The SEF is now registered with AmazonSmile! When you shop with AmazonSmile you enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The only difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the SEF.

 

How does it work?

When first visiting smile.amazon.com you'll be prompted to select a charitable organization from almost one million eligible organizations. Simply enter "Southington Education Foundation" and you're good to go. You can also go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3480746 to get connected instantly.

 

Learn More

To learn more about AmazonSmile visit http://org.amazon.com or http://southingtoneducationfoundation.org/amazonsmile.htm

The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new "John Myers Family Center at the Southington YMCA Camp Sloper" was held June 12 at YMCA Camp Sloper. 

 

 The 750 square-foot building, previously a pavilion, has now been enclosed for year-round use. The project cost about $55,000 with money coming from Camp Sloper's improvement fund, Home Depot of Southington, Allstate Insurance of Plainville, and the Southington Education Foundation. 

 

Upon entering the building visitors' eyes are drawn to a "Southington Education Foundation STEM Laboratory" sign, a reminder of the $20,000 donation made by the SEF for help in completing what was to be called the Nature Center. "It makes us so excited about the fact that our science at Sloper program will be expanding in a variety of ways," said Jan Galati, SEF Chairman, during the ribbon cutting. "I'm so happy this project has come to fruition and that all of us were able to continue to collaborate," said Dawn Miceli, SEF Board Member. 

The building's interior gives off an aroma of freshly cut wood from new construction and kid-sized tables and stools. On a counter a laptop is running with a video of fourth graders engaged in activities during the Science at Sloper visits. A projector has already been installed on the ceiling with surround sound for student use on filming and creating movies. A separate room has been set aside for storage of science equipment and technology Mark Pooler relates. The building clearly integrates camping and the natural habit with science and technology. 

"I am looking at purchasing digital microscopes to use in the new building and expand the pond study portion of our fall science day," said John Duffy, the science coordinator for the district. "Mark Pooler (Camp Sloper Director) and I are also exploring some engineering activities that best fit both our curriculum and the Camp Sloper environment. We are in the beginning stages of that work."

"This building is a symbol for the SEF, of its accomplishments and our mission to enrich education. Most importantly, it is about the children," stated Galati. For more information, visit the STEM page on the SEF Website. You can read more stories about the Nature Center here.

During a June 4th reception at Thalberg School we celebrated our tenth round of grants conveyed to educators and again there was reason for excitement.

 

Chanel Curtin, a teacher at Thalberg School was awarded a grant which allows her to start a robotics team next fall through the national program First Lego League. Curtin explained that robotics fosters independent thinking and problem solving skills and students will be able to continue their interest in robotics at the middle school and high school levels.

 

At South End School Marion Virello, the food services manager, and Ellen Bellinger, a first grade teacher, combined to create an indoor organic vegetable garden, an activity that they had heard about in New York City schools. The grant recipients expect students to learn where vegetables came from, plant and maintain a garden, and enjoy vegetables. Right now Bellinger said that the growth is slow and that there is a bit of a learning curve. However, she said it is a garden that will go on and on.

 

Each grant incorporates at least two of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and together $4,000 was awarded to the educators for their projects. To date the SEF has awarded $78,000 in grants and written $130,000 in checks for various grants, programs and initiative over the past five years.

 

Teachers are reminded that the SEF accepts grant applications throughout the year.  There are no defined grant funding periods. So, please don't hesitate to apply for those grants ... we're anxious to help you instill a love of learning in our children!

 

For more information, visit our grants page at http://southingtoneducationfoundation.org/grants.htm.

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