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Grants for Innovation & Empowered Learning
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Grants for Innovation & Empowered Learning
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BRINING RAJAN KHATIWADA TO RCA FOR A THEATER WORKSHOP
Anthony DeQuattro/Regional Center for the Arts This project aims to bring Rajan Khatiwada, Creative Director of the Mandala Theatre in Nepal, to RCA for an immersive theater workshop. Funding will cover Rajan's fees and travel expenses from Boston. Rajan’s previous visit to RCA in 2019, as part of a cultural exchange, allowed limited time to work with theater students. This workshop provides a unique opportunity for deeper engagement, focusing on the rich cultural and theatrical traditions of Nepal’s over 100 diverse communities. The workshop will explore both collective and individual expressive methods through body movement, sound, and thematic language, offering students an experience vastly different from Western theater techniques. The primary goal is to enhance student’s cultural awareness and expand their understanding of global theater practices. |
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OAKVIEW TRANSITION PROGRAM CAMERAS
Robin Luther and Halley Shambra/Oakview Transition Program This project will provide each classroom at Oakview Transition Program with a digital camera. This will allow classrooms to take photos of equipment, activities, students, events, work sites, and community outings. Teachers, staff, and students will be able to create visuals to support instruction, document memories for our school yearbook, and create PPT presentations. Students will learn to use the cameras and be given opportunities to practice these skills. They will be offered the opportunity to contribute to the school yearbook, to explore photography as a leisure or career path, and to display their work at our photography exhibit in the spring. Additionally, select students from the OTP Photography Club will have the option to participate in a 1 hour camera class at Milford Photo to learn the basics of photography and the cameras. These students will then share their knowledge with each classroom in the Oakview Transition Program. |
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PERCUSSION WORKSHOP AND DEMONSTRATION
Caroline Midgette/Oakview Schools The purpose of this grant is to find a one-time event for students in Oakview Primary School and Oakview Middle/High School to respond to and celebrate their achievements as musicians. This involves working with a specialist, Mr. Spencer, who will present to groups pf students and perform with them. Since most of the students in these programs have sensory exceptionalities, Mr. Spencer will develop two programs that respect these differences. He is experienced in working with children with special needs and is adept at adjusting his lessons and performances to the students needs. |
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TRANSITION PROGRAM LEASUIRE LIBRARY
Amanda Adnett and Casey Kreowski/Oakview Transition Program The purpose of this project is to expand the group leisure options for students in Oakview Transition Program (OTP). Specifically the grant will provide leisure activities such as board games, gross motor games, craft supplies, technology games, and other activities. The goal of the grant is that the activities purchased will increase student leisure options, communication, organization skills, and other group leisure skills. Increased participation in group leisure activities will better pre4pare students for participation in day programs following graduation. Increased skills raise quality of life and the quality of the students' educational experience. Every classroom in our program has at least on student with a leisure goal on their IEP. Additionally, leisure is an area listed in the Connecticut Core Transition Skills. Expected outcomes include increased participation in leisure activities, increased socialization, communication, leadership skills, and improved emotional regulation. |
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APPLYING CSCS TO THE FITNESS CENTER IN MERIT ACADEMY
Karli Kibby/Merit Academy This project grant will fund the training of one related service Physical Therapist in a Certified Strength and Conduiting Specialist Certification (CSCS). This certification will provide knowledge required to deign and implement safe and effective strength and conditioning programs that can enhance Merit Academy's student body. This will provide students with an opportunity to have safe and positive movement experiences and allow them to build strength, agility, and confidence to continue exercising and training independently both in and out of school. |
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RHYTHMIC ROOTS
Rockshana Desances/Regional Center for the Arts Bringing in a guest African dance teacher and performance company offers students authentic exposure to the rich cultural heritage of West African dance, fostering appreciation for diversity. This experience allows for skill development through specialized instruction and inspires creativity, enhancing their overall dance technique. Additionally, it promotes community building and interdisciplinary learning, as students explore the significance of dance in cultural contexts. |
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HISTORY OF A CAPPELLA
Langston Lynch/Regional Center for the Arts Radius is a Chicago-based 5-piece vocal band that gained national recognition when they won the 2023 National Harmony Sweepstakes, the nation's premier vocal competition. Their visit to RCA will include a performance showcasing what they do in their profession; an interactive history of a cappella singing for which the students will sing along with the performers, learn to beatbox, and investigate vocal improv; and a Q&A so the students will be able to hear about the artists' respective journeys that brough each of them to the culmination of their career goals, including upbringings, education, auditions, successes, and failures. |
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PATTI LUBONE MEETS THE VOCAL ATHLETES
Allison Fay/ Regional Center for the Arts Pattie LuBone Meets Vocal Athletics us a project whose target population are adolescent Regional Center for the Arts students, who are in grades 9 through 12 and taking a voice elective. Students of this are are often unaware of vocal health practices and are, therefore, at risk for voice problems. Additionally, students in this age group typically lack skeletal awareness, which is needed to optimize breath efficiency. Through this full-year project, the teacher will address both of those concerns are student assume the role of vocal athletes. Through the purchase and use of specific materials, aligned to instruction, activities and exercise, students in the targeted population will:
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LISTEN AND LEARN HUB
Maricruz Serrano/Regional Center for Early Learning This “Listen and Learn Hub” project would support students in the Language and Literacy domain. Students will have the opportunity to listen to media that will help to enhance word comprehension, language comprehension, vocabulary, and language structure. Students will also be supported in phonological awareness as well as understanding of stories and/or information. By providing each classroom with a “Listen and Learn Hub”, the students will have an opportunity to interact with literature in a more personal way. They will be able to listen to the literature more independently. By doing this, they will have multiple opportunities to interact with language and literacy. This project was strategically planned out to cater to the needs of our children who are experiencing a lack of language development. The long-term benefits of this project will be that the children will develop and build lots of language which the children will need before they enter Kindergarten. |
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LET'S PLAY PRETEND
Clarissa Lisk/ Regional Center for Early Learning This project aims to enrich the preschool classroom experience by providing high-quality dramatic play materials that foster creativity, social interaction, and emotional development. Recognizing the vital role of dramatic play in early childhood education, out initiative seeks to address the current need for diverse and engaging materials that reflect various roles and cultural experiences. The key goals of this project include promoting collaboration among students, enhancing language and communication skills, and fostering an appreciation for diversity. By Creating thematic role-play areas and integrating culturally relevant materials, we aim to immerse students in imaginative play that supports their cognitive and emotional growth. Expected outcomes of the project include improved social skills, increased creativity, and a deeper understanding of community roles among students. |
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ZEN DEN
Lisa Brady/Regional Center for Early Learning In our program we aim to provide for all the needs of our students. This grant will help provide support in the area of Social/Emotional growth. When leaving our program we would like to ensure students are prepared for Kindergarten. The need for Social/Emotional toolkits continues to grow, and as our program grows - we hop to continue to offer the best possible outcomes for learning. |
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KIDS CREATE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
David Ostroff/Regional Center for Early Learning Music is something that children of all ages can appreciate, starting at infancy. By the time children enroll in our program, they have had literally years to absorb and appreciate all kinds of music. Our children deserve the best opportunity to learn more about the musical concepts that make up the songs that they love. By giving our children these instruments, we can teach them melodic concepts that they will use for the rest of their lives, even if they never touch an instrument again. Learning basic melodies is the foundation of understanding how music works and it will inspire children to take their musical journey into their own hands. |
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Sleeping Beauty Play Field Trip
Kelly Huppenthal/Six to Six Magnet School The purpose of this field trip is to reinforce our knowledge unit of Fairy Tales. The students will learn vocabulary and the history of fairy tales from different cultures and times. Sleeping Beauty is one of the fairy tales that we discuss as a class. This helps bring another level of understanding to Fairy Tales and how stories around the world are adapted and told in different ways. |
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THE OUTSIDERS ON BROADWAY
Emma Warne Balter and Ellie Fried/Six to Six Magnet School As out student population is diverse ethnically and socioeconomically, we are always looking for ways to provide opportunities for new educational experiences for our students. Our eighth graders do a unit in Language Arts on the Novel The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. This classic is always a favorite of our students, regardless of background. It is also one of the most effective titles for encouraging our reluctant readers to engage with a novel. |
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SPANISH BOOK CLUB: "RAICES" (ROOTS)
Jenna LaVecchia /Six to Six Magnet School I am applying for the CES Mini grant to offer a book club in Spanish to students in 6th, 7th, & 8th grades. Students will gain literacy skills in Spanish, reinforce their English literacy skills, learn about Guatemalan culture and environmental sustainability, and support a fair-trade business with real-world connections to the book. Students will also meet with the author to discuss the book with her in both Spanish and English. I expect both English-speaking and bilingual students to see their identities reflected in this book. |
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USING ECERS (EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIORNMENTAL RATING SCALE) TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL ENVIORNEMTN OF THE CLASS ROOM - RENEWAL YEAR 2
Lauren Faugno/Six to Six Magnet School The funding will provide each classroom with furniture that will increase the maneuverability of the children and staff around the room and provide them with child-sized developmentally appropriate furnishings that are adjustable in height. It will replace tall and heavy/broken/wobbly tables that make it difficult for children and staff to navigate around and use safely, as well as old chairs that are not the right height for the current tables. This will increase safety in our classrooms and lead to more happiness in the classroom from less incidences of falls and bumps associated with furniture that does not move and is not easy to get around. This furniture change will improve the emotional climate of the classroom and make the room easier to transverse. |
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SAFE, SOUND AND COMFORTABLE PRESCHOOL NAP/REST ENVOIRNMENT
Jessica Bango/Six to Six Magnet School Nap-time is an essential part of the preschool program and is vital for the children's overall development, especially targeting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Nap-time allows our youngest learning to recharge, regulate big emotions, and support their focus and attention spans, ultimately allowing them to learn and participate throughout the day. A high-quality rest time allows children to boost their overall cognitive function and new developing skills. |
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ALL IN AN AFTERNOON
Eva Kibby/Six to Six Magnet School Afterschool students become Inventors, Scientists and Engineers. Through new learning, designing and constructing students will use legos, straw rockets, NASA Autocamp practices, and their own inventions to immerse themselves in STEAM based clubs. |
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WINTER 2025 SEWING CLUB
Gretchen DiStefano and Jennifer Coffiled/Six to Six Magnet School The funding for this project will provide supplies (materials, thread, needles, scissors and patterns). The purpose of this project is to expose students to the basics of sewing with a sewing machine and the ability to use a pattern to make something. |
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CLASSROOM ARMREST CHAIRS FOR STUDENTS
Kelly Leggio/Related Services Special Education Students with physical challenged can sometimes struggle to attend to learning activities in the classroom, as a significant proportion of their energy is expended by keeping themselves upright. Physical therapists often recommend specific chairs with armrests for such students, which can free up students' cognitive energy to attend to learning. However, given the expense of these chairs, districts are often reluctant to purchase them to try because it cannot be foretold if they will be effective for specific students. With the support of this grant, the physical therapy team at the Oakview Schools will have chairs in varying sizes to trail with students to determine effectiveness prior to ordering. |
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SIX TO SIX WASHINGTON D.C. 8TH GRADE TRIP
Sabine Januski and Joe Milositz/Six to Six Magnet School Six to Six 8th graders have the great opportunity to live American History on an overnight trip to Washington D.C. with their teachers. This immersive experience will take them through the beauty of our nations capitol with visits to landmarks including (but not limited to) Lincoln/Vietnam Memorial, Kennedy Center, Washington/Jefferson Monuments, and the National Museum of African American History. |
(Photo taken with camera)
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CAPTURINT EXCELLENT STUDENTS: A GRANT FOR VISUAL EQUIPMENT
Alison Karpowich/PR Marketing This project seeks funding to purchase a new, high-resolution camera for capturing the exceptional work being done by students and staff across all C.E.S. schools and programs. Our current camera is outdated, limiting our ability to showcase the innovative teaching, learning, and achievements happening daily. A new camera will enable us to produce high-quality images and videos that will be used for advertising, promotional materials, and community outreach, helping to increase visibility and engagement with C.E.S. schools. The camera will also support the documentation of professional development initiatives and staff collaboration, allowing us to share best practices and highlight the dedication of our educators. Merit Academy Rec Room Project
Dave DeAngelo/Merit Academy For many years, as part of our behavior incentive program, Merit Academy (formally TDP) had a Rec room with various interactive games for the students to enjoy together during their earned free time. Games such as billiards, ping pong, and air hockey allowed students to appropriately spend time together and practice learned pro-social skills. Over the years, equipment wore out and fell into disrepair. As a result of moving programs, the Rec room was dismantled and the students have done without it for the past few years. The purpose of this project us to bring back and reimagine the Merit Academy Rec Room. The goal is to purchase a ping pong table, arcade infinity table, po-a-shot basketball range, and other high interest non-screen activity items. Students will benefit socially, behaviorally, and emotionally by having the opportunity to use this equipment to socialize. The Rec room will give students a space to practice turn-taking and sportsmanship. It will provide them with incentives to maintain appropriate behavior and earn free time. It will also provide opportunities to relax and enjoy time with friends and peers. Providing the opportunities for enriched educational experience , like structured opportunities for socialization, will lead to greater engagement in schools and each pivotal social skills in an authentic setting. The Rec room would become a selling point for prospective students and something that form students remember fondly about their days at Merit Academy. |
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OFFICES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
40 Lindeman Drive Trumbull, CT 06611 Phone: (203) 365-8803 General Inquiries: [email protected] |
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