Students throughout the district will have access to four new upright pianos and expanded math, reading and environmental programs through grants recently awarded by the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation.

The group awarded more than $87,000 in grants, which will also be used to provide training opportunities for teachers. Among the funded programs:

Springhurst Elementary School had eight grants approved for $61,593, including the largest grant, in the amount of $38,000, for the purchase of four new upright pianos for use by the music teachers, one of which will be used for public performances.

Dobbs Ferry Middle School/High School: Abantu Mu Buntu – This troupe consists of twelve, 10 to 18-year-old Ugandan performers who will be in Dobbs Ferry in October to present tribal dances, songs, music and folktales from their home in East Africa. The performance is meant to be interactive and students will have the opportunity to sing and dance with the performers as well as share lunch and social time with them after the program. This is a day-long program.

Read on for the complete press release detailing the grants.

Press Release
Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation
Awards over $87,000 for Spring 2008 Grants Cycle

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. July 14, 2008—The Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation (DFSF) has approved funding for the Spring 2008 Grants cycle totaling $87,223, which includes $3,420 in Koide professional development funds. These monies will provide for the purchase of updated educational technology tools and software, curriculum enrichment and staff development opportunities for teachers, in addition to funding specific school-wide educational assemblies.

Springhurst Elementary School had eight grants approved for $61,593. Those included:
New Pianos – This is the largest grant, in the amount of $38,000, and will be used to fund the purchase of four new upright pianos for use by the music teachers, one of which will be used for public performances.
Celebrate the Hudson! – This project involves creating curriculum and activities tailored to each grade level K-5 to explore the Hudson River from historical and environmental perspectives as New York State celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s and Samuel deChamplain’s discovery voyages.
First in Math – The First In Math Online Program was developed to introduce math skills in an organized sequence with increasing levels of challenge. The 24 game series, myriad bonus modules and fact practice opportunities conform to key mathematical standards developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Participants proceed at their own pace and level, based on both effort and ability, and can access their account at school and at home. This is an important tool for differentiated instruction.
Green Grade – This project involves developing a grade-wide curriculum around recycling and conservation, focusing on reducing classroom waste with reusable plates and cups, environmental education/awareness with a library of reading materials on this subject, and a composter which would be used by grades 4-5 and placed in the Outdoor Classroom.
Reading A-Z – A one-year subscription to Reading A-Z, a website providing all teachers at Sprinhurst with access to developmentally appropriate, research-based teaching resources for English Language Arts. It encompasses approx. 700 leveled readers, written to 27 levels of reading difficulty, available in English, Spanish and French.
Flip Form Risers – These multi-purpose risers can be transformed into benches, tables, stages, dancing platforms and more and are designed to turn classrooms into exciting educational and performance environments.
Education for a Sustainable Future: Using School Gardens to Motivate Student Learning – This professional development program, in conjunction with BOCES Center for Environmental Education and The Hudson River Teacher Center, will enable school staff to integrate science and social studies learning through the fledgling gardening program into Springhurst curriculum.
Student Government Reusable Water Bottles – The new Student Government’s focus has been on recycling in their first year. To further their efforts, this grant would fund the purchase of reusable Klean Kanteen bottles with customized labels which will be available for purchase by Springhurst students.
Outdoor Classroom – This grant will fund the implementation of the investigative planting curriculum “Botany On Your Plate.” The goal is to teach the students about plants through direct contact with some of the plants they eat and are growing in the Outdoor Classroom’s raised beds.

Dobbs Ferry Middle School received funding for one grant:
Literary Magazine Club – Using Microsoft Publisher, students will create and format a literary magazine which will be distributed to the school community. Students will be able to showcase their artistic and literary talents, as well as share and edit their work together. The Club will begin meeting in October and will complete the project by the end of April

Dobbs Ferry Middle School/High School had two joint grants approved for school-wide assemblies. They include:
Oral History from Ruby Bridges – Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to attend a desegregated elementary school in 1960 will be a guest speaker and participate in the middle school/high school Black History Month celebration in February.
Abantu Mu Buntu – This troupe consists of twelve, 10 to 18-year-old Ugandan performers who will be in Dobbs Ferry in October to present tribal dances, songs, music and folktales from their home in East Africa. The performance is meant to be interactive and students will have the opportunity to sing and dance with the performers as well as share lunch and social time with them after the program. This is a day-long program.

Dobbs Ferry High School had four grants recommended for funding:
Final Cut Pro Training – Final Cut Pro is advanced editing software that is widely used by colleges and professionals for video/film making. This grant is for a three-day course that the school’s IB film teacher would take to become an expert in the program. Apple gives an exam and offers certification in the software.
AP National Conference – This grant will send the AP/IB social studies teacher to the AP National Conference this summer in Seattle, Washington which provides updates on current curriculum, teacher training workshops and the opportunity to hear nationally recognized educational experts.
Video Camera & iMac Laptops – This grant will encourage participation in National History Day and combines social studies with film making. The video and movie making software would help students’ film historical skits to create National History Day projects for submission.
Summer Academic Enrichment Program: The American Revolution-From Boston to Yorktown – This summer program will examine one event in U.S. history and investigate its causes and repercussions in-depth. Students will participate in five sessions that meet for one week, read a novel highlighting the time period and partake in a day trip to Philadelphia. Up to 20 students can be accommodated in the program.

The Dobbs Ferry School District also applied for and received two grants for:
Anti-Bullying Initiative – The DFSD approved $5,000 for an anti-bulling initiative for Middle and High Schools. The District is fine-tuning the exact initiative to ensure that it is coordinated with efforts happening at Springhurst and throughout the District.
Destination Imagination Global Finals – The DFSD approved $1,500 per team for partial funding of registration costs for three DI teams (one from each school) to attend the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals in Tennessee this past May.

For more information, please contact:
Public Information Officer, Liz Hausman (914)693-1500×3013