Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — The Barrington Education Foundation recently awarded 10 grants totaling $49,029, to the town’s six public schools.

Now in its 20th year, BEF supports educational opportunities within Barrington Public Schools. Each year, BEF selects grants that best fit with its vision in which every public school student receives a world-class education, and is inspired, challenged, and guided to reach his or her greatest potential.

This year’s grants will be used to fund the following initiatives:

Barrington High School

• A large capacity production kiln for the ceramics/art department.

• Virtual Synthesizer Software for the music department, providing software for 5 workstations, and enabling a new electronic music course next year.

• Vernier and Pasco Probeware — cutting edge technology for chemistry and physics classes. Probeware allows students to obtain rapid data in a laboratory setting, and allows for faster and greater analysis when combined with inquiry-based experiments.

• A $10,000 grant towards the purchase of laptops for the BHS library. Currently, the library has only 29 computers for approximately 1,200 students at the high school.

Barrington Middle School

• A cold frame to extend the growing season in support of the garden project/outdoor classroom

Hampden Meadows School

• Nature Trail Support. With the Audubon Society, HMS will create a nature trail through the conservation land behind the school. The trail will have 7 to 8 learning stations to be used as an inquiry-based outdoor classroom.

• Printing press for the art department, allowing better quality prints and more experimentation with pressure and materials.

• 15 iPads to fund a pilot program for all students at HMS. Teachers can select educational apps that allow for live error correction and a more hands-on experience for students.

• “Learning in Motion” — 60 stability balls and 6 standing desks for alternative seating arrangements for children with attention and sensory needs.

Nayatt School, Primrose Hill School, Sowam’s School and Hampden Meadows School

• $6,000 total for library materials that support the principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.

Decision-making for grant allocations is a rigorous, community-based process that extends throughout the year.

The foundation encourages grant applications from members of the Barrington school community. Grant proposals are evaluated on, among other things, the following criteria: innovation, student reach, enrichment opportunity, collaboration, leveraging of existing resources, proof of effectiveness, support of curriculum or school improvement plan, development of the whole child, and prudence/cost-effectiveness.

The allocations process is guided by parents Anna Clancy and Trish Byrnes-Moses.

“BEF endeavors to fund innovative initiatives that provide enhanced or expanded learning experiences to as many students as possible,” said Mrs. Clancy.

After gaining approval from their respective principals, applicants are invited to submit comprehensive applications. Each proposal reflects significant time, planning, and thoughtfulness. Applicants are given the opportunity to present their proposal to a group of BEF board members to further advocate for their grant request.

After a thorough review session, this group makes recommendations that are presented to the full BEF board (co-chaired by Dara Iserson and Barbara Green, and comprised of more than 20 community members) which then considers the grants for final approval.

“We really strive to provide valuable resources that might otherwise not be available,” Ms. Byrnes-Moses said.

To raise money to support grants, BEF runs several fund-raisers each year. The most significant of these is the annual telethon that will take place on April 2 and 3, with thousands of phone calls seeking donations going out to Barrington families.

This year’s co-chairs, Jennifer Jageler and Lee Ann McQueary, are pleased to have the support of Brad Faxon as honorary co-chair again this year.

“BEF has been so fortunate to have the support of the community for the past 20 years and we are hoping that BEF’s 20th anniversary telethon this year will be the most successful to date,” Ms. Jageler said

“Donations of any size are welcomed so that BEF can continue to champion extraordinary educational opportunities for all students in the district,” Ms. McQueary said.

Donations can also be made anytime on the BEF website, at ww.barringtoneducation.org, or mailed to BEF at 283 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806. Families choosing to donate in advance will not receive a fund-raising call.