In addition to classroom grants, the Ridgewood Education Foundation seeks sponsorship opportunities that are closely aligned with our mission: to enhance the quality of education in the Ridgewood Public Schools.

Program sponsorship opportunities will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• The program broadly reaches students and encourages their participation.
• The program is aligned with the Ridgewood Public School curriculum.
• The program supports the Foundation's mission and raises community awareness of the Foundation.

Click here to download the Program Sponsorship Application pdf.

2011-12 School Year Grant Awards

The Ridgewood Education Foundation approved 23 new classroom grants for 7 different Ridgewood schools totaling $34,700.00. Citing a 'tremendous example of creativity and innovation in the number of excellent grant applications' Jennie Smith Wilson, President of the Board of Trustees, presented a check to the Board of Education to fund the following grants:

Grants

Bearfoot In AHLISA
Through a hands on workshop with Bearfoot, the Nashville based American Folk and Bluegrass band, students will learn music theory along with the history and importance of Bluegrass as well as it's influence on other genres of music. This workshop was conducted at the Ridgewood High School on November 17, 2011 for the students in the American History, Literature, and Integrated Study of Arts Program (AHLISA). The grant author is Michael Yannone of the Ridgewood High School and the requested amount was $1000.00 which breaks down to $20.00 per student in the program.

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Holography-Physics and Applications in the Health-related Sciences
This application by Harold C. Nelson Ph.D. of the Ridgewood High School Science Department is in the science of holography. Students will construct an optical table and create and develop holographic plates. They will compare the 3-dimensional hologram with the actual object in terms of spatial integrity and selected dimensions. The physics principles of holography-refraction, reflection, diffraction, and interference and the interactions of light energy with concrete objects will be discussed as they may be used in an array of broad-spectrum applications. The project will involve the 80 students of the 11th grade Physics class and be implemented from January to May of 2012.

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Jared Campbell's Seminar: Anti Bullying Through Song And Discussion
This anti bullying seminar authored by Barbara Crowe on behalf of the George Washington Middle School Home and School Association is scheduled for December 9, 2011 and will be held in the auditorium of the George Washington Middle School. The seminar will benefit the entire student body of approximately 690 students encompassing the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The amount of the grant is $3,300.00 which is a cost of $4.78 per student.

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Working With The Composer
This grant is authored by Steven Bourque of the Ridgewood High School Music Department. The project will be for the 44 members in grades 9-12th of the Ridgewood High School Chamber Choir. The program consists of a workshop with composer Nathan Jones who will come to the high school and work with the choir to learn and perform a piece of his music titled, "I Would Live In Your Love". There will be workshops scheduled for Friday, April 27th and Monday, May 21st. The students will give three performances after the workshops. This program of study will last from January to May 2012. The amount of the grant is $581.00 which is $13.20 per student involved in the program. This grant is funded entirely through generous gifts to the Foundation in memory of Anne Zusy.

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Protect The Planet!
This program will take place during Environmental Day at Ridge School on Thursday, April 5, 2012. Kid Power And The Planet Protector is an interactive musical show that will help children learn the value of environmental awareness and preservation. Approximately 300 students in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades will be involved in the assemblies. The grant, authored by Ajanta Kumar, is in the amount of $725.00 which is $2.42 per pupil involved in the program.

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Building A Never-Ending Gateway To Nature
This project will begin in the spring of 2012 and consists of a community art garden that will be created by the students of Orchard School and incorporate an evolving outdoor sculpture. This project authored by Judy Malhotra, the Art Specialist at Orchard School, will involve 338 students from kindergarten through the 5th grade. The grant is in the amount of $634.00 or $1.88 per pupil involved in the project.

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i-Teach: i-Pad Innovation In The Classroom
This grant authored by Meredith McLaughlin of the Somerville School is for three i-Pad 2 devices to be used primarily to benefit the 80 students in the 5th grade of Somerville School. The total amount of the grant is $1497.00 or $18.71 per student. The project start date is January 2012.

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Real Time Travel with Real Time Travel
This application involves the purchase of a one-year subscription for a 7 part Electronic Field Trip (EFT) Series offered by Colonial Williamsburg. Students will get to view monthly themes related to American History that parallel the 6th grade Social Studies Curriculum. This program's goal is to enhance students' learning beyond textbook and classroom discussions. The requested amount is $500.00 and was submitted by Mary Lou Handy from George Washington Middle School. The project will include the entire 6th grade, but will continue to be used annually. This project will begin as soon as grant monies are received.

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Current Status of Climate Change
This application involves inviting two well-known climate scientists to address the entire Junior and Senior class at Ridgewood High School. Students will have the opportunity to question each scientist on their research and general prospective on global change. Throughout the remainder of the year students will expand upon the speakers' presentations as they study topics such as greenhouse effect, global change, fossil fuels and non-carbon energy sources. This requested amount is $1100.00. The grant was submitted by James C. Thomas and Harold C. Nelson. The speakers are scheduled between March 2012 and June 2012.

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Entrepreneurship Restaurant Wars
This application involves the purchase of Knowledge Matters-Virtual Business Restaurant Software. Students will be able to use the virtual restaurant software combined with classroom knowledge in order to open their own restaurant for one night. The requested amount is $1495.00 and was submitted by Karen Mendez and Sean Case from the Ridgewood High School Business Department. The project will include approximately 120 9-12th grade students who are enrolled in Entrepreneurship classes at Ridgewood High School.

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The Good Nutrition Magic Show
This application involves students participating in a one hour assembly that will help motivate students to make good dietary choices. The assembly uses magic and music to help students learn the importance of good nutrition. The requested amount is $600.00 and the grant was submitted by parent Mariquit Corcoran. The assembly will include approximately 40 students ages 3 to 5 in the Ridgewood Early Developmental Program (R.E.D.) and is scheduled for February 15, 2012.

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Improve Your Improv
This application is for a Jazz Ensemble residency featuring Dave Stryker, a world class jazz guitarist. This grant will enable the Ridgewood High School Jazz Ensembles and conductors to learn the art of improvisation in a variety of jazz styles. The requested amount is $4600.00 and was submitted by Jeffrey G. Haas. The project will include all members of the Ridgewood High School Jazz Ensembles in grades 9-12 (approximately 40-50 students) as well as 190 members of the RHS Curricular Bands. The project will begin in December 2011. The culmination of this project will be a performance by Dave Stryker with the RHS Jazz Ensemble at the annual Jazz at Chakra concert on May 22, 2012.

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Having a Ball in the Classroom: Enhancing attention, concentration and posture
This application involves purchasing 30 stability balls and bases that will be rotated throughout third grade classes at Orchard Elementary School. It is a collaborative effort involving classroom teachers, physical education and occupational therapy. The goal of the project is to increase students' attention and posture while also improving the overall learning environment. The requested amount is $1200.00 and was submitted by Jim Ross at Orchard Elementary School. The project will include the entire third grade and is scheduled to begin in the 2011-2012 school year as soon as the equipment is purchased.

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Analysis of HoHoKus Brook for Seasonal Pollutants
This application involves the purchase of materials necessary to test the HoHoKus Brook for seasonal pollutants. Students will take water samples of the HoHoKus Brook and analyze for three variables: salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus. The goal will be to see if there is a correlation between the season and the level of the above pollutants while students also gain a better understanding of how easily these pollutants enter our water supply. The requested amount is $597.10 and was submitted by Wanda Power, Ridgewood High School Environmental Science Teacher. The project will include 70 12th grade students.

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Art and Science: A Match Made in the Garden
This application is a cross-curricular project that involves science and art. Students will create their own weather instruments that will then become a permanent part of the Orchard Community Garden. Students will research plants indigenous to New Jersey and use architect and designer Henry Varnum Poor as their inspiration in art class to create a variety of weather instruments. The requested amount is $657.43 and the author is Megan Bozios. The project is scheduled to begin in January 2012 and and involves the entire 4th grade.

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Orchard School's Art and Science
This application involves creating three new sculptures for the Orchard Community Garden. The sculptures include weather instruments and student-created clay flowers. The requested amount is $657.43 and the author is Megan Bozois (Orchard Elementary School 4th grade Teacher). The project will include all the fourth grade students in both the classroom and the art studio. It is scheduled to take place throughout the school year starting now with research in the classroom and clay structures being made in the art studio followed by weather instruments being made in the spring. The program will consist of ongoing weather data collection.

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Student Responders in the Classroom: Revolutionizing Instruction in the Digital Age
This application involves using the SMART Response Interactive Response system so that all students can be actively engaged in answering questions before, during and after a lesson. This technology also allows teachers to receive immediate assessment information in all areas of curriculum. The requested amount is $1455.00 and the author is The Orchard Elementary School Faculty. These responders will be used with the entire K-5 student body consisting of 338 students. Use of these responders will take place upon receipt of them coupled with some professional development for the teachers. Increased levels of engagement and participation will be fostered with the use of student responders.

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Let's All Be Heard
This application involves two elements. First, the use of Senteo Interactive Remote Response Clickers for primary students and second, the use of educational software called Classroom Suite. The Response Clickers will help engage and monitor students in the primary grades in terms of their understanding and thinking during classroom lessons. The Classroom Suite software will allow students of all levels to use the templates, which in turn allows teachers to create target lessons for reading and math. The requested amount is $1889.00 and the authors of the grant are Lynn Peabody and Nicole Blatt (from Ridge Elementary School.) The Response Clickers will be used in the K-2 classrooms and the software will reach the general population of the school and learners of all levels. Use of these items will take place once the grant is funded. Staff has read the research on these items as well as watched tutorials and are ready to implement upon arrival.

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Adaptive Design Research
This application involves a visit to the Adaptive Design Association in New York City for students taking a Research and Design art course along with the SAIL Art program. The mission of this association is to engage families, schools and communities in the process of designing and building responsible, child-specific, adaptive equipment. The requested amount for this grant is $600 and the author of this grant is Paul Cronk, Ridgewood High School teacher for this particular course. There will be a maximum of thirty students in grades 9-12 attending this trip. The students will take a tour of the facility and participate in a design workshop. Students will take the lessons learned from the workshop and translate the information into the design projects they are working on in their class. They are specifically working on the design of an ergonomic chair that supports body weight for two hours. The trip is to take place on December 15, 2011.

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Boston String Quartet Xibus Tour
This application involves a two day in-house residency with the Boston String Quartet (a professional quartet based in the Boston area) for the Ridgewood High School string players with the possibility of involving the choir and band. The tour is interactive by design and will include chamber music and performances of alternative styles such as jazz, Celtic, world, and popular music. Students will participate in daily rehearsals with the Boston String Quartet and various workshops and discussions. The two day workshop culminates in a concert in which the Ridgewood High School orchestra students perform alongside members of the quartet. The requested amount is $3200 and is authored by Kristi Gaspari, Ridgewood High School's Director of Orchestras. There will be 110 students that will participate in this two day workshop and concert. The actual date of the residency is in April of 2012. Leading up to that time, students will work in small ensembles both in and out of class while working with coaches and clinicians. This grant is substantially funded by donations to the Foundation in memory of Anne Zusy.

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Healthy Lifestyle: Try it, You'll Like It
This application involves educating students about good nutrition, making healthy food/snack choices, trying new foods, being more active and encouraging family meals. It will be presented by Healthbarn USA entitled "Try it! You'll like it!" to the students of Ridge Elementary School in grades 3-5. The requested amount is $950 and is authored by Colleen Manke (the school nurse/health educator at Ridge Elementary School.) Students will visit the interactive tasting stations which represent the five food groups and will participate in group led exercises. Upon receipt of the grant money, a date will be selected in the spring of 2012.

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Hand Drums in Native Drumming
This application involves enhancing the study of Native American history and culture by learning the drumming techniques of Native Americans. The Hawes Home and School Association will purchase a set of hand drums for classroom teachers to use during this unit of study. These drumming techniques will be expertly presented and taught to the students by Gregg Bendian, a performing artist, who will present to the students about the drumming styles of other cultures and Native Americans. The amount requested is $2,550 and is authored by Hawes Elementary School Music teacher Deborah Gregory-Fink. The entire student body will benefit from this grant with a concentration in the first and third grades, as they do a more intensive study of Native American History and Culture. The first and third grades will demonstrate what they have learned in two community meetings (K-2 and 3-5) by leading their fellow students in a drum circle experience. This study will begin with drum circle experiences at Hawes, a visit from Mr. Bendian in December and will culminate with the community meetings performances.

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We Are A Global Community, Global Café Mural
This project authored by Chuck Nebbia of the Hawes School involves the concept and design of a large scale mural celebrating the community's global ancestry. The work will be under the auspices of Nicky Enright, an accomplished muralist, who will guide the students through the project from start to finish. The grant is in the amount of $3750 which will be used to help complete the project. This correlates to $9.15 per student for the 410 member student body of the Hawes School in grades kindergarten through the 5th grade who all will be contributing to the project.