Foundation for Wallingford-Swarthmore Schools Announces 2012-2013 Grant Recipients
The Foundation for Wallingford Swarthmore Schools has awarded its 2012-2013 cycle of grants to teachers in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District (WSSD), funding special projects and teaching tools in the arts, music, science, reading, math, environmental science, physical education and technology fields. Foundation president Frannie Reilly said “Thanks to the monies raised from the Panther Pajama Run and Pancake Breakfast and the Arts4Smarts signature event, the Foundation can fund nearly $3,000 more grants than last year.” The funds for the awards were presented to the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Board of School Directors on Monday, December 17, 2012.
The Awards will be made in time for programs to be carried out during the Spring semester of this school year. Teachers from all three WSSD elementary schools, Strath Haven Middle School and Strath Haven High Schools submitted a total of 24 grant applications. The Foundation is supporting district-wide programs, some of which also received funding from all of the Home and School Associations, and some of which began with last year’s grants.
Brooke Penders, co-chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee explained: “Because of the success of the 5th grade robotics program last year, the Foundation is funding the purchase of additional robotics equipment for this program and expanding the robotics program to include a 4th grade robotics pilot program at NPE.”
The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation; its mission is to support innovation and excellence in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, and to enhance the quality of public education by engaging the support and energies of educators, parents, students, alumni and the greater community. The Foundation raises funds with various activities and events including the Panther Pajama Run and Pancake Breakfast in November, the Arts4Smarts signature event on March 9th ( and through corporate and United Way donations (donor number XXXX). For more information on these grants, and on opportunities to support and volunteer with the Foundation, visit
Grant recipients at Swarthmore-Rutledge (SRS), Nether Providence (NPE) and Wallingford (WES) Elementary Schools included:
1) Fifth Grade Robotics Club Proposal, collaboration between NPE, WES, & SRS -- Grant: $2,290
Funding requested to purchase Lego Mindstorms Education NXT base set, providing our elementary schools with 8 additional robotics sets. This increase will enable all three schools to run concurrent, year-long robotics clubs for 5th graders.
2) Dragon NaturallySpeaking Proposal, SRS Learning Support Team – Grant: $500
Funding requested to purchase 5 licenses with headsets for Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. This speech to text software has been proven to be highly effective in enhancing writing instruction for special education students. These 5 licenses will enable the software to be utilized with all first through fifth grade learning support students at SRS.
3) Reading Olympics Books Proposal, SRS – Grant: $510
Funding requested to purchase 8 copies of 14 books on the 2013 Reading Olympics Books list. These books will be used cyclically, every five years by the Reading Olympics teams and will be available for use by classrooms in other years.
4) iPads to Promote Literacy Proposal, SRS, NPE and WES Reading Specialists -- Grant: $923 per school; $2,769 total
Funding requested to purchase two iPads, cases and applications for use by the reading specialists to enhance the learning of developing readers. Free and purchased applications will expand the range of tools available to our reading specialists as they support our young emergent readers.
5) Math Forum @Drexel Proposal, Dave Mendell, 4th Grade teacher at WES – Grant: $150
Funding requested for a one year, Full Teacher Membership for the Math Forum@Drexel. This will provide him with additional resources to access problems and activities critical for helping students think and achieve at higher levels in math, with a particular focus on improving student interest/success with “open response” math problems.
6) Chess Sets Proposal, NPE Chess Club – Grant: $65
Funding requested to provide the NPE Chess Club with 10 new chess sets to replace old, damaged and borrowed sets. This is the third year of this successful club, with plans to continue in the future.
7) WeDo Robotics Proposal, NPE 4th grade – Grant: $990
Funding requested to purchase the first “WeDo Robotics” programs in the district, an introductory robotics program targeted at grades 2-4 and designed as a precursor to the Lego Mindstorms that are already in use throughout our 5th grades. This pilot program of five packs will expand the STEM robotics program into the 4th grade gifted program, which currently runs grades 5-12 in WSSD.
Grant recipients at Strath Haven Middle School included:
1) Adventure Initiative, SHMS Physical Education – Grant: $2,194
Funding requested to purchase safety equipment and climbing gear to supplement the WSSD Adventure Initiative that will add a middle school adventure unit to the 8th grade physical education classes. This adventure unit creates a learner-centered opportunity in a physical, non-competitive problem solving setting. This same equipment may be used in the future to expand other programs within the district, as well create rental opportunities to outside groups.
2) iPad with Music Education apps, SHMS Band – Grant: $690
Funding requested to purchase an iPad complete with Air Server and Music Education applications to supplement and enhance learning tools in the band classroom. Areas of impact will include analysis of band pieces, exploration of music theory, incorporation of music history and artist biographies and many other uses.
3) SMART Response Proposal, SHMS Math Department– Grant: $969
Funding requested to expand the purchase of SMART Response XE portable devices for use throughout all math classes in all grade levels of the Middle School. This grant build upon a pilot program grant made last year.
4) “The Missing Game” Proposal, 8th Grade Computer Science – Grant: $140
Funding request to purchase a class set (30) of “The Missing Game”, a software program designed to teach children Internet Safety. The CD’s will be re-used each semester so that all 8th grade computer science classes will incorporate this “game” as a supplement to the discussion of cyber predators.
Grant recipients at Strath Haven High School included:
1) Pug Mill Proposal, WSSD K-12 Art Department– Grant: $750
Funding requested to purchase a Pug Mill, a machine that recycles clay, enabling the art departments to reclaim and recycle the nearly 2 tons of clay wasted district-wide each year.
2) F.I.E.L.D. Kits Proposal, SHHS Environmental Science Teachers – Grant: $693
Funding requested to purchase three Forestry Suppliers’ Water Monitoring F.I.E.L.D. Kits for use by 9th graders in Environmental Science classes. These kits enable students to collect data and conduct testing in the existing retention basin (pond) on the school property.
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