2019-2020 Excellence Grants

Completing its 25th year, the Amherst Education Foundation announces its Excellence Grants for the 2019-20 academic year.

Totaling over $27,000.00, AEF’s 2019-2020 Excellence Grants are spread throughout the Amherst Elementary Schools, Leverett Elementary School, the Amherst Regional Middle School, and the Amherst Regional High School.

GREATER LIBRARY ACCESS: READ ALONG LISTENING TITLES FOR STUDENTS
Grantee: Lani Blechman
Grant Amount: $6954
Schools: Amherst Elementaries, ARMS, ARHS

Description: The purchase of priority access to audiobooks, ebooks, and read along titles through SORA will guarantee students less wait time for popular titles and result in more equitable access to reading materials.

A SENSORY ROOM FOR AMHERST REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grantee: Angela Tor
Grant Amount: $4200
School: ARMS

Description: The creation of a sensory room at ARMS will provide a safe, welcoming space for students with a wide range of neurolgical, behavioral and emotional challenges, as well as trauma and adverse childhood experiences. This will better prepare students for learning and interacting with others, as well as help them develop a sense of awareness about their sensory needs and avoid or de-escalate future crises.

BUILDING A DYNAMIC INQUIRY-BASED SCIENCE PROGRAM
Grantee: Leverett Elementary School
Grant Amount: $9000
School: Leverett Elementary

Description: A comprehensive inquiry-based science program that is vertically aligned through all grades will be developed with new reaching materials, hands-on materials, levelled nonfiction readers, and professional development.

MAKING HISTORY - INCREASING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND SKILLS IN SOCIAL STUDIES BY ENRICHING THE CURRICULUM

Grantee: Ruth Killough-Hill
Grant Amount: $7000
Schools: Amherst Elementary Schools

Description: 15 educators will attend undoing racism trainings and use what they learn to enrich social studies lessons using alternative histories of marginalized voices and project-based learning activities