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.

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)!

Exhibition of IHS Student Art at TCPL

There are only a few days left in the Tompkins County Public Library's exhibit of art by Ithaca High School students! This stunning artwork display is a great way to beat the heat this summer. Don't miss it!

Photos courtesy of TCPL official website.