Bay Village Education Foundation awards grants

Jennifer Carney, left, a teacher at Westerly Elementary School, is congratulated by Bay Village Education Foundation's Lisa Napoli. Carney was one of three teachers in the Bay Village City School District awarded a grant from the foundation. Photo courtesy Bay Village Schools

At the Nov. 21 Bay Village Board of Education meeting, the Bay Village Education Foundation presented three grants worth nearly $3,000 to three teachers within the Bay Village City School District.

The three teachers awarded grants are Ron Rutt, Technology Teacher at Bay High School; Jennifer Carney, Grade 3 Teacher at Westerly Elementary School; and Colin Lackey, Intervention Teacher at Bay Middle School.

"After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID, the Bay Village Education Foundation was excited to once again offer competitive grants to enhance the education of students in Bay Village Schools,” said Lisa Napoli, chairperson of Bay Village Education Foundation’s Grants and Scholarship Committee. “This year’s grant recipients are great examples of the innovative ways that Bay teachers make learning fun. The Bay Village Education Foundation is pleased to support such projects."

The Bay Village Education Foundation works to support, promote and fund programs created by students, faculty and staff in the Bay Village City School District. The programs encompass all areas of the public school curriculum and provide an opportunity to enhance enthusiasm for learning.

“We are grateful to have such a wonderful partnership with the Bay Village Education Foundation,” said Scot Prebles, Superintendent of Bay Village City School District. “Our teachers will put these funds to great use to create additional learning opportunities for our students.”

The Bay Village Education Foundation was established in 1985 by a group of Bay Village community leaders and parents in order to support creative programs in the Bay Village City School District. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $250,000 in total grant funding. The Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organization run by an elected, all-volunteer board of trustees. To learn more or to make a donation, please visit www.bayedfoundation.org.

Grantee: Ron Rutt, Technology Teacher
School: Bay High School
Project: Epilog Fusion Maker Rotary Attachment
Award: $1,595
Summary: An Epilog Fusion Maker Laser is being purchased for use in CAD (computer aided drafting) courses at Bay High School. This device will enable students to transform their CAD designs into physical objects. The rotary attachment being funded by this grant enables engraving onto cylindrical objects such as tumblers and glassware. This attachment will expand the Fusion Maker’s potential by providing students with an opportunity to create Bay-themed gifts, which could be sold in a real-world context.

Grantee: Jennifer Carney, Grade 3 Teacher, Westerly Garden Club Advisor
School: Westerly
Project: Westerly Courtyard Update
Award: $700
Summary: In the last year, the Westerly courtyard has been given a much-needed renovation through the removal of overgrown plants and new plantings. In addition to enhancing  the school grounds, the courtyard is used by the Westerly Garden Club. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase materials to create a raised garden bed so that students in wheelchairs can plant seedlings and pull weeds. Funds will also be used to purchase materials to create a sundial, rain gauge, bird feeders and birdhouses.

Grantee: Colin Lackey
School: Bay Middle School, Intervention Teacher
Project: Culture and Food Festival
Award: $600
Summary: Funds from this award will be used to purchase foods from different cultures to be used by the eighth-grade intervention specialist in connection with his Cultures curriculum. Funds will also be used for the end-of-the-year International Festival, which allows students to demonstrate everything they have learned throughout the school year, while working in groups to create a presentation for visitors.

Karen Uthe Semancik

Karen Misciagna is the director of communications for Bay Village Schools.

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Volume 14, Issue 24, Posted 11:27 AM, 12.20.2022