Welcome back to school!  We are excited to kick off a new year at LEF!  This year, LEF has awarded over $300,000 in grants to Lexington Public Schools, including a joint initiative at the Middle Schools called "Rachel's Challenge."  LEF has launched a new Facebook page, so please become a fan!  Enjoy the Fall newsletter and hope to see you at the Annual Trivia BEE! 

 

Sincerely,

Deb Rourke and Sue Schiffer

LEF Co-Presidents

 


LEF Awards Over $300K to the LPS for 2010-2011 School Year 


Through community support and generosity of donors, grant requests from educators that inspire innovative teaching practices, and a rigorous grant review process, the Lexington Education Foundation (LEF) has awarded over $300,000 in grants and fellowships to the Lexington Public Schools for the 2010-2011 school year.    

 

LEF grants were awarded in three categories: program grants, totaling $245,733; school community grants, totaling $32,500; and summer fellowships, totaling $30,312. 

Program grants fund dynamic classroom and curriculum projects as well as professional development, encouraging teachers to transform their classrooms and their teaching with new and exciting ways for students to learn. 

 

School community grants fund smaller-scale, creative educational initiatives or community-building activities within each school. 

 

Summer Fellowships provide teachers with an opportunity to explore a subject in-depth by attending workshops, courses, seminars or independent study over the summer.When students return to Lexington Public Schools this year they will not only be greeted by excellent teachers and committed staff but also by instructional enhancements and cutting-edge technology.  

 

A sample of awarded grants include:   Smart Tables, a pilot program in two kindergarten classrooms using multi-touch, multi-user learning centers; program development for "Lexington Now & Then" an exploratory curriculum resource to celebrate the Town's upcoming 300th anniversary; audio book collections called PlayAways for circulation in every school library; and curriculum development for Earth Science inventions for renewable energy resources.  Please click here to learn more about LEF Grants.

 

iPods Enhance Foreign Language Lessons For Middle Schoolers

Lexington Education Foundation grant helps language department buy iPods to use as a learning tool.

 

Jonas Clarke Middle School students were pleasantly surprised last year when their Spanish teacher announced they would be using the iPod Touch in their classroom.

 

Catherine Brooks, chairwoman of Clarke's Foreign Language Department, came up with the idea to use iPod technology to enhance oral and aural achievement in foreign language.

"Kids were surprised," said Brooks. "It's something they use all the time at home and they were excited to use it in school. The motivational factor was there."

Click here to read the rest of Joanna Tzouvelis's story found in the Aug 26th issue of the Lexington Patch

 

LEF is now on FACEBOOK!

 

 Please friend us and see what is happening at the Lexington Education Foundation!

 

 

 

 

LEF and Rachel's Challenge

   

Diamond and Clarke Middle Schools hosted a special event called Rachel's Challenge funded by LEF.  Rachel's Challenge is a powerful Bullying Prevention program whose goal is to create a culture that values kindness, respect and compassion.  Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killedatColumbine High School .  In Rachel's journals and essays, she wrote about the need for a kinder, more compassionate nation.  After her death, Rachel's father began speaking at schools about Rachel's desire to create a "chain reaction of kindness".  While Rachel's Challenge does grow out of the tragedy of Columbine, its real focus is on the things that each of us can do now to promote a positive culture in our school.

Diamond and Clarke held school assemblies for all students on Monday, September 13 and Tuesday, September 14.  After the assemblies, students were asked if they would like to volunteer to be "Rachels".  Students will attend a training session, to help them apply the goals and principles of the program to their own schools. They will also launch a club focused on ways to create a positive and caring school environment. 

 

In addition, parents and community members were invited to return with students on Tuesday evening, to learn about the program, and about how they too can help us to create a community that is caring and compassionate.

 

This program has a reputation as a powerful catalyst for change.  The assemblies are moving experiences, and truly reach the hearts of students and adults alike.  The focus is on Rachel's message of compassion, but there is some discussion of the events at Columbine.  We will be providing updates as this initiative moves forward.  We encourage you to take a look at the program atwww.rachelschallenge.org  

 

Please share the news of LEF with a friend. 

 

Please consider forwarding this e-newsletter to friends and community members and encouraging them to join the list.
   
In an effort to use our resources more wisely and to be environmentally sensitive, LEF will be relying on e-communication to share the good news of the support for the Lexington Public Schools. By encouraging your friends and neighbors to join the e-newsletter list, we will be able to dedicate more of the LEF resources to the competitive grant programs that fund innovative initiatives outside the school operating budget. Thank you!

 

Founded in 1989, LEF is an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization directed by a volunteer board of community members and is supported by two part-time staff. LEF is dedicated to reviewing and funding high-quality grants, submitted by Lexington educators, that bring innovative instruction and new technology into the classroom to improve student learning.

 

For over two decades, LEF has served as a conduit for community support, providing more than $3.3 million in private funding to Lexington's nine public schools. With public education under continuing budget constraints, the need for public/private collaboration is critical.For more information about LEF, please visit our website at http://www.lexedfoundation.org or call 781-372-3288.