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 46 - Spring, 2010

Pre-K/PRIMARY/ELEMENTARY LEVEL AWARDS

Title: Shake, Rattle and Learn
Level: Elementary
School: Bethlehem Center Elementary School, Bethlehem Center School District
Contact: Marcia Hager, Renee Cross, Brenda Ford, Marlene Bobish, Deborah Roberts, Dr. Talerico

In this program students will use music and songs to enhance their learning of math, reading, social studies and science. Employing rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, singing will help the children to learn letters and sounds, colors and shapes, word families and sight words, days and months, seasons and holidays, numbers and sequences, etc. The program integrates music and enjoyment into early learning.

Title: Habitat Sweet Habitat - An Ant's Happy Home
Level: Elementary
School: Charleroi Elementary Center, Charleroi Area School District
Contact: Tadem Perok, Patricia Elkin

In this program students will interact with, observe, document and understand the habitat and life cycle of ants. Building from the ASSET science lessons on animal habitats and environmental needs, students will create and sustain an ant habitat recording observations and making predictions regarding the ants and their home. Students will perform relevant experiments to discover answers to student-generated questions and research information about this topic. Science, reading and writing will be integrated in the program.

Title: Science Olympiad
Level: Elementary
School: Clairton Elementary Center, Clairton City School District
Contact: Lauren Keegan, Amy Dooley, Susan Piper

This great idea utilizes a multiple sensory approach to learning as students participate in a variety of cross-curricular activities that provides for the application of science, math and reading skills. Activities range from exploring a color wheel, to planting flowers and identifying plant-parts, to observing changes from solids to liquids, to testing of the senses and planting a tree. All the disciplines will be involved in the activities reinforcing the lessons being explored.

Title: It's All in the Family
Level: Elementary
School: Central Elementary School, Elizabeth Forward School District
Contact: Angela Girol, Amy Thomas

This program engages the home in active participation in their child’s reading development through the use of take-home literacy bags. Parents will be trained how to use the literacy bags and with the introduction of each new unit of the reading program a literacy bag will be introduced to the children and circulated from family to family. Families will be given the opportunity to share books with their children, as well as, the tools to engage the child in meaningful conversation after sharing the story.

Title: Send Stanley Packing!
Level: Elementary
School: Hatfield Elementary School, Laurel Highlands School District
Contact: Catherine Marmol, Edward Zelich

The Flat Stanley Project based on the story “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown, provides an opportunity for students to make connections with other students, family and community members as they document the people, places and activities of Flat Stanley as he travels via US Mail to varied destinations. Students write letters of introduction and directions as they send Flat Stanley on his travels to Dad/Mom’s workplace, the mayor’s office, to visit Grandma, etc. Students plot on a map all the stops Flat Stanley makes and keep a journal of his visits and escapades. This project promotes academic skills in writing and geography and a host of other informal lessons in social studies, career awareness, and communications.

Title: iLearn Best When iTouch
Level: Elementary
School: South Allegheny Early Childhood Center, South Allegheny School District
Contact: Heather Sopp, Noel Skorvan

This grant program will integrate technology into Kindergarten and First Grade learning opportunities through the use of iPod Touch. Students, especially those in need of differentiated instruction, will utilize various apps on the iPod Touch for remediation, enrichment and on-task classroom work. Lessons from all subject areas can be reinforced in this pilot project. Also when using this technology, data on student performance is readily available.

Title: Avid Readers
Level: Elementary
School: Trinity Elementary School, Trinity Area School District
Contact: Diane Huffner, Jennifer Perry, Jessica Wachter

This great idea provides students with the opportunity to read for pleasure and become life-long avid readers instead of just reading to test. The program will provide the opportunity for students to independently read each day and then participate in creative activities (book boxes, blogging, literacy circles, story mapping, movies, etc.) that will reinforce their literacy skills.

Title: Picture That!
Level: Elementary
School: Jefferson Elementary School, West Jefferson Hills School District
Contact: Adam Gebhardt, Dennis Peterson

This program seeks to develop a multifunctional Photo Gallery that will be used to display student photography, highlight school events, honor students and staff, and tell the story of the students and school to all who visit the school. Building on another grant that has students learning the art of photography, this grant will expand the program and showcase the talents of the students.

MIDDLE/INTERMEDIATE LEVEL AWARDS

Title: Reducing Today for a Greener Tomorrow
Level: Intermediate/Middle
School: Charleroi Middle School, Charleroi Area School District
Contact: Howard Johnson, Mary Tickner, Joell Miller, Sharon Markovich, Stephanie Rice

This program will create a comprehensive recycling program in the middle/high school cafeteria to significantly reduce the total trash output at the school while teaching students valuable environmental lessons. Collection centers for recyclable materials such as plastics, paper containers, compostable food waste and surplus liquid will be created for student use. Lessons related to the reducing, reusing and recycling effort will be cross curricular through data collections, garbage audits, graphing, persuasive writing, informational brochures, cost analysis, etc. A partnership with California University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Applied Engineering and Technology will add valuable resources and expertise to the program.

HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AWARDS

Title: Let's Go Green With Solar Panels
Level: High School
School: Central Westmoreland CTC
Contact: Gerald Lane, Mark Long, Mark Schoming, Dave Gordon

This grant program will expose Electricity students to the real-world application of solar electric systems and help prepare them for the green energy jobs of the future. Students will research and construct solar panels from basic building materials and install the panels to power lights in an outdoor classroom. After the initial project is completed, elementary students from the CTC’s sending schools may use the outdoor classroom for their science classes and middle school students will view the project and learn about green technologies when they visit during Careers Under Construction Day and Construction Camp.

Title: Student Leadership and The Gettysburg Experience
Level: High School
School: Chartiers Valley High School, Chartiers Valley School District
Contact: Joseph Lucas, Robert Rodrigues, Scott Crimone, Kate Taylor

In this project, teams of upperclassmen will be charged with preparing 9th graders for a trip to the Civil War battlefield in Gettysburg. Students will read the fictional novel, Killing Angels by Michael Shaara and also utilize the Gettysburg Field Guide to understand the 3 days at Gettysburg. The students will plan and lead an organized, comprehensive exploration of the battlefield with the underclassmen. In addition, students will create an electronic portfolio including pictures, videos, and discussion blogs that documents the field experience.

Title: Controversial Issues
Level: High School
School: Forbes Road CTC
Contact: Wendy Moore, Georgiana Gamberoni

In this grant program, students will be engaged in the democratic ideals of debate and discourse as they explore various points of view on controversial issues (such as the American prison system, the Patriot Act, stem cell research, gun control) that spark debate. Students will read and discuss multiple sides of an issue analyzing the issue and posting written viewpoints on a blog where others can comment/debate. Reading, researching, analyzing, critical thinking and writing skills will be reinforced in this project.

Title: Writing for Your Career
Level: High School
School: Forbes Road CTC
Contact: Wendy Moore, Georgiana Gamberoni, Cindy Wittman

In this grant program, students will refine their writing skills and create a writing portfolio appropriate for employment interviews and applications for post-secondary education. Students’ written work will correspond with their experiences in their technical class. Students will take photos of their technical projects and compose corresponding written work. Students will also write resumes, application essays, business plans, career goals, and a variety of other pieces for their portfolio.

Title: The Show Must Go On
Level: High School
School: Forbes Road CTC
Contact: Cherie O'Neal, Jim Cristillo

Child Care and Building Construction students will work together to create a puppet theater, puppets and shows for use at the daycare center. The Building Construction students will estimate costs, follow blueprints and use a variety of hand and power tools to construct a puppet theater. The Child Care students will create puppets, scenery and scripts for performing puppet shows for pre-school children.

Title: Play 60/Move for Health
Level: High School
School: McKeesport Area High School, McKeesport Area School District
Contact: Suzanne Milanovich, Allissa Hilliard

This program seeks to have special education students at the high school develop a healthy and active life style by expanding the time in physical activity and their access to appropriate exercise tools. Students will be involved in setting their personal health goals and charting their workout progress while they develop their motor skills and improve their fitness level. These resources from this grant program can also be incorporated into the regular Physical Education classes.