The Consortium for Public Education

The Consortium For Public Education is a member of the Public Education Network.

The Consortium For Public Education • 410 Ninth Street, McKeesport, PA 15132 • 412-678-9215 (phone) 412-678-1698 (fax)

GRANT AWARDS
Round 25 - Fall, 1999 (Page 1 of 1)

Title: Make a Difference Day
Level: Elementary
School: Port Vue Elementary (South Allegheny School District)
Contact: Bernard Kalocay, Gino & Terry Dozzi, Kim & Jack Carson, Judy & Tom McCormick

In this project, students, parents, and staff will paint large murals on the school walls. Different parts of the building will reflect various themes and the work of the different grade levels and classes. Handprints of students with inscriptions will connect the murals and send a message to future students of Port Vue Elementary.

Title: The Patch Book Club
Level: Elementary
School: Glassport Elementary (South Allegheny School District)
Contact: Joyce Hovanec, Joan Adams, Amy Zombeck, Marijo Lakovic

This grant will initiate an after-school child and parent reading club. Students (and parents) will listen to books on tape in a relaxed setting. Children will be recognized for their participation with a cloth reading patch that may be sewn to their book-bag, hat or jacket. The program is designed to motivate readers and instill a love of reading.

Title: Rock 'n Rollercise
Level: Elementary
School: Glassport/Manor/Port Vue Elementary Schools (South Allegheny School District)
Contact: Linda L. Lesnak, Kerry L. Blythe, Lavina Kerklo, Rev. John Zimmerman, Ammamarie Campedel

Rock 'n Rollercise will enhance the physical education of elementary students by helping them build motor skills, cardiovascular endurance and self esteem through roller-skating. All three elementary buildings will participate on a rotating basis and students will learn skating fundamentals such as moving forward, backward and turning. As time and skill levels allow, students will advance to games, partner movements and dance. The program will increase the student's physical activity, coordination, and general well-being through a fun activity. Special opportunities, such as Community Day, will extend this activity to older students and community groups.

Title: The Steel Valley Book Lover's Club and Cafe
Level: High
School: Steel Valley High School (Steel Valley School District)
Contact: Mary Cay Rojtas-Milliner, Esther Stief, Carol Sekura

The Steel Valley Book Lover's Club and Café will bring eighth and ninth grade students together with teachers and community members to discuss a young adult book that everyone has read. Monthly gatherings will be held after school to discuss reactions to and discoveries about the books that are read. A book review website will be created to promote the books read and participation in this book lover's club.

Title: Book Buddies
Level: Elementary
School: Homeville Elementary School (West Mifflin Area School District)
Contact: Mundi Omasta-Gouker, Tamia Greene

Book Buddies is a monthly, multi-age shared reading program designed to promote competency in oral and silent reading. Third graders will use their buddy bag that contains a book (to be read to parents and family members) and related family activities such as word games, story puppets, comprehension puzzles and a journal. After completing the book and activities at home, children will share their book with first graders. First graders then will use the buddy bags at home. As a culminating activity, the first and third graders will participate in a "Book Cook" where the participants share a food featured in a story.

Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Level: High
School: Thomas Jefferson High School (West Jefferson Hills School District)
Contact: Kathleen Cecotti

In this project, high school students will present a one-act children's play, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to elementary students. High school students who normally aren't involved in theater will have the opportunity to learn about play production and performance. Students will be responsible for costuming, sets, rehearsals, and finally, presentation. The goal is to give the high school students a hands-on learning experience and introduce theater to the elementary children.

Title: Home for the Holidays
Level: Elementary
School: Jefferson Elementary School (West Jefferson Hills School District)
Contact: Carol Adams, Dena Davis, Karen Cerqua, Nancy Douglas, Mary Gail Lautner

This grant initiates a home-reading program. Students will earn "Passport Stamps" by independently reading at least ten minutes each night. Students will be able to check out books that focus on multicultural themes. Each week the countries "visited" with the passports will be tracked on a classroom world map. This program will be enhanced with pen-pal correspondence and student reports on various cultures, especially the holiday traditions. The goal is to motivate students to read at home and to increase cultural awareness.

Title: Moving Through the Millennium
Level: Elementary
School: McClellan Elementary School (West Jefferson Hills School District)
Contact: Terry Kinavey, Penny Caswell, Donna Kay Marciano, Melissa Gambino, James Benedek, Renee Regna, Susan Startari, Patricia Bakewell, Tomi Lynn Porter

This grant project will find students looking at human history and into the future. Students will create a time-line of history highlighting significant world events, noteworthy people and technological innovations. They will read stories that have stood the test of time or portray various time periods. Students will investigate the past 1000 years and write stories describing peopleís lives from different eras. The children will learn how various cultures will welcome the new millennium and create a time capsule for the future. This study will be a year long, cross-discipline, adventure in learning for all involved.

Title: A Year in the Life of a Millennium
Level: Middle
School: Pleasant Hills Middle School (West Jefferson Hills School District)
Contact: Barbara Yogan

In this project, eighth grade communications students will become photojournalists as they document their school year using photographs, narration, music, and journalism to create multi-media, interactive books.

Title: The Pathway to the Millennium
Level: Middle
School: Pleasant Hills Middle School (West Jefferson Hills School District)
Contact: Jeff Lytle, Lois Morris, Ron Rubinsak, Tom Berich, Barbara Yogan, Nettie Shipman, Patricia Huber, Keith Pancoast, Rick Egeland

This great idea has teams of students researching and learning about key Americans in ten different categories. After students share their findings, they will create a "pathway to the millennium" in the hallways, through video and oral presentations, and dramatizations. Students will determine the top two contributors or influential persons in each category and will create a walkway to the flagpole with the names of those famous Americans (and their category) inscribed on the bricks.

Title: 25 Books A Year!
Level: High
School: Yough High School (Yough School District)
Contact: Susan Bizzozero

In this project, students will understand, meet, and make underclassmen aware of the Pennsylvania State Education Standard of reading 25 books a year. Using materials from the classroom, school, home, and public libraries, students will read independently in class and respond to the reading through response reading sheets, comparison and contrast essays, persuasive essays, book reviews, and presentations to underclassmen. The goal is to promote an enjoyment of reading, help students become life-long readers, and to assist students in meeting the state academic standards in reading, speaking and writing.

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