Rob Westerberg wins $200.00 "Granting Wishes" Award

Rob Westerberg, the York High School chorus teacher, won this year's "Granting Wishes" award from YEF.  In late November and early December, parents and students had the opportunity to make a small donation to YEF and simultaneously nominate a teacher that they thought was a shining star in the York School District.  Rob Westerberg was randomly selected as this year's winner, and he received a $200.00 grant from YEF.  Congratulations to Mr. Westerberg and all of the other wonderful teachers that were nominated!

Festival of Fostering Trees

YEF donated a tree this year to the 7th annual Festival of Fostering Trees.  The tree was decorated and adorned with corks as a thematic nod to YEF's annual "Uncorked" fundraiser.  Kim Russell was the lucky recipient who won YEF's donated tree, and she also received two complimentary tickets to YEF's 9th Annual Uncorked fundraiser to be held in 2013.  Congratulations Kim!

During the month of November, the Meat House in York has graciously agreed to donate 10% of its proceeds from sales of their "wines of the month" to the York Education Foundation.  The "wines of the month" will be clearly marked in the store, so please support the Meat House and YEF by purchasing wines of the month during the month of November.

Like YEF on Facebook!!

If you have a Facebook account, please "like" the York Education Foundation page so that you can receive updates on upcoming fundraisers, events and happenings. 

YEF Meets with the new Superintendent of York Schools

YEF had a terrific introductory meeting with the York School District's new Superintendent, Dr. Debra Dunn, and new Director of Curriculum & instruction, Barbara Maling. At the meeting we presented a plaque that shows the recipients of the Henry Scipione Leadership Award.

York Education Foundation Announces 2012-2013 Grant Awards

On your mark...get set...GO!!!!

The York Education Foundation (YEF) announced the funding of six grants for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year following its monthly board of director’s meeting in June.  “We were thrilled with the quality of the grant requests that were submitted this year”, said Ann D’Aquila, chairperson of YEF’s Grant Committee, “and we are even more excited to be able to fund these six programs.”

YEF is an independent, non-profit organization of community volunteers committed to excellence in education.  Its mission is to provide funding for innovative and challenging programs in the York Public Schools that are beyond the scope of traditional funding.  With funds raised through community-based activities, YEF awards grants for exceptional projects and programs proposed by York educators and employees at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  Here’s a brief overview of next year’s grant programs:

“Picture This!” is an art appreciation program for kindergarten students.  Coordinated by Phyllis Giordano and April Noble at Village Elementary School, “Picture This!” will utilize art work from the permanent collection of the Ogunquit Museum of American Art to support specific units of kindergarten study and give students the opportunity to develop different skills and perspectives when relating to art.  The program will culminate in a field trip to the Museum.

Flo Larson, Library Ed. Tech. and Liz Reisz, Director, Library/Media Services at York Middle School will receive a grant to fund the initial purchase of a school-district specific library of downloadable eBooks geared toward readers in grades 3-12, as well as six eReaders for the YMS library.  The “OverDrive Advantage Program” will enable York to start a collection of high interest titles that will be accessible only to York students. Studies have shown that eReaders increase motivation and assignment completion in reluctant readers, and free choice in reading selection and format increase students’ motivation to read.  This grant will give students access to a wider variety of electronic titles than has ever been available, thereby providing more students a greater chance of success and enjoyment in reading.

Suzi Young, grade 5 teacher at York Middle School, will be awarded a grant to fund the purchase of materials to create puppets, and the hiring of a professional puppeteer to teach all 5^th grade students how to make puppets and perform with them.  Work with puppets frequently has a beneficial influence on learning and social development, and provides an alternative for tactile learners or more introverted students.  The project will be implemented across the subject areas of the 5^th grade curriculum, and performances will be developed for the lower grades as well, creating a connection between the lower schools and middle school.

“Activating Learners with Student Response Remotes” is a project created by Michael Cleary, social studies teacher at York High School.  With funding provided by YEF Mr. Cleary will purchase student response remotes for use in high school social studies classes.  The devices are designed to enhance student classroom engagement and provide immediate feedback on student comprehension.  Students must remain engaged and on task, as the system requires their participation by “clicking in” to answer questions.  Further, it enables the teacher to instantly modify lessons based on assessment of student learning.  The ultimate goal of this pilot is to introduce this emerging technology in other subject areas and classrooms.

                Elementary school teachers will attend evening training sessions to explore effective classroom management, learn strategies for teaching positive behavior, and discuss responses to misbehavior next year in a program named “Responsive Classroom Professional Development – Effective Classroom Management”. Created by Julie Crafts, grade 1 teacher at Village Elementary School and Kathy Welch, school counselor at CRES, the program is designed to create a common language and common classroom climate, and to facilitate the sharing of classroom management strategies between colleagues. 

YEF will also fund “English as a Second Language Summer Session” in the summer of 2013.  Mary Reinhardt, ESL teacher, Ed. Tech III, will continue to provide language and educational services throughout the summer to students who do not speak English as their primary language and who are at risk of losing whatever proficiency and knowledge of the language they have gained during the school year.  “Maintaining proficiency into the subsequent school year is important for the ESL student”, said Mrs. D’Aquila, “and will have a positive impact on the other children in the classroom as well.”  Ms. Reinhardt will work in collaboration with the classroom teachers to ensure appropriate individual student objectives are set, and provide a detailed evaluation at the end of the program.

In related news, YEF’s primary fundraiser, “Uncorked!”, took place on May 6 at The Cliff House in Ogunquit.   The Foundation is pleased to report that once again this year the event was both enjoyable and successful.  With the support of more than 160 attendees, as well as the many area businesses and craftspeople that provided products and services for the silent auction, “Uncorked 2012!” raised more than $15,000 for the Foundation’s grant fund.   

At the York School Board meeting on June 6, YEF board member John Alexander presented the first “Henry R. Scipione Award” to outgoing Superintendent Scipione.  The Foundation wished to honor Dr. Scipione, as his early involvement was critical to the creation and development of the York Education Foundation.  In the future YEF will memorialize Dr. Scipione’s efforts by giving the award “to an educator whose efforts serve to promote and advance excellence in education for students of the York Public Schools.”

Including the grant awards for the upcoming school year, The York Education Foundation will have issued more than $120,000 in grants to fund programs such as those described above.  Virtually all of the monies raised by YEF go directly back into the school system.  If this is something that interests you, YEF is always in need of volunteers!  Please visit the foundation’s website at www.yorkeducationfoundation.org, and contact any board member.  Get involved today!

Congrats to the Class of 2012!

Over the next few weeks, young adults across our nation will be waiting (some patiently and some not...) for their name to be called to come up and receive their High School Diploma.  In a blink of an eye they've gone from feisty freshman to surly seniors and now giddy graduates!  Fortunatley there are enough activities going on that parents, relatives, and friends have little time to get TOO emotional about the change that will be taking place within their homes and their town...but a change is a coming and it is something we all have to face.

I for one will miss the graduates of York High School.  I've been fortunate enough to get to know many of them over the past decade and thank my lucky stars for the opportunity!  The Class of 2012 has made a positive impact on the town of York over the past four years and it is now time for the rest of the world to get a glimpse.  Our students will be heading off to schools and jobs around the world.  York will be well represented in every aspect of work and higher education.  The engergy and enthusiasm this class has brought to our community will be put to work in new ways as our students begin their adventure.  I thank them for what they have done for the community and wish them well!

For those of us that will remain here in York, it is up to us to keep the dream alive for the students that are waving goodbye to the Class of 2012.  There are children in every grade level that are looking forward to their chance to follow their dreams.  They look upon their brothers, sisters, cousins, or neighbors graduating and imagine themselves receiving their diploma.  We need to help them, so they can continue to help us!

York Education Foundation will continue to support the students and faculty within the schools througout York.  There are new board members bringing new ideas and keeping the focus on helping teachers help the students.  You've probably seen some of the changes in the website, events, and communication from YEF.  You may have even met some of the new board members.  If you have and are interested in helping, I encourage you to reach out to YEF.  As you go through our website, whether you realize it or not, there are students from the Class of 2012 in many of the pictures.  Your support helped those students make it to the Graduation festivities.  The Classes of 2013, 2014, and beyond are waiting for their chance to hear their name called...would you like to be counted among those that helped to support their efforts?  If so, consider giving us a shout - we'd love your support!

In the meantime - Thank You Class of 2012 and best of luck!

Steve Schindler