WESTFIELD – Westfield Foundation for Education (WFE)completed its 2014 grant cycle by awarding more than $5,000 to eleven projects in schools across the district.
“We received many excellent grant applications from nine of the City’s schools,” said WFE President Amber Danahey. “It’s all about providing innovative learning opportunities to Westfield schoolchildren. This year’s applications were well-planned, creative and fostered excellence in the classroom. We are happy to fund so many great projects.”
Projects were funded at the elementary school, middle school and high school levels with the average award $480. WFE grants will fund a variety of activities including the Starlab Portable Planetarium at Juniper Park Elementary School, a multi-year art/mural project at the Vocational High School and an afterschool book club at North Middle School.
The WFE grants program takes the place of “Westfield Help Its Public Schools” (WHIPS) grants established in 2008 through the Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS) program.
“VIPS is delighted to see the growth of this program with the involvement of the members of the Foundation,” said VIPS Coordinator Barbara Trant.
“The grant program is open to all Westfield schools. Our long-term goal is provide funding opportunities to special projects and academic programs at all of the city’s twelve schools,” said Mrs. Danahey. “We’re just getting started.”
2014 WFE Grant Recipients:
North Middle School: Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Book Club.
Russell Road School: Therapeutic Art Program.
Munger Hill Elementary School: “Build Our Kid’s Success” Global Fitness Initiative.
Munger Hill Elementary School: Food Allergy Awareness Assembly.
Westfield High School:“Pride and Prejudice” an Interactive Presentation by a Regency Era Woman.
Westfield High School: Digital Art for AP Art Classes.
Franklin Avenue Elementary School: Science MCAS Stage Show.
Highland Avenue Elementary School: “The ABC’s of Dr. Seuss” presented by Springfield Museum on the Go.
Juniper Park Elementary School: First grade art collaboration with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
Juniper Park Elementary School: Starlab Portable Planetarium presented by Springfield Science Museum.
Westfield Vocational Technical High School: Multi-year and multi-shop collaborative mural project.
(WFE) is an all-volunteer organization, established in 2013 with the goal of providing Westfield schoolchildren with robust, challenging educational experiences in mathematics, sciences, athletics, and the humanities.
Through privately raised funds, WFE awards grants to teachers and community members inspired to bring innovative school-based projects to Westfield schools.
The grant program serves the entire school district and is available in all 12 of the city’s public schools.
WFE will hold a trivia night fundraiser in March 2015. Visit www.westfieldfoundation.org for more information.
