2022-2023
Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School
Vital Dance Crew - $895
CHEF funded a Vital Dance Crew performance for the fifth and sixth graders at PVC. The performance reinforces ideals and values in an engaging way for the students. Following the performance, the dancers speak to students about decision making, perseverance, and diligence. Many students have a passion for dance and music and the performance aligns with one of the district’s guiding questions: how will we create opportunities for thoughtful risk taking by students and educations in the pursuit of joy, interest, and passion in our schools?
Day in Clay - $2,480
CHEF brought back to PVC, the Day in Clay Wheel Throwing, an experience we first funded in 2007. This multicultural arts experience piqued student imagination as they watched visual artist Cliff Mendelson bring to life wet clay from his potter’s wheel. Art teacher Wendy Armstrong wanted to students to see what a working artist can do and how they can make a career out of making art. Through this experience student begin to understand that artists document human history and express collective emotions.
Croton-Harmon High School
Digital Arts Expansion Program - $12,750
The Art Department at Croton Harmon High School envisioned an art program where students have equal access to state-of-the-art creative digital technology. CHEF helped realize this vision by funding the purchase of a set of iPads, photo booth (to enable lighting for photographing projects of digitization), and a Cricut Maker 3 Bundle. With these enhancements, the CHHS art teachers can broaden their curriculum to include more digital art and further develop and present digital art and photography.
Inclusive Classroom Library - $2,000
CHEF funded an inclusive classroom library envisioned by Cassandara Cartaginese (CHHS Special Educator) and Pamela Morrison (CHHS Library Media Specialist). This grant enabled the purchase of a wider range of texts to appeal to readers of all levels and backgrounds. The purchased books included large print and graphic novels and covers all subject areas taught at the high school. Ms. Cartaginese and Ms. Morrison want to cultivate and inspire students to discover their identities as readers and to build a library of texts that are accessible to all readers.
Autobiographical Novels - $500
English Language Learners, or emerging bilinguals, come to school every day with many experiences and challenges; nevertheless they arrive to school each morning siguiendo adelante (moving forward) to pursue un futuro major (a better life). Sarah Campbell, English as a New Language teacher at CHHS, came to CHEF seeking funding to publish autobiographical novels written by CHHS ELL students. These narratives help students desahogarse or become at peace with their new life changes. Publishing these novels for students honors these stories of resilience.
Health Ed Podcast - $500
Kerri Tracy, Health Teacher at Croton Harmon High School, who was recently named New York State Health Education Teacher of the Year!, piloted a Health Ed podcast with her students. To follow up on the program’s success, she requested that CHEF fund microphones and headsets for more professional quality recording. The Health Ed podcast supports many aspects of the Profile of a Graduate, but Ms. Tracy is particularly interested in supporting students’ communication and collaboration skills in addition to their initiative and self direction. She looks forward to supporting any other teachers who want to incorporate podcasting into their teaching practices.
21st Century Collaborative Classroom - $3,400
2021-2022
CARRIE E. TOMPKINS ELEMENTARY School
Professional Learning Experience at the Ron Clark Academy - $13,323
This grant funded the opportunity for eight CET teachers to attend a professional learning experience at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. Teachers will be able to see new student engagement strategies in-action and collectively observe students and teachers at the academy. Kerri Bianchi, CET Principal, shared her enthusiasm for this opportunity with the CHEF Board: “Ron Clark’s innovative way of teaching consists of a three-pronged approach. He aims to put students into a good mood, so that they are more likely to retain information. He makes a point of creating personal relationships with his students and their families and he focuses on student engagement, academic rigor and school climate. This program will enhance our educational approach at CET and we feel it would be a great investment for CHEF and our students’ futures.”
Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School
Cricut Maker: Machines Accessories and Supplies - $1,279
CHEF supported the innovation and technical skills of PVC students by funding a Cricut Maker 3 as well as all accessories and supplies for the machine. The Cricut Maker is a digital die-cutting machine that is able to cut a variety of materials such as paper, vinyl, balsa wood, fabric, and leather. A teacher at PVC states, "The Cri-cut bundle offers students opportunities to use their critical thinking skills to create new projects through the enhancements offered by the Cricut.” PVC Principal Michael Plotkin adds, “The inclusion of this device in the classroom has helped students to bring their visions to life and add components to their designs that were not possible before. In a school that values critical thinking and creativity, and actively promotes these skills with students, the Cricut machine will provide students with another avenue to demonstrate and showcase these skills. We have no doubt that over time we will find other ways to use this device to support our students to be innovators and to exercise their creativity.”
Croton-Harmon High School
Large-Format Plotter Printer - $3,931
A machine like a large format printer offers researchers and presenters across fields the ability to showcase their work at conferences and competitions. Mr. Robert Keehn, Science teacher at CHHS, will use the printers as an opportunity for students to display their work as the culmination of a science research project. Croton’s Profile of a Graduate highlights innovation and Keehn writes, “the Science Research program is an embodiment of this concept. Aimed at giving students the skills and experience to pursue graduate level research projects...[the printer] would add to students’ skills by allowing them to work independently, expand their time management and critical thinking skills, and have a competitive edge upon leaving the program.”