The Park Ridge Education Foundation Gets Results!

PREF GRANTS AWARDED THROUGH SPRING 2011

• New Sound System for Gym: New system will promote school spirit for PE classes, Athletic events, Band concerts, graduation, PRAA and other community functions. $7,000
• Literacy and Math: Students will read the novel Secrets, Lies and Algebra by Wendy Lichtman. This will enhance math education in the 8th grade by incorporating literacy in the Math 8 classes. $500.
• Media Production Class: Funding for four iMac ‘s and two handheld camcorders to use in the new Media production class offered the school year of 2010-2011. $6,700.
• School Spirit Senior Lounge Couches: Junior class officers requested two new couches for senior lounge. $1,000.
• Computer Art for Juried Art Class: Students will be able to express themselves more completely and creatively through computer technology and digital photography in a way they have not been able to do before to submit their work for juried art shows. $900
• Dance Master classes: Students will receive hands-on exposure to West African movement, modern dance pioneers, ballet and a variety of musical theater movement forms. $800
• Understanding African/American Music and Its Performance: Four part series for the Middle School and High School classes to learn the rich musical traditions which evolved from the African/American presence since the time of slavery. $680
• MOMA HS Art classes: Students are making surrealist landscapes this year which the visit to the MOMA would avail them the opportunity to see original surrealist landscapes of Miro, Dali, Ernst. Students will see job opportunities available for those who are interested in pursuing a career in the art field. $300
• Model UN: Students will participate in the Model UN to put into practice their knowledge of global politics, global issues and debate protocol. $2000
• Visiting playwright: Creative Writing classes will receive instructions from a playwright on elements of playwriting. They will then write a play in the dramatic form. Playwright will then return to analyze and discuss students work. $500
• Interactive Digital Lessons plans: World Language department will use the white board technology. Ten lessons along with the whiteboard, hard drive and stand will be purchased. By using technology students will become active learners. Use of whiteboards enables access, manipulation and presentation of information and knowledge. $2,550
• Math Is Everywhere: Provide AP Calculus students with a deeper appreciation of math as it is seen in our everyday lives. Visit NYC, American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Museum of Art to see first hand the math correlation. Students will select 3 works of art and write a paper on their mathematical significance. $225
• Big Band Swing & Jazz Performance/Clinic: Educate students to the “Big Band Era” its music, history, instrumentation and some of the most famous artists of this time. Parents invited to the final performance. $1,500
• Imprints: Imprints highlights the creativity of the students in grades 9-12. Including color in our additions allows Imprints to be competitive in the American Scholastic Press Association contests. $1,000
• Recycling “Keep it Clean, Keep it Green Club”: Student Grant to bring awareness of the environment to the school to start recycling bottles and cans within the PRHS building. $200
• Melodic Keyboard: Two keyboards to help meet the demanding need of PRHS repertoire at all levels. Both keyboards will be used by all percussionists and melodic players. These keyboards will help the Middle, High School and Marching Bands to sound better and play a wider variety of music. $1,000
• Spanish Play at Teatro P.epertorio in NYC: PRHS Spanish Class will attend Teatro Prepertorio. $814
• German Class trip to the Cloisters: Expand student’s knowledge of the Middle Ages as learned in German class by viewing artifacts from that time. $210.
• Practical Approach to College Selection: A hands on approach to the college process. Students will be involved in guidance sessions that involve utilizing “College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best College for you.” $950 repeated
• History of Park Ridge Schools: An Option II course where students participate in the research, writing, film making and production of a documentary celebrating the 200th anniversary of Park Ridge schools. This is a collaborative effort between SONY Corporation, Park Ridge TV, the Park Ridge BOE and PREF. - $8,000
• The Owl: Provide funding to expand 2 issues of The Owl to include more student participation. - $2,260
• Hidden Child Holocaust Survivor Speaker: After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, eighth grade English students will meet and hear from a speaker who at 10-years old was hidden in Paris, France, during Nazi occupation. - $210 repeated
• Visiting Playwright for 9-12 Creative Writing Classes: Creative Writing classes 9-12 will work for six weeks on a one-act play with guidance from a visiting published playwright whose work has been staged. - $500
• German Class Visit to “Neue Gallerie”: PRHS Advanced German class studying 1900s art will visit the German “Neue Gallery” in New York City. - $210
• Park Ridge High School Banners: This 2006 School Spirit Grant will provide PRHS banners to be hung throughout school property. Funding for this grant was generously donated to PREF by Sony Corp. - $2,000
• Spanish Class Trip to “La Casa de Bernarda Alba”: PRHS Advanced Spanish class will attend new play in New York City. - $814 repeated
• Broadway Classroom: High School Choir 9-12 will attend a behind-the-scenes look at Broadway Theater through a workshop with Broadway Musical performers and staff, followed by attending the actual musical. - $1,812 repeated
• Middle School Team Teaching: Beginning in 2006, for three years, consultant Tom Kane will work with PRHS Middle School teachers to establish exceptional, state-of-the-art middle school teaching practices and techniques through team teaching and the “information literacy” program. - $13,000
• Engineers Teaching Algebra: Visiting Engineers show the everyday value of algebra as a necessary language in a world of information and technology through engineering. - $1,000 repeated
• New York Philharmonic School Day Concert: All instrumental music students grade 7-12 attend a motivational musical experience with NY Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2005. Students work with a full music history/instrumental curriculum prior to the concert. - $2,340
• Crime Scene Investigation: CSI Kit for Freshman Biology classes to solve “crimes” using biology-based topics such as DNA testing, genetics, blood typing and tissue properties. $318
• Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference: Sophomore(s) from PRHS is nominated by Guidance and sent to attend this national leadership seminar. Awarded 2 years for 3 attendees. - $800
• “Up, Up & Away with Hot Air Balloons:” Middle School all-day outdoor education program teaches weather, air pressure, lift and physical properties of matter using a hot air balloon. - $350
• Athletic Banners for PRHS Gymnasium: Joint effort with PRHS BOE to enhance school pride by improving appearance of PRHS Gym. All athletic banners will be replaced. - $5,000
• Athletic Scoring Table: Custom PRHS sporting table to be used for PRHS sports programs. Equipment will enhance “school pride” and athletic safety during sporting events. - $3,240
• Annual Marybeth Mathis Resident Creative Writing/Publishing Workshop for Freshman English: Each year, a visiting author will work with Freshman English classes for a week in a creative writing/publishing workshop. This grant was awarded in memory of PREF founding partner, Marybeth Mathis. - $2,500 annual
• “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me” Anti-Prejudice School-wide Assembly: Conducted by psychologist/actor Dr. Michael Fowlin, this school-wide assembly focused on impacting students’ beliefs about race, religion and other potentially polarizing characteristics through role playing. - $2,700
• Supplemental Funding for repeat Anti-Prejudice High School Assembly with Dr. Michael Fowlin: Conducted by psychologist/actor Dr. Michael Fowlin, assembly focused on impacting students’ beliefs about drugs & alcohol. - $500
• School Planners for I&RS Students: I&RS (Intervention and Referral Services) students receive student planners to assist with organizational skills and homework completion. - $205
• Choral Workshop: Body alignment, energy/breathing and physical release are the focus of this high school chorus workshop designed to emphasize basic principles of singing. - $400
• Phys. Ed. “Centipede” Climbing Ladder: Addition to existing Project Adventure equipment. - $2,325
• Middle School Play: Theater arts performance for 7th and 8th grades. - $1,000
• Reading Materials for Business Law: To increase student knowledge in business law, books were purchased to provide current, relevant information on labor laws, the food industry and personal law. - $444
• Middle School Art Display: Provide bulletin board to new Middle School art room to display student artwork. - $188
• Professional Workshop for Math Faculty on teaching to multi-level students - $775
• Digital Video Equipment for “Live” Science Labs: Digital video equipment and software donated to high school science department to enable recording of “live” science labs. - $1,000
• Poetry Slam: A competitive forum of performance poetry. High School students write and perform their poetry and are judged by members of the audience (peers). - $575
• Reading Incentive Program and Writer’s Workshop for Middle School English: In-class middle-school library purchased to promote independent reading. Visiting poet worked with students in a creative writing/poetry session. - $2,404
• 8th Grade Math Volunteer Career Speakers Program (approved annually for three years): Designed to show students how math can apply to careers and real life, parents discuss their career and its connection to math with 8th grade math students. – 3 years - $600
• 7th Grade Published Poetry: Poetry and artwork of seventh grade students is published and shared throughout the grade (renewed for a second year). - $575
• Dynamic Applications of Math: Technology for math classes, grades 7-12. Software packages will allow students to discover properties of algebra, pre-calculus and calculus using the computer. - $925
• Foreign Language Converter: Equipment to convert foreign-language videos into VHS format so that students may view foreign language programs at home. - $800
• Digital Equipment for School Clubs and Publications: Scanner, digital camera and publishing software donated to Yearbook Club and school publications. - $975
• Ecology Club and Science Field/Nature Resource Materials: Books and field glasses used for nature study. - $935
• PRHS School Store: Inventory donated to establish a school store. Store is also used as a manipulative for Intro to Business classes to develop marketing plans, financial projections, inventory control, etc. - $1,000
• Scholastic Math Magazine (approved annually for three years): Magazine to be used for 7th Grade Explorations in Mathematics Cycle Class. $225