LSF awards grants for school projects

The Lincoln School Foundation has awarded five grants totaling $11,662 for educational projects proposed by teachers at the Lincoln and Hanscom Schools:

• Differentiation — Jason Peledge, Hanscom Middle School ($1,400). The curriculum grant will support the pilot of a stations-based model for 7th- and 8th-grade social studies students.
• Library maker space — Alice Sajdera, Lincoln School ($800). The grant will pay for materials and equipment for a maker space where students and teachers have the opportunity to explore their own interests,
  learn to use tools and materials and develop creative projects to foster independence, problem-solving,
  collaboration and creativity.
• Lucy Calkins conference  — Joseph Columbo, Debbie Carpenito, Jennifer Mastrullo and Laura English (Lincoln School), $4,208. The grant will allow four teachers to attend the weeklong Lucy Calkins June Reading Institute in New York for educators who are committed to turning classrooms into richly literate reading workshops.
• Hanscom Maker Space — Becca Fasciano, Hanscom Middle School ($3,854). The grant will fund materials needed for designing, building and creating in the electronics and textile
  area of the new middle school. The school district and area businesses are also expected to contribute funds for the project.
• Mindfulness and yoga  — Brian Garside, Lincoln School ($1,400). Curriculum development and resources to encourage use of yoga, mindfulness and relaxation by students and faculty in grades K-2. Depending on space logistics, an area may be created that would serve as a yoga/mindfulness studio for classes or small groups.

The organization expects to award additional funds for out-of-cycle grant applications in 2016-17. In addition, the school district will fully fund two other projects that were initially LSF grant requests:

• Anyone Can Read Music — Blake Siskavich and Ryan Ruiz (Lincoln School and Hanscom Primary School), $3,470
• Staff Book Club — Sarah Collmer (Lincoln School), $616.

“In fitting with our mission to advance education through innovation, we are focused on supporting our schools push towards more creativity, collaboration, risk taking and authenticity,” LSF Co-chair D.J. Mitchell said in a letter to the Lincoln School Committee.

The LSF awarded a total of more than $50,000 in grants in 2015-16.