Book Clubs can be an essential way to engage reluctant readers into becoming more active learners. With the Konover Family Grant: Going Fourth into Book Clubs: Becoming a Community of Readers, 4th grade students at Duffy Elementary School were able to choose from a wide variety of new, diverse books to create book clubs with their peers. Lead applicant and 4th-grade teacher Selena DePercio purchased books that included a variety of reading levels and featured diverse characters to offer students a chance to see someone like themselves, or someone different, as the heroes. The books also offer insight into many different cultures and backgrounds. Students enjoyed discussing the different characters and plots with each other, and were excited to suggest new books to add to the book club cart. These books will be used year after year by future 4th graders.

The Frankie and Bob Goldfarb Grant: Salsa - A Dance and a Way of Life allowed 60 students from Hall High School and Conard High School to learn about the origin, evolution, and relevance of salsa music in the context of Latin American culture in the US. The students from both high schools visited the Garage Dance Studio in New Britain and had the opportunity to learn and practice basic salsa steps in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Encouraged by dance instructor Willie Rios’ energy, all the students took to the floor and tried some salsa steps. Lead applicant and Hall Spanish teacher Maria Pilar del Cacho reported, “It was a wonderful end-of-year celebration after all the hard work involved in the rigorous AP Spanish Language and Culture course. Learning a new skill together encourages collaboration, concentration, and helps to build community.”  Hall students then had the opportunity to teach what they learned to younger students in Spanish 4. The AP students took the lead, and were very comfortable demonstrating what they had learned.

On board the 40-foot schooner, SoundWaters, Smith STEM 3rd-graders gained first-hand experience with a multitude of science and engineering concepts studied in their classrooms. Thanks to the Robert F. Edmunds Jr. and Mary Louise Edmunds grant: Learning Floats Our Boats! students embarked on a 2-hour voyage in Long Island Sound, gaining a greater appreciation for the diversity of wildlife in a local coastal ecosystem and an improved understanding of their “place in space”. They explored the Sound while hoisting the sails and pulling in the trawler, sailed close to a lighthouse, and saw New York City on the horizon.

The grants we award fund opportunities above and beyond what the school budget allows. This is why your support is so important to the work we do. Please donate now to support the Foundation and help us continue to create excellence beyond the school budget limits!

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