior.

Fall 2015 Water Bottle Filler Initiative

Andrew Dorr, AHS. Funding will provide for the installation of a water bottle filler station at Avon High School to provide students and staff with a quick and easy way to fill their water bottles. This program will enhance sustainability, encourage healthy habits, and help minimize dependency on disposable plastic bottles.

Fall 2015 Founders Fund Grant

Jill Paterson, AHS Drama Teacher. Further improvements will be made to the AHS performance space, building upon Ms. Paterson’s 2013 theater technology improvement grant, by purchasing a scrim and cyclorama pipes. Founders Fund grants are available to previous AEF grant recipients to update, improve or expand upon an existing program.

Spring 2015 Acoustical Shell

Andrew Brochu & AHS Music Department, The Polley Family Music & Arts Grant & the AHS “Another Brick in the Walk” Pavers for Posterity supporters provided a seven-piece Acoustical Shell that will enhance AHS auditorium acoustics to both the ensemble & the audience. The AEF is proud to be part of this collaborative grant funded by many stakeholders in Avon, including Avon UNICO, FAME, AHS PTO & Avon BOE.

Fall 2014 Oh Family Grant, Avon’s “Fragtastic” Frag Tank

Scott Percival, AHS, Marine Biology-Expanding the Marine Biology curriculum by providing students with the opportunity to study and learn about hard corals, coral fragmentation and propagation. The Oh Family’s generous support will allow expansion of the current identification labs and purchase of an 80-gallon Frag tank supplied with various types of hard corals, so students will be able to use living materials instead of preserved specimens and gain hands-on experience to solidify understanding the of the material. Students will also have the opportunity to create their own independent research projects in smaller, satellite tanks.

Spring 2014 Polley Family Grant, Rosalind Wiseman-Creating Cultures of Dignity

Kathy Marzano, AMS, Grades 7 thru 12, School Culture and Climate – Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabees, Masterminds & Wingmen, and several other books, will come to speak to groups of students about managing life as a teenager. She speaks about creating a culture of understanding and dignity, encouraging students to challenge “social group norms” that lead to mean behavior and disrespectful school culture. She offers her experience working with teens, sharing advice with students from her years of working with teen specific problems. She also offers a program for parents of teens, helping adults understand the teen perspective. Funding is also being provided by Avon Youth Services.

2013 Stan and Myra Frost Grant, Fluid Power Systems Curriculum Development

Jim Buys, AHS, Grades 9-12, Technology Education – Acquire 2 fluid power training systems, curriculum materials and website application. The equipment/software will introduce technology students to computer controls related to fluid power systems used for industrial applications.

2013 Oh Family Grant, Scientific Principals of Engineering Design – Robotics

Greg Dunford, AHS, Grade 12, Physics – Develop a new science elective course to provide students with the opportunity to apply physics concepts to the engineering design process.

Avon Middle School

Spring 2019, $8,000 Grant for Middle School 7th grade Robotics Project, Eric Lord, AMS Technology Education teacher

The purchase of Robotic Kits will allow students to benefit from a Robotics program that emphasizes complex, strategic problem-solving and higher order thinking skills while allowing them to scale the project to their specific abilities and ambition levels. Design, building, coding and testing are integral to the project process. This program will offer a level of multidisciplinary emphasis, exciting engagement and exposure to STEM and engineering principles that can benefit all students, not just those that are interested in tech-related fields.

December 2017, David and Mardelle Pena Grant for Music Masters Modern Band Equipment, Jane Sitarz, AMS Choral Director

Funding will support band instruments and equipment for students to form small bands in which to perform music in the style they have studied and fulfill performance standards.

Spring 2016 Fidget for Focus Furniture, Nicole Gresh and Donna Beaudoin

AMS math teachers were awarded a grant for a pilot program for Fidget for Focus Furniture, which research has demonstrated helps to support engaged instruction. The project will include the purchase of Zenergy Ball Chairs, Ergotron Adjustable Standing Desks and Classroom Stools, Hokki Stools, and WOBBLE chairs.

Fall 2015 Verba Card Sets Mini-Grant, Kathleen Hickey & the AMS World Language Teachers

Acquisition of Spanish, French and Chinese educational instructional materials which will enhance authentic & meaningful communication in the target language.

Fall 2014 Stoll Family Grant, Unified Theater Lighting, Nora Goeler

Generously supported by The Stoll Family, the funding will be used for theater lighting equipment for stage productions. Unified Theater, in its 4th year at AMS, is a national program that accommodates and supports students of all abilities through a theater experience. The productions are all-inclusive, student-directed, student-written and student-produced and encourage collaboration among students working together with their individual talents to create a piece of theater.

2014 Polley Family Grant, Rosalind Wiseman-Creating Cultures of Dignity, Kathy Marzano. AMS, Grades 7 thru 12, School Culture and Climate

Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabees, Masterminds & Wingmen, and several other books, will come to speak to groups of students about managing life as a teenager. She speaks about creating a culture of understanding and dignity, encouraging students to challenge “social group norms” that lead to mean behavior and disrespectful school culture. She offers her experience working with teens, sharing advice with students from her years of working with teen specific problems. She also offers a program for parents of teens, helping adults understand the teen perspective. Funding is also being provided by Avon Youth Services.

2012 Natale & Elizabeth Messina Grant, iPads and Energy, Jason Cleveland, Christopher Jones and Scott Rand, AMS 8th Grade, Science

Acquire 3 iPads to enhance physics instruction using available robust apps for teaching physics. iPads can interface with existing projection equipment, and, for a reasonable price, also existing PASCO probe ware (2006 Research in Real Time grant). Live, on-screen demonstrations of physics concepts will be possible using the unique accelerometer and magnetometer capabilities of the iPad.

2012 Mini Grant, Student-Constructed Outdoor Classroom, Patrick Mulligan and John Mason, AMS Grades 7 & 8, Technology Education and Science

Collaboration of parents, teachers, students and the school district to plan, design and build a pergola and picnic tables creating an outdoor classroom area behind the middle school. In addition, students will research and select plantings to beautify the area with evaluation of this project element by the science teacher.

2010 Mini Grant, Community Courts for All Ages and Abilities, Marco Famiglietti, AMS Principal

Grade 7-12 and Avon Community, Physical Education – This project will support community efforts to reinstate approximately 6 weeks of tennis instruction and approximately 4 weeks of paddle tennis instruction as well as games and activities in the spring and fall for all AMS students; increase the number of high school students who qualify to play Junior Varsity and Varsity team tennis by approximately 35%; enable including tennis in the Unified Sports program at AHS for special athletes and their partners of regular abilities; and expand access to recreational tennis for all Avon residents.

2009 UNICO Grant, “A is for Avon,” Jan Brennan, AMS Grade 2, 7 and Avon Community, Civic History, Writing, Editing & Publishing

Her 1979 alphabet book, A is for Avon, highlights points of historical interest in the town. It is being updated by 25 volunteer 7th graders and will continue to be used in the 2nd grade civic history unit. Copies will be available in the 5 public school libraries and the Avon Free Public Library. The Avon Historical Society will be involved in its distribution and promotion.

Pine Grove School

Spring 2023 Piney’s Hideaway

Jon Moss, Grade 4 Teacher, Pine Grove School: Piney’s Hideaway is designed to enhance the outdoor classroom at Pine Grove School. Additions to the gathering lesson area will be a white board for science, math, reading and writing instruction. A storage shed providing a site to hang and store the white board, will also protect mobile seating options from the elements as well as frequently used materials for grade level lessons.

Spring 2023 Gamification

Devin Van Patten, Kindergarten Teacher: Kindergarten students at Pine Grove School will benefit from the positive effects of using educational games to improve lesson engagement, retention of skills learned, and the connection of learning to the real world. Games purchased are standard based or classic childhood games that can be modified to be standard based.

Fall 2022 Boosting Reading Engagement with Periodicals

Jon Moss, Grade 4 Teacher: By providing 4th grade students with access to new periodical texts on a regular basis, students will improve reading engagement by being introduced to fiction and non-fiction articles in a generally unfamiliar text type. The addition of periodicals presents both reluctant and enthusiastic readers a variety of text types, and genres that support the learning process as they read of real-world applications that correspond to classroom topics.

Spring 2022 Read Aloud Challenge

Ginny Conn, Grade 3 Teacher: The Read Aloud Challenge was developed in response to research which indicated that reading aloud to students who have already learned to read is an important element in their growth as readers. Fostering reading comprehension, expanding an interest in reading and enjoyment of books, and building vocabulary skills are some of the benefits to reading aloud. On a monthly basis, families were supplied with an age appropriate, classic children’s book and encouraged to read the book together as a family.

June 2018, Myra and Stan Frost Grant for Classroom Sensory Tool Boxes to Promote Engagement, Attention and Positive Behaviors

Lori Manaitis, Grade 2 Teacher & Alescia Ford-Lanza, parent. Grant funding for second grade classes to purchase tools such as weighted lap pads, stress ball fidgets and sensory cushions for better engagement, greater time on task, and channeling energies more appropriately and efficiently.

From Lori Manaitis, grant recipient: All materials have been purchased and are in use in the classrooms. The students LOVE the tools. We have introduced them one at a time and made sure that all students have had the opportunity to “experiment” with each tool. Now the tools are available and students nonchalantly grab them when they need them. We have been working hard to utilize the tools in ways that help students to focus and sit in comfortable positions while learning. They love trying things out and are working through which tools work best for them. We have also discussed how these tools can help us achieve the goals we have created for ourselves through our class Social Contracts. We are looking forward to watching the students grow in their use of the sensory tools throughout the year.

December 2017, David and Mardelle Pena Mini-Grant for Moon in My Classroom

Mary Labowsky, PGS 4th grade teacher, Funding provided an interactive moon in each Grade 1 and Grade 5 classroom district-wide, so students can see patterns and phases of the moon every day, supplementing the the curriculum.

Here is a quote from a first grade teacher as to how the AEF Grant has advanced learning: “In our first grade classroom we have incorporated the Moon into our morning meeting routine. We use it weekly to observe the changes in the moon. We have synced it up to the moon cycle and it has been great to reinforce the students observations at home with their moon journal and make it consistent with observations followed up the next day in class. It has helped enhance learning in our classroom and made this lesson much easier to teach and also made it more effective!”

2010 Duffy Family Grant, Playing for Keeps: A Playground for ALL Students

Jon Moss and Christopher Grgach, PGS, Grade Pre-K thru 4 – The grant will fund the proposed academic components: a sign language panel, a Braille panel and an alphabet panel that will allow primary students to practice their language skills. In addition, it will fund a mock storefront that kids can use to practice basic skills offering an authentic application of math lessons that are taught even into fourth grade.

2009 Mini Grant, Graphic Novels: A Novel Approach to Reading Instruction

Christopher Grgach and Jonathan Moss, PGS, Grade 3, Reading – “Graphic novels” use drawings to enhance the story. They have been found to be very effective in encouraging boys to read. Funds will purchase texts leveled on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading rating system to benefit different types of learners.

2008 Avon Junior Women’s Club Mini Grant, Leaping into Learning

Lisa Fenn, RBS with Erin Dorsey, PGS and Laura McDonnell, RBS, Grade 1, Science – Scientific inquiry that investigates the life cycle of the frog culminating in a “Swap and Hop Day” when all 1st graders will gather to share results and release their former tadpoles. Collaboration between the schools will be enhanced by a web blog of frog progress.

2007 Program, Chidsey Brook Nature Trail

Leigh Ann Bacevich, Community Project Leader & Gail Dahling-Hench, Principal, PGS, All Ages, Natural Science – The mission is “to provide a fun and educational classroom where the whole community can explore, learn, and develop a relationship with one another and nature.” Located on 2 acres adjacent to PGS. Broad community support and collaboration.

Roaring Brook School

Fall 2016 Mini-Grant, Math Fluency Practice

Kristin Cutler, Grade 2: This mini-grant will fund 8 Minute Math devices, which allow the students to independently practice their fact fluency in a small group setting. The devices have multiple levels of difficulty, as well as multiplication and division modes. Kristin’s comments on receiving this grant: “I was so excited to see the prize patrol in my classroom, but the ones who were the most excited were my students! I tried to include them as much as possible in the process, and they were THRILLED that we would be receiving the Minute Math Machines. They love using the one I have, and now we can use them in a small group math lesson.”

Fall 2014 Mini-Grant: Educational Flip Books for Blazer’s Trail Kiosk Stations

Larry Sparks, Assistant Principal, RBS, Grades K-4 and the community. This grant expands upon the 2012 Polley Family Grant, Blazer’s Trail: Outdoor Learning Project, and the 2009 Unplugged Learning project. This funding will enhance the Blazer’s Trail experience by facilitating the design and creation of laminated ring-bound flip books that correspond to each kiosk and learning station so students can identify what they are observing along the trail. Larry Sparks, Janet Conner of the Avon Historical Society, and Judy Witzke, Park Naturalist for Winding Trails Recreation Center, will collaborate with Kristin Cutler and Joe Perieira (RBS teachers and 2012 Polley Family Blazer’s Trail grant awardees).

2013 Hyatt Family Grant, Playground Initiative: Access, Inclusion and Laughter for All

Dr. Crisanne Colgan, Principal, Grades K – 4 – The Mini-Grant will support the purchase of two Spinner Bowls, a hollow, bowl-like piece of playground equipment that children can sit in and pump their legs to spin and move all around. It uses centrifugal force and weight distribution to not only provide a safe and fun ride, but as a great tool for teaching science.

2012 Polley Family Grant, Blazer’s Trail, an Outdoor Learning Project

Joe Pereira and Kristin Cutler, Grand K – 4 – The Blazer’s Trail Committee will direct the construction of permanent kiosks to serve as learning stations along the existing nature trail. This project builds on the Unplugged Learning Project funded in 2009. Students will have access to Explorer Kits with tools and supplies to make the outdoor experience fun and engaging.

2011 Robert, Brian and Matthew Duffy Grant, Mobile Overhead Projector Set-Up

Linda Miller, Librarian, Grade K – 4, All Subjects – Acquire a mobile projector and laptop computer with wireless access to the internet that can be used anywhere in the building. This will enhance teaching and learning by providing access to a broad array of internet based teaching tools.

2009 Program Grant, “Unplugged Learning” Project

Larry Sparks, Assistant Principal, RBS, Grades K-4 and the community, Natural Science – Build an amphitheater stage and seating, develop a nature trail and remove invasive poison ivy (including ADA accessibility compliance). The space, designed by the Unplugged Learning Project team, will be used for “place-based education.” That is, hands-on, experiential learning and exploration within immediate natural surroundings.

2009 Duffy Family Grant, Hartford Stage Arts and Literacy Connections

Mike DeRitis, TBS with grade level team leads at TBS and RBS, Grades K – 6, Reading – The Connections Program is being expanded after last year’s well-received 4th grade pilot program at RBS funded by an AEF Mini Grant. Over the course of five days, visiting artists in each classroom explore a grade-appropriate core-curriculum book. Designed to enhance reading comprehension skills and to instill a love of reading, students are engaged in a literary text through the use of dramatic techniques. (Additional funding from the PTOs and in-school field trip fees.)

2008 Avon Junior Women’s Club Mini Grant, Leaping into Learning

Lisa Fenn, RBS with Erin Dorsey, PGS and Laura McDonnell, RBS, Grade 1, Science – Scientific inquiry that investigates the life cycle of the frog culminating in a “Swap and Hop Day” when all 1st graders will gather to share results and release their former tadpoles. Collaboration between the schools will be enhanced by a web blog of frog progress.

2008 Mini Grant in honor of Larry Sparks, Fluency in Motion

Laura McDonnell, RBS, Grade 1, Reading – This program will assess and encourage reading fluency in first graders through the use of Reader’s Theatre audiobooks.

2007 Leo & Jean Duffy Memorial Grant, Fitness for the Future

Tim Feshler, RBS & TBS, Grade 4-12, Physical Education – Incorporate use of technology into Physical Education to enable students to track their fitness levels and progress and to enable educators to evolve the curriculum to meet needs.

Thompson Brook School

FALL 2022, Little Free Library

TBS 5th Grade teachers, Brendan Lynch and Steffi Dunn were awarded a grant for a Little Free Library. The Little Free Library has been developed as a student centered project that ties into the reading workshops at TBS, emphasizing independent reading. Conceived as a solution about what to do with extra books in classroom libraries, students will be involved in making decisions such as the selection of the library, placement on the property, what books should be housed in the library, and how to best maintain and restock the library.

Fall 2018, TBS Grade 5 Teacher, $1,000 Mini-Grant for Escape Classroom Project

Brendan Lynch, AEF granted funds for Mr. Lynch to purchase Escape Classroom kits, which are team-based puzzle games, where students have to collaboratively solve puzzles, riddles, or other challenges together to reach a goal. The very popular Escape Room concept, now possible in the classroom, allows teachers to create their own Escape Classrooms, incorporating any subject area into the theme. In a world of high stakes testing and data driven instruction, any opportunity to bring in a fun, interactive experience into the classroom, while still meeting necessary education standards, is very much valued.

December 2017, David and Mardelle Pena Mini-Grant for Moon in My Classroom

Mary Labowsky, PGS 4th grade teacher, Funding provided an interactive moon in each Grade 1 and Grade 5 classroom district-wide, so students can see patterns and phases of the moon every day, supplementing the the curriculum. Here is a quote from a first grade teacher as to how the AEF Grant has advanced learning:”In our first grade classroom we have incorporated the Moon into our morning meeting routine. We use it weekly to observe the changes in the moon. We have synced it up to the moon cycle and it has been great to reinforce the students observations at home with their moon journal and make it consistent with observations followed up the next day in class. It has helped enhance learning in our classroom and made this lesson much easier to teach and also made it more effective!”

Spring 2017 Grant: Battle of the Books

Jessica Buckle, Reading Specialist, entire school: Funding will support a school-wide reading motivation competition involving the Nutmeg Book Award selections and other books: to increase student reading and comprehension of complex literary and informational texts independently; to increase reading engagement, motivation, and love of lifelong reading; and to create a school-wide event that united the student body and grade levels.

Spring 2017 Grant: Flexible Seating

Catherine Hanks & Mike Deritis, Grade 6: This grant will provide components for a flexible seating environment in some sixth grade classrooms. The stand-up desks, bean bag chairs, balance balls, wobble cushions, stools and tables will allow students to be more engaged in their learning because their focus will be on the material being presented.

Spring 2016 Polley Family Digital Literacy and Technology Grant

Basic Coding, Julia Cowans-Wilhelm, Librarian, was awarded funding for the purchase of Probots and Ozobots to bring basic coding capabilities to TBS students, which will enhance the library curriculum with 21st-century and STEM learning opportunities.

Spring 2015 Book Publishing Project

Brendan Lynch, TBS 6th grade teacher, will provide a program for students focusing on the behind the scenes work that go into the books that they read. Students will collaborate to write and publish a book, going through and learning about all the stages: writing, revising, editing, copyright, book layout, font choices, binding, cover design, book website, distribution and book release.

2011, 6th Grade: Hudson Family Grant; Yellow Team: Richard W. Kisiel, Ed.D. Grant in honor of his retirement; Blue Team: Oh Family Grant; Red Team: UNICO Grant, Classroom Access to 21st Century Technology

Michael Netkovick, 6th Grade Teacher, and Ardith Franklin, Librarian, Grade 5-6, All Subjects – Upgrade technology in 5th and 6th grade classrooms to enable educators and students to initiate and engage in innovative and creative learning. A ceiling mounted DLP projector and speakers will be installed in each classroom. This will provide capability they do not have today: use Google maps, take online virtual field trips, watch videos and live television to reinforce curriculum, use interactive science activities, collaborate with other classrooms through online communication. Also, every classroom will be able to take advantage of the interactive software for SMART Boards TBS already owns even though they are not equipped with the SMART touch screen itself.

2009 Duffy Family Grant, Hartford Stage Arts and Literacy Connections

Mike DeRitis, TBS with grade level team leads at TBS and RBS, Grades K – 6, Reading – The Connections Program is being expanded after last year’s well-received 4th grade pilot program at RBS funded by an AEF Mini Grant. Over the course of five days, visiting artists in each classroom explore a grade-appropriate core-curriculum book. Designed to enhance reading comprehension skills and to instill a love of reading, students are engaged in a literary text through the use of dramatic techniques. (Additional funding from the PTOs and in-school field trip fees.)

2007 Avon Chapter of UNICO Mini Grant, Dallas Brass Performs in Avon

David Winer, AHS, Grade 5-12, Band Music – Three events in one day–workshop, rehearsal for selected students and evening performance with this brass quintet plus percussionist. (Funding also provided by Friends of Avon Music Education and the schools’ Parent Teacher Organizations.)

Mr. Jon Moss (Pine Grove School, Grade 4 teacher) was happily welcomed by students in Mrs. AnnMarie Castle’s 4th grade class as he delivered a recent shipment of periodicals. Mr. Moss’ AEF grant, “Boosting Reading Engagement with Periodicals,” was designed to expose students to a variety of fiction and non-fiction articles that correspond to classroom topics.