IPEI Announces Red and Gold Grants

The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) has awarded $8,015 in its third quarterly round of Red and Gold Grants for the 2013-14 school year. The 19 new grants will assist teachers, administrators, students, and community members with projects that strengthen and enrich education across the Ithaca City School District (ICSD).

 

“We are always astounded at how teachers are able to utilize a small grant to make huge impacts in the classroom,” said IPEI Executive Director Chris Sanchirico.  “For this round, IPEI grants are funding everything from practical needs like clay for artwork to a multi-school/grade level dinosaur project that integrates music, art and science.  We are proud to play a role in providing such great opportunities to enhance learning in our school district and thankful for the community support that allows us to do so.”

 

Some of this quarter's amazing grants include:

 

• Iris Milich, an art teacher at Northeast Elementary School, who will take first- and second-grade students to Cornell’s Johnson Museum, where they will learn how artists can influence others to be environmental stewards and ambassadors.

 • Michelle Kirchgraber-Newton, an ESOL teacher at DeWitt Middle School, who has arranged for the Karen Refugee Dance Troupe from Utica to teach, perform, and discuss the history and cultural traditions of the Karen people. • Lita Remsen, an aide at South Hill Elementary School, who will help fifth graders build a science toy or gadget using recycled materials, batteries, magnets, and small motors, and then share their invention with their Kindergarten buddies. • Jackie Richardson, an art teacher at Ithaca High School, who has arranged for a local glass artist to show students in the Studio in Crafts course how to create artwork by fusing, casting, and slumping glass in the heat of a kiln.

The full list of grants can be found on our website. 

As part of this round of Red and Gold Grants, IPEI awarded two in memory of Chuck Brodhead from the Charles W. and Phyllis B. Brodhead Memorial Fund. Cara Salibrici, a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Boynton Middle School, will introduce her class to Antarctica by reading about Ernest Shackleton’s expedition and listening to the first-hand experiences of a local community member who spends part of each year in Antarctica as a tour guide. Music teacher Allison Scott who will bring dinosaurs to life for students at Beverly J. Martin, Cayuga Heights, and South Hill Elementary Schools through song, musical instruments, art, and presentations by a Museum of the Earth staff member.

Congratulations to all Red and Gold grant recipients! As always, we were blown away by your applications, and can't wait to see your amazing ideas in action!

Do You Really Need to Know How to Spell?

This post was written by Martha Frommelt, IPEI Board member and member of Fine Arts Booster Group.

In today’s education world where technology is at our finger tips and spell check is in every computer program, do we really need to know how to spell?

I turn to an artist for the answer. Slam poet and former middle school teacher Taylor Mali uses his poem "The the Impotence of Proofreading" to give us a resounding, “yes, we need to know how to spell!”


I cheer on spellers. And encourage everyone to come to IPEI’s the Annual Adult Spelling Bee on March 2 at 2:00 in Ithaca High’s Wellness Center. In this event, high school student and adult teams come together to have fun and spell, an educational way to raise money for IPEI Teacher Grants.

Consider wrapping your thinking around spelling for an afternoon, as an audience member, a team member or a sponsor. It is great fun for a great cause…our teachers. Check out www.ipei.org or email jcs6@cornell.edu for more information!

As a Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) volunteer and Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) board member, I can attest to the fun and learning that will happen on March 2. And watch other art supporters defend their title from last year… the Fine Arts “Word” Boosters will be there.

But don't take my word for it - here's the first stanza of Taylor's poem, "The Impotence of Proofreading":


Has this ever happened to you?
You work very, very horde on a paper for English clash
And still get a very glow raid on it (like a D or even a D=)
and all because you are the liverwurst spoiler in the whale wide word.
Yes, proofreading your peppers is a matter of the the utmost impotence.

Deadline For Red and Gold Grant Applications Next Monday

The deadline for applications for the third round of Red and Gold Grants is February 24th, one week from today. Teachers, staff, students, and community members are invited to apply for these one-time grants.

Red and Gold Grants provide up to $500 to projects that strengthen and enrich the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) curriculum and actively engage students. These grants aim to provide needed funds for classroom and/or school projects and are not meant for long-term funding for ongoing projects. First priority will go to new and innovative project-based learning. 

At IPEI, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to help improve the ICSD experience for all students. But we can't do it without you - so tell us your great idea in a grant application today!

MISSING: One Letter From The IPEI Spelling Bee

Specifically, 'U'!

We need YOU to join this exciting, once-a-year event as a member of one of 24 spelling teams in the competition on Sunday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. in Ithaca High School's Wellness Center Gym. The Spelling Bee is run like an official spelling bee, with rules, a pronouncer, an MC, a timekeeper, and three judges. Entry is limited to just 24 teams of three members each. The team entry fee is $375, or $125 per speller.

In addition to being fun and intellectually stimulating, the Bee is IPEI’s signature fundraising event. Thanks to event sponsors, all proceeds go directly toward funding IPEI grants for teachers. The Blue Ribbon Champion Sponsor is Chemung Canal Trust Company, and the Red Ribbon Finalist Sponsor is Wells Fargo Financial Advisors. Sciarabba Walker and Cayuga Radio Group are Gold Ribbon Runner Up Sponsors.

During the 2012-13 school year, funds raised by the 15th annual Bee supported enhanced educational opportunities for students in classrooms at all grade levels throughout the Ithaca City School District (ICSD). According to data collected from teachers and others who received grants last year, IPEI grants strongly impact student engagement as evidenced by verbal and physical participation and excitement in learning. In addition, teachers say that IPEI grants have assisted their efforts to give Ithaca students the best educational experiences possible.

Contact Spelling Bee Committee Chair Judy Stewart with any questions, and sign up to participate here. Bee there (or bee square)!

Grants, Engagement, And Why IPEI Matters

Last year, IPEI allocated more than $230,000 to enhance the education of ICSD students through Teacher Grants, Red and Gold Grants, Community Collaboration grants; its two affiliate organizations; awards from special funds; and the Kids Discover the Trail! program. This year, we received research-based proof that IPEI initiatives are making a big difference for Ithaca kids.

Data from reports submitted by teachers who were awarded grants during the 2012-13 school year showed that student engagement rose by an average of nearly 50% following IPEI grant-funded activities. And for students identified as "performing below grade level," the average increase in engagement was even higher, almost doubling after participation in IPEI-funded programs!

So just what is student engagement? It's an important component of learning that can be difficult to measure. IPEI asked teachers who funded programs and activities with IPEI grants to observe students' body language, verbal participation, physical participation, independence, and excitement before and after the grant-funded activities.

We at IPEI are overjoyed to have what we have always believed officially confirmed. We are excited to continue providing resources to the amazing teachers of ICSD. But we can't do that without your  engagement - so consider donating to IPEI today!

Support IPEI - because engagement matters!

A Message From IPEI's Executive Director

I just completed my second month as IPEI's first Executive Director.  It's been a wonderful two months, and I am energized by the enthusiasm of all who are impacted by our work.

On my first day at IPEI, I had the privilege of attending the opening convocation for all teachers of the Ithaca City School District as they started the new school year.  As I was introduced around, each teacher I met expressed warm gratitude for IPEI's support of their ideas and dreams for their students.  It was so heartwarming. 

At the ribbon cutting for IPEI's first office at the Just Be Cause Center this fall, I heard a story that truly signifies what IPEI is all about.  A former Ithaca City School District student walked into our office to thank IPEI for a grant that allowed him, while in his senior year at IHS, to explore his dream for a career in music, a dream that is now becoming reality. 

I was so impressed by this testimonial. IPEI strives to engage our students in learning that will lead to their future success, to make their dreams come true.  And IPEI's commitment to partnering with teachers and community organizations creates the strong roots from which these successes blossom.

IPEI makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our students, in the classrooms of our teachers, and in the strength of our community. I look forward to continuing IPEI's work with the schools and the community to keep the dreams alive. 

IPEI Fall 2013 Grant Deadlines

It may seem hard to believe given last weekend’s heat wave, but it is already October! And with October comes deadlines if you’re a teacher, staff member, administrator, parent, or community member with a great idea for a grant. Here are some important fall deadlines to keep in mind:

• Teacher Grants, due November 1st - these grants of up to $1,500 are awarded to teachers for innovative projects that bring community resources into the classroom and selected through a competitive review process
• Red and Gold Grants, due October 21st - these grants of up to $500 are awarded to teachers and anyone else in the school community including students and parents for projects that strengthen and enrich the schools
• Fine Arts Booster Group (FABG) Mini-Grants, due October 30th - these grants are awarded to support arts activities in the schools, including collaborations, visiting artists, and musical equipment
• Community Collaboration Grants - these grants of up to $3,000 are awarded to community organizations wishing to initiate curricular-enhancing projects with district schools. You can be apply for a Community Collaboration Grant at any time.

We have already received a number of great submissions, and can’t wait to see more!

For more information, visit our website or give us a call at (607) 256-4734.