grants

Each spring, Ted. awards grants to teachers applying from the elementary schools in Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales as well as from Tantasqua Junior and Senior High Schools. These grants allow teachers to pursue exciting new programs and encourage students to excel using innovative educational approaches. Descriptions and photos of the nearly $50,000 in Ted. grants awarded over the last three years are listed below. Please come back often for updates on our grants for the 2012-2013 school year.

2008-2009 Grants

2011-2012 Grants

Grant: Textbooks, DVDs, models, and field trips
Amount: $2,163.94
Teacher: Mary Duane
Students Benefiting from Grant: Several Tantasqua High School students annually (numbers will vary)

Ted. Funds will provide students with materials and experiences that will enhance their education of neuroscience. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the High School students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: Musician Fee, headphones, breakout boxes, student visit to the Apple Store
Amount: $966.64
Teacher: Alesia Peck, Deb Quinn
Students Benefiting from Grant: 125 4th grade students, Burgess Elementary

Ted. funds will continue the 2010-11 program of a musician/teacher visit 5 times during the school year to teach American heritage & history of various geographic regions via song & literature to the 4th graders. This year’s program will include songs written by the music teacher to help children memorize states and capitals and a student visit to Apple Store to learn the GarageBand program. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the Burgess Elementary students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: 30 Kindles, 30 cases, and a $600 Amazon gift card for downloading 10-15 eBooks
Amount: $4,710.00
Teacher: Rusti Plants-Prouty, Debra Culver, Lori Hamparian, Lisa Lamothe
Students Benefiting from Grant: 30-50 students at Tantasqua Junior High School

The kindles and e-books will be used to teach special education students reading strategies to improve reading skills. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the Junior High School students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: Timber, mulch, soil, garden tools, plants.
Amount: $1,172.00
Teacher: Shelly Winiarski
Students Benefiting from Grant: 60-70 preschool students, Brimfield Elementary

Students will learn gardening skills while establishing a school/community garden. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the Brimfield Elementary School students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: Solar panels and funds for their installation
Amount: $4,200.00
Teacher: Noel Lamothe
Students Benefiting from Grant: 40-150 Tantasqua High School students annually

Solar panels will be installed in the Electrical Shop of the high school and will be used for teaching and learning about alternative sources of energy in the school’s vocational department. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the High School students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: Funds for trips to Norcross Wildlife sanctuary, journals, Handbooks for Vernal Pool Animals, digital and video cameras.
Amount: $1,650.54
Teacher: Marion Reilly, Michelle Nascemben
Students Benefiting from Grant: 20 5th Grade students, Wales Elementary

Students will complete a year-long, hands-on research project on animal habitats. As part of the project, students will visit Norcross Widlife Sanctuary twice, keep science journals, use Handbooks for Vernal Pool Animals, prepare multi-media presentations, and the author of Big Night for Salamanders will visit. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the Wales Elementary School students benefited from this Ted. grant.

Grant: Software and equipment for weekly web series drama
Amount: $1,274.00
Teacher: Sean Cusick
Students Benefiting from Grant: 30 Tantasqua High School students

Students will continue to produce an original weekly web series drama that is written, directed, acted, and edited by students. This grant is being implemented during the 2011-12 school year. Please check back soon, for more details and a full report of how the High School students benefited from this Ted. grant.