The Newport Public Education Foundation (NPEF) is funding $41,800 in educational grants for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. This will bring 24 new academic enrichment programs to Newport’s public schools.
Announced on February 27, this funding continues NPEF’s ongoing support of initiatives that align with the Newport Public School System’s mission. Since it started in 1991, NPEF has given over $812,000 in grants to programs across every school in the district.
Sarah Vanderveer Lui, who chairs the Grants and Scholarship Committee, points out, “With more than 70% of Newport Public Schools’ students eligible for free and reduced lunch, the need for support is at an all-time high.”
These grants will fund a variety of programs including Advertising Design and New Media, STEM, Health and Wellness, Reading, Writing, the Arts, and Community Engagement.
Kimberly Behan, Ed.D., NPEF’s Board Chair, explains, “The backing we get from our community partners and businesses lets us offer Newport Public students many innovative experiences that aren’t covered by the local budget.”
Patricia Aull, who oversees Teaching, Learning & Professional Development, adds, “This support helps us provide valuable enrichment opportunities and educational experiences for our students.”
Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D., notes, “These grants fund learning that goes beyond what our teachers already do and open up so many more possibilities for our community.”
NPEF is an all-volunteer non-profit. Its goal is to empower teachers, administrators, and community partners to provide innovative educational experiences for Newport Public School students.
Newport Public Education Foundation: 2024-2025 school year grants
Claiborne Pell Elementary School Grants:
- Pell School Gardens – Aaron Sherman:
This grant supports the continuation of the Pell School Gardens, a six-year collaboration with Aquidneck Community Table. It funds hands-on garden classes taught by master gardeners, providing over 250 students with practical learning experiences in nature. The program fosters a connection to the environment and promotes experiential learning through direct interaction with plant life and gardening techniques.
- Capture That Cookie! – Colleen Crotteau:
“Capture That Cookie!” enriches the learning of English Language Learners by integrating literacy, language, STEM, and art. Students explore multicultural gingerbread stories, comparing versions, creating characters, and conducting experiments. This project allows for hands on learning, and helps to develop language skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities through engaging and interactive activities.
- Language Boards and Translation Headphones – Kathryn Caruolo:
This grant aims to create an inclusive and linguistically rich classroom environment. Interactive language boards featuring global scenes and translation headphones supporting 128 languages will enhance language development and cultural understanding. These tools will facilitate meaningful language practice for multilingual learners and improve communication with their families, fostering a supportive and dynamic learning atmosphere.
- Grade 3 South County Museum & School of Craft – Sharon McDonnell:
This grant provides all third-grade students with an educational field trip to the South County Museum and School of Craft. Students will explore historical exhibits, participate in a scavenger hunt, and witness demonstrations of traditional crafts like blacksmithing, printing, and woodworking. This experience offers a hands-on glimpse into history and traditional skills.
- Math to Movement, Grade 1 & 2 – Newport Contemporary Ballet:
This grant funds an arts-integrated residency by Newport Contemporary Ballet, where professional dancers teach math concepts through movement. First and second-grade students will learn about directionality, skip counting, addition, radial clock movement, and patterns through interactive dance lessons, connecting physical activity with academic learning.
Frank E. Thompson Middle School Grants:
- URI Education Day Game – Julie Downey:
This grant funds a field trip to a URI athletic event, connecting education and athletics by exposing students to a college campus. It aims to demonstrate the importance of balancing academics and athletics, followed by an in-school “March Madness” unit where students explore various roles within athletics.
- Eco-Friendly Friday 2.0 – Melissa Turner:
This grant supports “Eco-Friendly Fridays,” a program that educates students about environmental responsibility, focusing on proper recycling practices. Students will become teachers, share their knowledge with other classrooms, and visit the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation to understand the importance of waste management.
- Super Suit – Hakim Coggins:
This grant funds the creation of an interactive comic book, “Super Suit,” that addresses vaping and racial bias through a superhero-themed narrative. The comic promotes unity, confidence, and healthy lifestyle choices, providing a creative and engaging way for students to learn about important social issues.
- Heart Club – Ellen Pinnock:
This grant supports the Heart Club, which provides social-emotional support primarily to BIPOC middle school learners. The club offers a safe space for students to engage in meaningful conversations, develop life skills, and practice restorative justice. It also supports Club Corazon, the Spanish speaking version of the club.
- PBIS Student of the Month – Lily Wilson:
This grant supports the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, which recognizes students who demonstrate positive behavior. Teachers identify and reward students who exhibit POWERful (Participation, Organized, Work Hard, Everybody Safe, Respect) expectations, promoting a positive school climate.
- Warrior Academy Enrichment Program – Emily Gibson:
This grant supports the Warrior Academy Enrichment Program, which provides non-traditional learning opportunities for students who require additional behavioral, emotional, and social support. Through hands-on team-building activities and community service projects, students develop social-emotional skills and a sense of community responsibility.
- Regulation Station – Jacqueline Scavone:
This grant funds the creation of “Regulation Stations,” calm spaces where students can take brief breaks to regulate their emotions and refocus. These spaces will provide tools and activities to help students develop self-awareness and self-management skills, fostering a positive learning environment.
- Life Skills Cooking – Erin McGloin & Alexander Hoglund:
This grant supports a cooking program that teaches middle school students with developmental delays essential life skills. Students learn to prepare meals, practice kitchen safety, and develop organizational skills, promoting independence and self-reliance.
- Year End Field Days – Thompson PTO:
This grant supports the Year End Field Days, which promote physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship among students. Through structured activities, students enhance their coordination, spatial awareness, and social skills, while celebrating their academic achievements.
- Exploration of Southern RI’s Ecosystems through Project Chick – Roland Lavalle:
This grant funds “Project Chick,” an educational program that explores Southern Rhode Island’s ecosystems through the study of chickens. Students participate in an in-school presentation, hatch eggs in the classroom, and visit Casey Farm to learn about farm life and Narragansett Bay ecology.
- Summer Success Program – Newport Community School (NCS):
This grant supports the Summer Success Program, which provides academic support and enrichment for middle school students during the summer. The program aims to prevent summer learning loss and broaden students’ experiences through hands-on activities, field trips, and campus-based learning.
William S. Rogers School Grants:
- Breakout Kit – Brian Colahan:
This grant funds “breakout kits” that bring escape room experiences into the classroom, engaging students in interactive science activities. These kits promote critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, enhancing learning through hands-on challenges.
- Novel Studies for Physics and Astronomy – Kat Ringdahl, RHS:
This grant supports novel studies in physics and astronomy classes, where students read and discuss science-related books. These studies provide exposure to different perspectives and help students understand how science concepts apply to real-world events.
- Comics In School – Eileen Rice:
This grant funds the purchase of comic books for the school library, aiming to attract reluctant readers and connect with curriculum themes. The comics will engage students with visual storytelling and relate to topics in arts and language arts classes.
- Newport Community Meals – RHS Key Club:
This grant supports the Rogers Key Club in hosting community meals for underprivileged members of Newport. Students learn the importance of service and strengthen community bonds through hands-on participation in meal preparation and service.
- Exploring Marine Ecosystems – Elizabeth Letourneau:
This grant funds a field trip where biology students explore Narragansett Bay aboard a Save the Bay education vessel. Students conduct water quality tests, trawl for marine organisms, and examine plankton, gaining firsthand experience with marine ecosystems and potential careers in marine science.
- Tomaquag Museum Highlighting Hidden in Sight – William Kimes:
This grant supports a visit to the Tomaquag Museum, where students learn about the Indigenous history of Rhode Island. Students will research surnames, create connections to their community, and write letters to state officials, promoting awareness of Indigenous perspectives.
Newport Area Career & Technical Center Grants:
- A Story in Photos – Casey Ramey:
This grant funds new cameras and accessories for the photojournalism class, enabling students to capture school events and provide senior portraits. It aims to increase student participation and provide diverse background options for photos.
- Capturing The Perfect Water Drop – David Connell:
This grant funds photography equipment for students to capture water droplet photography. Students will explore the science behind fluid dynamics and light interaction, enhancing their photography skills and understanding of scientific concepts.
