2011-12 Grants in Action

Here are a few stories from our 2011-12 Grant recipients! Click here to see a complete list of Grants from this cycle. Enjoy!

Coolidge Art Lab:

Grant enables the creation of an “Art Lab” with mobile technology (iPod Touches) and computers (MacBooks) for photography projects, art production and accessing the internet, “visiting” museums, creating and using QR codes to learn about various artists, finding reference materials, and even connecting with students from other schools. See Video of Mrs. Doane’s 7th grade class that highlights photos, artwork and videos on iPods received through this grant! Click here to view on Animoto site.

Speaker Rosiland Wiseman:

Spoke to both middle schools, RMHS, and the Reading community about strategies to deal with cliques, social structures and influences, including bullying and harassment issues, which contribute to or detract from the safe learning environment and positive culture vital for effective schools and communities. Thank you from RMHS A World of Difference Peer Leaders.

Coolidge: Making Real World Connections with Sudan

Coolidge Middle School embarked on a compelling, school-wide experience to build greater awareness of global issues, by focusing on the country of Sudan and the people who have lived there. See video of the Coolidge’s approach to this project. Throughout Fall and Winter, all students and faculty engaged in several activities, including a joint book reading of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Parks, based on the life of Salva Dut. It tells the story of how Salva, an eleven-year-old separated from his family, walked with other tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya in search of a safe haven. See the video interview with the author and Salva Dut below:

In addition, Sudanese human rights activist Simon Deng visited Coolidge in December, where he gave a talk in  assembly, and with small groups of students about the conflict in Sudan, his escape, and this work for global awareness of slavery and genocide in Sudan.

Finally, students participated in a number of curriculum-paired activities in several subjects to deepen understanding of key topics and themes, including calculating how far Naya, a character in the book walks for water and covering that distance on the high school track, experiencing a “low water day” to see what that would feel like, Sudan crisis research projects, and more. The books were then passed on to Parker Middle School so they could also read them.

As a result of this experience, the student body is becoming much more versed important global issues that impact many third world countries, including slavery, genocide, resource depletion and starvation.