Township of Union Education Foundation Grant Recipients
Submitted by Kathy Arminio
The Township of Union Education Foundation is proud to announce the following grants were awarded for school year 2020-2021:
Michael Riley, Washington School, K-4, Computer Literacy and Gifted and Talented
Third graders in the gifted and talented program will experience the power and wonder of drones, pilot the classroom safe drones and learn to code the flight sessions with graphical block programming and algorithms.
Deanna Leon and Jaclyn Vincent, Connecticut Farms School, Kindergarten
Teachers will be provided with materials to set up centers for Discovery Time to investigate science and social studies concepts while integrating literacy and math concepts. The materials will be used in STEM centers, readers/writers/puppet theater, and writing and art.
Lindsay Conneely, Kelly Kitzman and Maria Sibilia, Livingston Elementary School, fourth grade
Materials will be provided by the Education Foundation for these teachers to continue the TREP$ program for all fourth-grade students, which teaches children how to start their own business, combining 21st Century skills, STEAM and Financial Literacy skills.
Mary Ellen Patricco, Connecticut Farms School, fourth grade inclusive classroom
Students will learn to build mechanical computers powered by marbles to solve logic puzzles, learn key computer science concepts and build skills essential to coding. The program, titled “Turing Tumble” will offer students the opportunity to peek under the hood of computers and discover how they work.
Susan Lisanti and Francesca Minnoia, Battle Hill School, Physical Education and Special Education
Supplies will be provided to install a “sensory hallway” in Battle Hill School, where students can work individually and go through the movement path, turning a passive environment into an active one.
Jennifer Parkhurst, Connecticut Farms School, entire school
The Education Foundation will provide materials to build on the program started last year at Connecticut Farms School with a grant from the Foundation, called Yoga 4 Classrooms. This is a mindfulness program which helped students learn a variety of coping and self-calming skills.
Jessica Cornacchia, Burnet Middle School, 8th grade algebra 1 and honor algebra 1, “Math in Motion: Introduction to Coding”
This project will encompass STEM directly into the math classroom as students will use graphing calculators and learn to write a program to direct a robot to move in their desired direction/objective. (Partially funded with funds raised by the annual Burnet/Kawameeh Middle School rumble softball game)
William Dye, Union High School, 9th grade environmental earth science, 9th grade algebra 1, 10th grade biology
Funds will be given to create the first immersive educational lab in the Township of Union School system. Students will have the use of a Virtual reality lab space, which will help to boost the high school STEM program. This will be the first step in the district wide adoption of an innovative and far reaching educational initiative.
With the awarding of these eight grants, students from kindergarten to high school will benefit from exposure to and involvement in innovative and creative ideas in education. The Education Foundation is still active and dedicated to enriching the learning environment of the students of the Union Public Schools.
To support the grants, the Foundation is holding a benefit raffle, drawing to be held September 24. Information can be found at the Foundation’s website, tuef.org or at ConnectOneBank, 356 Chestnut Street, 5 Points or by calling Barbara at 908-687-5743.
