In this celebratory season of giving, what better to highlight than the incredible generosity of the Wayland Public Schools Foundation (WPSF). Their mission states, "WPSF has established a tradition of innovation in our schools by funding grant proposals submitted by Wayland teachers and staff for cutting-edge programs that would otherwise go unfunded."  Each fall members of the Foundation cull through numerous grants written by teachers across the district to impact teaching and learning.  I am thrilled to share with you the thirteen exciting, innovative ideas the foundation chose to fund this year to enhance the educational experiences of our middle school students.

• Best Tools for the Job: New Computers for Middle School Music - This grant provides a very important upgrade to the music department computer lab.  New computers will allow our students to access music notation software (Finale Note Pad), music production software (Garage Band and Audacity), and music rehearsal software, (Smart Music) with hardware that has appropriate processing speed and memory capacity.  This grant enhances our students' ability to make beautiful music. - Steve Murray and Bethann Monahan

• Band Room and Cafetorium Technology Enhancement - The WMS band room and cafetorium will receive a technological makeover with the installation of a projector and double-sided screen.  Computer-generated visuals will enhance demonstrations of rhythmic and melodic concepts and allow for seamless integration of instructional and performance videos into band rehearsals and sectionals.  In addition to improving the band curriculum, the projector and screen will benefit the greater school community as the double-sided screen can be viewed during meetings and performances in the cafetorium - Rebecca Wellons

• WMS MakerMobile - We are excited to bring "Maker" capability to WMS.  MakerSpaces are communal project spaces with a focus on exploration, experimentation, collaboration, and accomplishment. Projects are open-ended and may range from sophisticated, technology-infused inventions to basic, handmade crafting. A MakerSpace is a safe space to learn and experience, in which students take ownership of their learning. The spaces challenge users, or "Makers," to re-define a typical learning environment in order to implement student-driven STEAM projects, differentiate learning experiences, and provide opportunities for personalized academic inquiry. Our team has designed an innovative approach that will bring the Maker experience into the classroom through the MakerMobile. Housed in a wheel-mounted cabinet, a MakerMobile will utilize its portability to bring the MakerSpace to the students, allowing integration of the Maker mindset across disciplines. - Peter Curran, Sara Ravid, Stacey Reed

• Technovation Tablets - This grant provides funding for 25 Google Nexus 7 Tablets and apps to launch a Technovation club.  "Technovation" is a technology entrepreneurship program and competition for young women. Teams work together to imagine, design, and develop mobile apps then pitch their "startup" businesses to judges. When the after-school Technovation Club is not in session, the tablets can be used to pilot "Google Play for Education" as a means of purchasing and delivering content, such as apps and books, to students. Google Play's management system is supposed to be more efficient than that of Apple's, deploying material quickly to classrooms. - Bethann Monahan

• "I See What You're Saying!" - With this grant we will purchase a specialized printer that will enable teachers to create a myriad of rich visuals to complement, enhance, and extend student learning. We know from research, professional development, and classroom practice that visual texts are often the clearest communicators of information. Visuals throughout WMS are vital tools to focus student learning and to clearly articulate and provide pictorial representation for abstract concepts.  This grant helps us be explicit in our teaching practices, turning the big idea of a lesson into a poster, advertising its core message. The printer will also allow us to capture and print photographs from on and off campus field experiences. - Ellen Jacobs, Alayna Coates, Susan Chisholm, Carrie Dirmeikis, Sara Ravid, Peter Curran, Jake Montwieler, and Bethann Monahan

• WMS Multimedia Corner - The new WMS Library Multimedia Corner will house a computer with 2D design and multimedia editing software. Students will have the opportunity to create visual and multimedia projects there. This technology will help students share knowledge in an audio-visual manner for class projects such as a WMS house mentor project or for real life applications, such as creating Chromebook how-to resources. Learning the software may also pique students' interest in pursuing further training at WHS or through WayCam. - Sara Ravid

• Developing Growth Mindset Through Brainology - Brainology is a program for students in grades 5-9, designed to teach "students that they are in control of their brain and its development. Most important, Brainology shows students how to apply this lesson to their schoolwork. It gives them a practical set of skills and strategies for tackling academic challenges." (http://www.mindsetworks.com/webnav/program.aspx) This grant will fund online Brainology accounts for our sixth graders to use in study halls, and organizational skills classes to help students develop an understanding of their brain and actions they can take to develop their intelligence and achieve at high levels. The blended learning format is an innovative approach to actively empower students with knowledge about their learning. - Betsy Gavron

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Convention -Every year, the National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics holds a convention to address topics affecting the teaching and learning of mathematics.  This year we are very lucky to have the convention in our back yard: Boston. The convention's theme this year is "Effective Teaching to Ensure Mathematical Success for All," and WPSF funding provides all members of the WMS math department choices of over 700 sessions, roundtable discussions, and workshops.  Of particular interest to our teachers are the sessions addressing the implementation of the Common Core Standards.  - Donna Sumner and Rebecca Poulo

• Getting Centered Meditation for Middle School Students - Today's stressful pace of life leads students to need to develop skills to self-calm and find their center.  This grant provides training to our Wellness teachers from former HS Biology teacher and meditation specialist Helen Rainoff, who has been trained in meditation and has practiced daily for over 28 years  Helen will also spend three classes with 8th graders, teaching them guided meditation and mindfulness. This work will allow teachers to make meditation an ongoing component of the 7th and 8th wellness curriculum. - Natalia Araszkiewicz

• Cellos for WMS Orchestras - This WPSF grant allows the WMS orchestra program to purchase four new cellos.  Since cello students do not bring their own instruments to school, they rely on the school having quality instruments in good condition.  As our orchestras continue to grow, we need to supplement our current supply of cellos in order to properly outfit the orchestras.  This grant will also allow us to replace some instruments that are in disrepair. - Whitney Tandon

• Engineering in the Math Classroom: Design a Better Windmill - This grant allows us to bring STEM education opportunities into the 6th grade math classroom.  We will purchase windmills with which we can experiment in our classrooms.  The ultimate goal is to use these windmills to pose "real world" problems that require mathematics to solve.  - Michael Kotin

• Boys' Book Club - In an effort to support the growth of boy readers, we have conducted a "boys' book club" over last year and a half. This grant funds eight copies of ten new titles for club members to read together.  Through the book group we can provide a safe place for our young male readers to engage in honest discussion about important issues not limited to but including the following:
• What does it mean to be a friend?
• What does resilience look like?
• How do stereotypes function for both boys and girls?
• What does courage look like?
• How do healthy relationships evolve over time?

- Carrie Dirmeikis and George Benzie

• Diminishing Anxiety by Improving Students' Sense of Time - This grant allows for the purchase timers for the students in 6th grade math.  Students will use the timers to see if they help them develop a better sense of what five or ten minutes truly feels like.  The hope is that this tool will help students better manage their time -- both in and out of the classroom.  -Michael Kotin

On behalf of all of the grant recipients and the student beneficiaries, we thank the Wayland Public Schools Foundation from the bottom of our hearts for providing such amazing learning opportunities. You can learn more about how to get involved with WPSF at http://waylandpublicschoolsfoundation.org/.

Respectfully,

Betsy Gavron