Continuing CSF’s signature program of SMART Boards implementation in our school district, this grant provides SMART Boards for all social studies teachers in Bell and Seven Bridges Middle Schools. This interactive whiteboard technology enhances teaching and class discussion, providing a more engaging and dynamic educational experience.
CCSD Technology, Darleen Nicolosi
Digital Document Cameras
This next generation of visual presentation tools captures, projects, annotates and stores information in many different formats, including text, graphics, three dimensional objects and microscopic images. Piloted last year through a CSF grant, teachers have found that digital document cameras enhance presentation of information in the classroom, helping facilitate teaching of the writing process and allowing students to make more effective class presentations.
Bell Middle School/Seven Bridges Middle School, Darlene Nicolosi.
Roaring Brook Elementary School, Traci Everett and Melissa Szymanski
Digital Flip Camcorder Project
Digital camcorders will enhance the curriculum in grades K-4 across subject areas - - including English, science, and social studies - - through the use of student-created digital videos. This powerful and easy-to-use form of communication will motivate students, providing the opportunity to organize, present and analyze ideas.
Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, Debbie Alspach
The installation of retractable backboards will change the way physical education is taught at Grafflin. It opens the gym to numerous games and activities that have been compromised by old-style fixed backboards. The use of retractable backboards will benefit the entire range of students and will dramatically increase the effective utilization of the gymnasium.
Joe Kearns
Roaring Brook Elementary School
Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education
Roaring Brook kindergarteners will experience hands-on explorations in a featured art form to gain a deeper understanding of the arts. Teaching artists from the Lincoln Center Institute (LCI) work collaboratively with classroom teachers during a summer workshop and throughout the school year to plan the curriculum, and also work with students during their visits to the school. The program culminates with a live performance at the school, and is open to the entire Chappaqua student body.
Peggy Schatzle and Jodi Smyth
Responsive Classroom
To enhance the District’s commitment to character education, Roaring Brook will employ the Responsive Classroom approach to provide a framework that emphasizes social, emotional and academic growth in a safe, positive and supportive school environment. Developing common principles and practices around social, emotional development will support students’ abilities to make sound decisions. Amy Fishkin, Melissa Szymanski, Peggy Schatzle, Jodi Smyth, Jenny Steingruebner, Joe Schippa, Andrea Mortati, Rhonda Reagan
Westorchard Elementary School
Digital Listening Centers: Enhancing the Kindergarten Experience
By incorporating current technology into the classroom, digital listening centers will enhance the kindergarten literacy program at Westorchard. Listening centers are an integral part of the kindergarten literacy program as they provide a model for fluency and phrasing as well as build students’ comprehension skills. Katie Hallock
Multimedia System
The installation of an updated multimedia system will enhance all of the grade-level, interdisciplinary performances as well as the school-wide assemblies. The new system will provide the ability to produce high-quality recordings of the performances, and will enable the Westorchard Student Service Organization to promote and present short videos of their various community-based projects. Jim Skoog
Robert E. Bell Middle School
Compost Program – The Next Step in Recycling
Establishing a school composting program will enable Bell students to recycle natural waste into rich compost for return to the school gardens and plant beds. The program will enhance the science program in every grade by bringing to life various curriculum topics including decomposition and biodegradability, bacterial growth, soil studies and nutrient studies. Annie Madden
Robert E. Bell Middle School and Seven Bridges Middle School
American Musicals Project: History and Literacy through the Arts
By using the power and emotional energy of American musical theater masterworks and evocative resources from the New York Historical Society, seventh and eighth grade social studies students will gain important insights into the specific political, economic and social conditions in a given historical era. The format of the program encourages students to use visual literacy skills to support critical thinking and to apply problem-solving skills. The program brings history to life through music, theatre and art. Mallory Chinn
Seven Bridges Middle School
Implementing SMART Board Products to Diversify Teaching
Utilizing AirLiner Wireless Slates will enable teachers to teach from anywhere in the classroom and students can connect wirelessly to the interactive SMART Board from their seats. The technology will promote small group collaboration, increase inclusion of shared student work, cultivate student-centered instruction, and enhance teachers’ ability to differentiate and vary the presentation of materials. Shana Weldon, Diane Madaio and Lilli Ross
Seven Bridges Community Garden
Following in the footsteps of the CSF-funded Bell School Garden established last year, the entire student body will be involved in planting and harvesting days, growing food to serve a salad or soup made entirely from planted ingredients,cared for and harvested by Seven Bridges students. Patrick Conley
The Big Picture
Seventh and eighth grade students will create and experience art of significant scale, the goal of which is to impress, inspire, awe, amuse, inform and educate. Students will work in groups to design large-scale paintings/murals to be displayed permanently in the school hallways. Terry Koshel and Zach Arnold
Computer Graphics Design Studio
Cintiq drawing tablets, cutting-edge digital design technology, will enable students to maintain the skills and “feel” of drawing with a pencil while experiencing all of the exciting possibilities of digital graphic arts. All Seven Bridges students will create digital art portfolios using the drawing tablets and be able to share and collaborate on work via SMART Board interaction. Zach Arnold
Horace Greeley High School
Creating a Piano Lab
The addition of portable piano keyboards, stands and headphones will enrich high school music theory classes, chorus rehearsals and individual student practice throughout the school day. Portable keyboards provide instant aural feedback to students’ compositions and enhance their ability to hear the sounds of different musical cords and intervals. Maureen Callan
Exploring Chinese Language and Culture
Providing life stories and vivid illustrations of both historical and contemporary aspects of Chinese civilization, audio-visual supplements on “Exploring Chinese Culture” and “Journey through China” as well as various hands-on activities, will extend students’ understanding of the Chinese language and help them to appreciate Chinese culture. Ping Li
Practical Technical Theatre Education
Enhancing “behind-the-scenes” elements of theatrical performances, this interactive DVD series provides a multimedia approach for students to learn more about the technical aspects of production, including set design, lighting, audio and stage management. Christopher Schraufnagel
2008
Horace Greeley High School/ Seven Bridges Middle School/ Robert E. Bell Middle School
Portable Document Cameras
This next generation of visual presentation tools capture, project, annotate and store information in many different formats, including text, graphics, three dimensional objects and microscopic images.
Robert E. Bell Middle School
Printmaking Students in all grades will be taught printmaking processes and techniques as well as enhance their study and understanding of cultures explored in their Social Studies units and the Foreign Language Department’s International Film Festival.
Ceramics Integrates Art and Social Studies units as students create projects that draw upon what they learn about cultural imagery, form, function, symbolism, and their application to ceramic techniques, methods and personal expression.
The Robert E. Bell School Learning and Growing Garden Through direct, hands-on experiences for students, the garden will teach the seed-to-table connection that is critical to enhancing students’ understanding of the concepts of sustainability, health and wellness. Community building will be fostered as students care for the garden together and seek guidance from local senior citizens from the New Castle Community Center.
Seven Bridges Middle School/ Robert E. Bell Middle School
Creating Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education Units of Study Teacher training to create curriculum and materials that support interdisciplinary learning through the lens of sustainability education; includes systems thinking, problem-solving and the impact on the world of various factors and decisions.
Seven Bridges Middle School
Writing, Imagery and Technology – A Journal of Print, Poems and Prose Students will connect what they learn in theirArt and English units each year as they are taught printmaking techniques that will culminate in individual journals of each student’s own writings and corresponding illustrations.
Westorchard Elementary School/Roaring Brook Elementary School /Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
4th Grade SMART Boards Continuing CSF’s support of this interactive whiteboard technology, this grant will expand SMART Boards to all fourth grade classrooms in the district, providing teachers with a powerful tool to engage students and enhance learning.
Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
1st Grade Bookpack – A CSF Signature Program*
Introducing new books covering a range of reading levels organized around specific themes which enhance students’ interest in reading and comprehension skills. (* Since its inception over ten years ago, with the kindergarten bookpack program, CSF has been a continuous funding source for the elementary school bookpack program.)
Roaring Brook Elementary School
Videoconferencing
Live remote conferencing via computer that extends learning beyond the classroom by connecting Roaring Brook students in kindergarten through fourth grade with schools and experts around the world. This cutting edge technology makes possible virtual field trips to planetariums, aquariums, rainforests, museums, and more!
Westorchard Elementary School
Bringing Voices to Life through Digital Oral Histories
Digital recorders combined with digital photography enhance the fourth grade curriculum, including the Immigration unit, where students will use this technology to capture stories from family members as they share their life experiences and journey to America.
Digital Reading Experience: A Fusion of Literacy and Technology
Uses technology to enhance the reading program across all grades by providing access to popular animated storybooks on the Tumblebooks website and digital audio players for listening to audio books at school or at home.
2007
Horace Greeley High School
Robotics & Tablet PCs
Enhancing the computer science curriculum with the use of robotics and tablet PC’s, teaching problem solving, artificial intelligence and innovative technology by constructing and programming robots. In the 2006/2007 grant cycle, Horace Greeley mathematics teacher, Joshua Block, submitted a grant proposal to the Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF) for funding of a Teaching with Tablets and Robotics Program. This innovative program, with a budget of nearly $37,000, is the largest grant ever awarded by the Foundation. We recently sat down with Mr. Block to learn how this program will be implemented in the high school curriculum.
Promoting student literacy in foreign languages and broadening exposure beyond the classroom curriculum through the study of authentic materials, including storybooks, magazines and other media.
SmartMusic
An interactive, computer-based practice system developed by Wynton Marsalis which provides skill-building methods, stimulating practice exercises, helpful assessment tools and accompaniments for more than 30,000 titles.
Seven Bridges Middle School
SMART Board for 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies
This technology will enhance class discussion, lectures and demonstrations to provide students with a more varied and stimulating educational experience and to make history more engaging.
SMART BoardLibraryMediaCenter
Providing a SMART Board in the SevenBridgesMediaCenter to enhance information literacy skills, assist in teaching the research process and expose all faculty members to this new technology.
Weatherbug Achieve
The design of a real-time weather station incorporating on-line based software and enabling the integration of meteorology as a curriculum topic through all middle school grades. Students at Seven Bridges Middle School have a new way of tracking the weather – not from weather stations miles away – but by one located right on the roof of their school, recording 27 different real-time weather measurements, including temperature, wind and rainfall.Click here to learn more
Automated Hydroponics Greenhouse
A fully automated greenhouse designed and constructed for the purpose of germinating and growing native tree species and demonstrating how technology can be applied to control an environment.
Robert E. Bell Middle School
ButterflyGarden
Students will design and create a small, thriving butterfly garden in the school courtyard, providing a teaching lab for science and reinforcing environmental stewardship and conservation attitudes. Sixth grade students will make BellSchool a better place after they design and create a small but thriving butterfly garden in the school's courtyard. "When people experience a direct connection with the natural world, they discover a sense of beauty, balance and creativity," explains Bell science teacher Sarah Geronimo. "Through the butterfly garden, we can foster this connection with nature." Click here to learn more
Roaring Brook Elementary School
SMARTBoardLibraryMediaCenter Location
Addition of a SMART Board in the RoaringBrookMediaCenter providing cutting edge technology to advance student learning in the media center, in collaboration with classroom teachers. Not everyone realizes that the LibraryMediaCenter has evolved from a place to borrow books to a central hub for learning outside of the classroom. Dotti Baier, library media specialist at Roaring Brook for the past 22 years, wanted to incorporate newer technology to enhance student learning. She requested the installation of a SMART Board to facilitate her ability to teach the important life skills of how to find information and conduct research. Click here to learn more
Westorchard Elementary School
TriActive Kids
An outdoor fitness program designed to enable the physical education department to bring students to another level of fitness by focusing on balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, abdominal strength and upper body strength.
Location, Location, Location
Providing Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units to foster student interaction as scientists promote observation and experimentation and improve knowledge of mapping, navigation and geography. Located on approximately 50 acres of land, WestorchardElementary School is an ideal setting for students to learn how to use Global Positioning Systems (GPS).A network of satellites circling the earth, GPS technology makes it possible to record locations and navigate to and from these destinations.
Creating a nature trail on the Westorchard property with a bird feeding station, display boards and interpretive trail signs, will help educate students on outdoor resources and enhance appreciation of nature.
Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Book Group Digital Recorders
Use of digital recorders will capture fourth graders’ student book club discussions, giving teachers a valuable tool to encourage thoughtful conversation strategies, provide appropriate student feedback and foster improved reading comprehension. Helping students become better readers and enhancing children's book discussions are goals in the Grafflin 4th grade classroom. During the year, children are introduced to book groups to help accomplish these goals. Part of the curriculum is to teach “accountable talk” strategies that enable students to hone their discussion skills. Teachers model these discussion skills and provide students with ample opportunity to practice them. Click here to learn more
Yamaha Digital Piano
The addition of a digital piano to the school’s music program to enhance grade level performances by providing performance-quality piano as well as harpsichord, strings, jazz organ, choir and guitar accompaniment.
In 2007, the ChappaquaSchool Foundation also received donation of $50,000
toward the purchase of SMART Boards to equip the Math and Science classrooms at HGHS.
2006
Westorchard Elementary School/Roaring Brook Elementary School /Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Kindergarten Book Pack Program
Brand new books to fill the Kindergarten Book Packs of this signature CSF project, a highly successful program for over 10 years
Westorchard Elementary School
Math Missions Advanced mathematics software set in engaging real-world scenarios which motivates students with a range of challenging questions
Walk Across America An interdisciplinary physical education program where students are given pedometers so they can track progress of their journey across America on a map of the USA. Imagine walking all the way from Maine to California! That’s exactly what students and staff at WestorchardElementary school are doing as part of a program called “Walk Across America,” funded by a Chappaqua School Foundation grant. “Walk Across America” combines geography, social studies, math and physical education into an exciting and meaningful program that encourages students to stay fit! Click here to learn more
Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Jacob Burns Animation Project "Animation: Minds in Motion" an innovative program for 4th graders developed by the JacobBurnsFilmCenter to teach children the essentials of film animation. urth grade Grafflin students will explore the world of animation by collaboratively writing, storyboarding, directing and producing their own animated films through Animation: Minds in Motion!, an innovativFoe film program designed by the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC). Click here to rlearn more
Roaring Brook Elementary School
Climbing Wall Adventure, challenge and discovery are guaranteed with the addition of a climbing wall to the physical education program.
Seven Bridges Middle School/ Robert E. Bell Middle School
Emmett Till Project A program for all 7th and 8th graders involving Chris Crowe’s award-winning novel Mississippi Trial about racism in the 1950s, based on the story of Emmett Till
Seven Bridges Middle School/ Robert E. Bell Middle School/Westorchard Elementary School/Roaring Brook Elementary School /Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Videoconferencing Project Videoconferencing capabilities extend learning beyond the classroom by connecting Chappaqua Middle and Elementary school students with other schools and experts around the world. A videoconferencing grant funded by the Chappaqua School Foundation provides interactive, real-time communication with students and content experts throughout the world! Students are able to connect to classrooms in far away places, museums, aquariums and many other interesting and educational venues.Click here to learn more
Robert E. Bell Middle School
Outdoor Game Table
Bright, colorful concrete, outdoor chess and checker tables with coordinating benches which will be designed and painted by Bell art students
Cave Painting
Materials inspired by the cave paintings at Lascaux, including large posters of the paintings at Lascaux, a DVD about the paintings and their discovery and a CD with animal/cave sounds
Bluebird Habitat
The creation of a bluebird trail around the perimeter of the BellSchool will foster a respect for birds and wildlife, as well as an appreciation for their conservation
Literacy & Cultural Understanding through Foreign Language
Bell Foreign language literacy and cultural understanding is enhanced through the study of authentic materials in a foreign language including books, magazines, poetry and videos from the native countries
Horace Greeley High School
Traditional African Drumming & Dance A multi-cultural program featuring African drum rhythms, dances and songs featuring master drummer Kazi Oliver and dancer Jeri Baker. One of the goals of our district's music program is to expose students to music from other cultures. Kim Meade, a music teacher at Greeley, approached CSF for a grant to honor authentic African rhythms and culture, and to promote cultural awareness and communitybonding.Click here to learn more
Previously Funded CSF Grants
HORACEGREELEYHIGH SCHOOL
Electric Kiln for Ceramic Arts
GIS Positioning System for Environmental Studies
Video Camera
GLOBE Environment Program
NCCTV Editing Station
ROBERTE.BELLMIDDLE SCHOOL
Trout Study Program Supplies Imagine learning about ecology and the environment – beyond the scope of text books – by putting on thick rubber boots up to the knee, choosing among different types of nets and going into a local stream to collect, observe and analyze the living organisms you encounter.
SMART Board (Science, Math)
Stage Lighting
Science Data Probes
Masters Music Library
SEVEN BRIDGESMIDDLE SCHOOL
Wind Tunnel for Aerodynamics Study
Seven Bridges Technology students are geared up for testing; that is testing for aerodynamic drag. As part of the curriculum, eighth grade students will apply engineering to design and build a model vehicle, which will be used in a CO2 Drag Racing Competition. With the new wind tunnel, acquired through a CSF grant, students will be able to measure the frontal drag force on their model vehicles.
Teaching the various writing genres is an important facet of the second grade curriculum. Teachers require various tools: read aloud books, writing samples and other resources to demonstrate non-fiction (“all about” and “how to” writing), poetry, small moments/narrative writing and author’s study (biography). Thus was conceived the Roaring Brook “Writing Genre Kits” for second grade classrooms, which are intended to enhance the district writing workshop model of learning.Click here to learn more
WRBS News Studio
Literacy Program
WESTORCHARDELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Art Library
Electric Stereomicroscopes
Traversing Wall
Weather-Net Program
SMART Board (MediaCenter, 4th Grade)
GRAFFLINELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Library Presentation Projector
Grafflin Greenhouse (Irrigation System)
1st Grade Reading Bookpack
Video Equipment for Music Program
ALL CHAPPAQUA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Digital Cameras
Children of all ages are fascinated by digital cameras and are amazed at how quickly they can turn these pictures into meaningful projects. Funded by a grant from the Chappaqua School Foundation, each elementary school received 15 new digital cameras to be used in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade.
