Ridley’s PAR For The Course Jeneen Sperratore Callahan Elementary Physical Education Program
Students at Eddystone Elementary School were introduced to golf through First Tee Organization. While this is a free program, the Elementary PE department would like to add golf to our units, requiring the purchase of equipment and utilizing the free introduction through First Tee. Students will be introduced to the game of golf, learn how to use the various clubs, scoring, rules, and etiquette of the game.
Get Ready to Glow Kristine Herron Amosland
A classroom transformation is just that-transforming the classroom into something different. This time, we’re transforming the classroom to shine bright just like students will as they practice all the skills they have learned so far in 4th grade! Students will begin by entering into the transformed classroom-glow in the dark classroom. Then students will participate in a mix of small group and whole group activities centered around skill review. Doing a classroom transformation allows the entire classroom to be transformed to match a new theme. It turns a regular school day into a brand new learning environment that builds excitement for students.
Zen Zone: A Time to Relax and Recharge Jill Hoffner, Amanda Iannacci, and Dee Dunning. Edgewood
Edgewood currently has 2 intensive learning support classrooms for students with ADHD, autism, and emotional and behavioral disorders. The “Zen Zone” would offer the opportunity to address their mental and emotional health and to practice self-regulation in a healthy way. We are requesting a cork board/magnetic white board combo (48×36), mermaid reversible sequin fabric, fidget toy pack, and yoga ball chairs for each hallway at Edgewood. (3 total hallways). While students are in a vulnerable state, this location would allow them time to RELAX and RECHARGE without distraction or judgment by their peers. Edgewood’s “Zen Zone: A Time to Relax and Recharge” is designed to reduce or avoid challenging behaviors. It provides students the opportunity to control, manipulate, or reduce stimulation within a safe space. This area provides stimulation by utilizing a variety of sensory objects and materials. The materials include “mermaid reversible sequin fabric, fidget calming toys, yoga ball chairs, and cork board/magnetic whiteboard. Our faculty, including the behavior specialist and counselor, will use the “Zen Zone” with students to reduce anxiety and minimize social-emotional behaviors. Some behaviors can interfere with classroom participation and other activities, resulting in students missing learning opportunities. This will allow the students to “Relax and Recharge” and return to the classroom in a timely manner.
Smashing Stereotypes, Creating Prototypes Johanna Marshall High School
Ridley’s student-founded Engineering Club is a diverse club welcome to all Ridley High School students. Student-led and student-driven, projects are developed, researched, and built by students. In the Engineering Design Process, prototyping is used to simulate and test parts of the design, so that the final product is functional and well-designed. We hope to purchase 3D printers so that students can create prototypes, as well as printing the unique parts of a working model of the students’ original motorized vehicle design. Our overarching goal is to create a welcoming and productive working environment in which students can use industry-standard equipment to create personally meaningful work that solves real-world problems. In a previous side project, students took on the work of dismantling, diagnosing, and fixing a set of 3D printers that were broken and going to be thrown away. They were successful in doing so, and in then using the printers for small student projects and replacement parts for broken equipment in our classroom, but the printers were over ten years old and they no longer work. Having gotten a taste of what it’s like to work with the real equipment of the field, Engineering Club hopes to purchase a set of 3D printers. In the Engineering Design Process, prototyping is used to simulate and test parts of the design, so that the final product is functional and well-designed. Students need access to 3D printers as a means of rapid prototyping as well as printing unique parts of a working model.
Resin Printer Amanda Tucci High School
Adding a resin printer to the high school makerspace would allow for finer, high quality printing. Students will be able to take their designs from the computer and translate them into 3D objects. Resin printers are becoming more widely used and would students access to cutting edge equipment. The makerspace is an ever evolving space with incredible equipment. This equipment provides endless opportunities for creation.
New Kid Book Club Amy Pickett High School
During the 2024-2025 school year, newly registered students will receive a copy of New Kid by Jerry Craft, along with a bookmark with information about the library. This New Kid Book Club is designed to create a sense of community and belonging among newly enrolled students at Ridley High School. It is also designed to promote literacy and enjoyment of an acclaimed, award-winning graphic novel. A further aim of the book club is to promote awareness of the library and its resources among “new kids” in grades 9-12. Informal, after-school book club meetings will be held throughout the school year so that students can share their thoughts about the book with their peers.
60 copies of New Kid by Jerry Craft will be purchased to establish the New Kid Book Club. This book club is designed to promote literacy, welcoming newly enrolled students to Ridley High School with their very own copy of the graphic novel and letting them know that they are not alone in feeling like a “new kid.” New Kid was published in 2019 and has received rave reviews and numerous awards. It follows the story of Jordan Banks, who dreams of attending art school, but instead must attend the prestigious private school where his parents have enrolled him. As one of only a few kids of color in his grade, Jordan finds himself torn between two worlds and the struggle to fit in is real. Jordan has to figure out how to navigate his new school’s culture while staying true to himself. New Kid received “starred” reviews – indicating a book of distinction and exceptionally high quality – from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal. It won the 2020 Newbery Medal, an award given each year to the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” It also won the 2020 Coretta Scott King Author Award for an outstanding book for young readers that reflects the African-American experience. Most importantly, New Kid is beloved by readers of all ages who connect with its engrossing storyline, engaging artwork, and keen sense of humor. Readers also appreciate its universal themes of adapting to change, dealing with discrimination, and developing self-awareness. New Kid has been praised for its wide appeal, as well as social and emotional learning connections. A further goal of the New Kid Book Club is promoting awareness of the library’s resources among “new kids” in grades 9-12 through a visit to the library and an after-school book club meeting.
Pizza Palace Dara Bleacher, Lauren Buckley, and Rebecca Eppley Lakeview
Pizza Palace is a place where making pizzas and learning happens simultaneously. Our Pizza Place project is a Language Arts activity that supplements Fundations lessons and EDM Math all year long with Kindergarten students and Kindergarten Special Education/ Emotional Support Students. In an inclusive environment, all Kindergarten students will work together in small groups making (pretend) personal pan pizzas with toppings that center around the Fundations Unit lessons and EDM Math lessons. First time at Pizza Palace, students are making pizzas and adding toppings (ex: learning lower case letters, sounds, etc.). As the units progress, students will make pizzas with toppings incorporating new skills (example: upper case letters, building CVC words, tapping out words, spelling and reading sight words). In Math, students will use their counting skills to count toppings, add and subtract using the tools in their pizza kit.
Dr. Recess Assembly Meghan Lanci and Megan Cini Leedom
Created by award winning teacher and author, Curt Hinson, Ph.D. According to the program, the benefits of Dr. Recess include; less conflicts on the playground, new games to play at recess, fewer playground injuries, development of social-emotional skills, increased motivation to be active, reduction in bullying and relational aggression behaviors during recess. In addition, we hope to positively influence the students’ relationship and problem solving skills and reduce our conflicts and discipline referrals from recess. The Dr. Recess program begins with a 45 minute student assembly, followed by a games program during regularly scheduled recess time. In the assembly, Dr. Recess will use student volunteers to demonstrate new and exciting games. After the assembly, Dr. Recess sets those games up on the playground for the students to play during recess.
Gadz Ukes Genevieve Raven Leedom and Grace Park
Learning the ukulele cultivates vital skills beyond music, nurturing character and responsibility. Musicianship education covers tuning, strumming, rhythm, melody, singing, hand coordination, and sight-reading. In the realm of mathematics, students comprehend pitch changes in strings. Exploring history, students connect with the instrument’s development, manufacturing, and its historical context. Cultural enrichment follows as students delve into the ukulele’s origins, history, and the musical culture it embodies. Social skills flourish through teamwork, assisting peers, and creative song-making. Moreover, students embrace responsibility by caring for their instruments, tracking practice time, and monitoring progress.
The grant aims to provide students with ukuleles, fostering a comprehensive educational experience. The goals include enhancing musicianship by teaching tuning, accompaniment patterns, strumming, and simultaneous playing and singing. The grant seeks to strengthen fine and gross motor skills through chord shapes and strumming, integrate mathematical learning through rhythmic notation, and instill cultural awareness by exploring the instrument’s origin and history. Collaborative learning and composition are encouraged, promoting teamwork, responsibility, and cooperation. The grant aspires to teach life skills such as instrument care, progress monitoring, and dedication. Also, after experiencing a pandemic, the ukuleles offer a safe alternative to traditional instruments, ensuring a continued and enriched musical education for the students.
Bringing the National Archery Program to Ridley Kristen Starrs Middle School
The National Archery in the Schools Program is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4th – 12th. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life. All Ridley Middle school health and physical education teachers will receive a training as a part of the grant implementation that will allow us to carry out the program each year
Pop Up Plants Joann Simmons and Michele Baiada Middle School
Funds secured through this grant will be used to purchase supplies for the second year of the newly developed after school RMS Garden Club. The club is open to all grade levels and we had 20 students participate during the inaugural 2024 growing season. In addition to refunding the club, we are also seeking additional funds to “grow” our club to enable students to germinate, plant and study outdoor flowers and a pumpkin patch. Pumpkins will be grown from seed, transplanted in the ground and harvested in the fall by students to be painted and/or carved. Sunflowers will also be planted for the first year.
Students who learn through nature witness patience, responsibility, delayed gratification, respect for life and appreciation for living things. Indoor plants are a way to add nature to a school setting, especially during winter months. Students who participate in the club will take a part of school home with them and watch it continue to grow creating a new type of learning connection. Plants have been seen as a way to help people overcome trauma in addition to purifying the air and increasing indoor humidity. We hope to begin making use of the outdoor fenced area between RMS and Lakeview.
Ridley Educational Foundation 