For the eighth consecutive year, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has awarded grants to public school teachers from the Anderson Family Fund for Education. The awards this year total $20,000 in grants to 22 teachers and professionals within 14 public schools on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. The grants which range from $400 to $1,000 will enhance the learning opportunities for the students. Since 2002 the Anderson Family Fund for Education has awarded more than $165,000 in teacher grants throughout the territory.
Two schools emerged as top winners in the committee’s review. On St. Croix, Arthur A. Richards received $3,000 in grants to three teachers working to enrich the students’ experiences of their culture through music, song and field trips to local historical sites. On St. Thomas, three teachers at the Ulla Muller Elementary School received awards totaling $3,000 to expand their students’ cognitive skills through playing chess and by providing books for older students to read with kindergarteners and provide books for students to bring home to read and share with their families. Overall, the committee selected those proposals that would provide teachers with the tools they need to inspire student creativity.
“An evaluation committee reviewed 47 proposals received from an impressive pool of applicants. Priority was given to those proposals where students would be directly involved in the project, or where creative strategies and activities are used to promote student learning, and where there would be a measurable outcome. The attached list outlines the funded proposals and purpose,” said Dee Baecher-Brown, CFVI’s president.
"It is our pleasure to assist Virgin Islands’ public school teachers and students for the eighth year by awarding these Anderson Family Teacher Grants,” said John Anderson Sr., chairman of Topa Equities Ltd. in Los Angeles. “The creativity and thoughtfulness of the teacher’s proposals and the difference which the grants make for their students makes the giving even more rewarding for us.”
The annual teacher grant program administered by CFVI is made possible through the generosity of John E. Anderson Sr. and funded by St. Thomas-based, Topa Properties Ltd.
The Anderson Family Fund for Education was established in 2002 to support a wide array of educational enrichment programs for the students of the Virgin Islands public schools which are unavailable as part of the regular school curriculum.
The Anderson Family Fund for Education is one of more than 90 named funds at CFVI providing scholarships, grants and supporting programs in the USVI. Individuals or businesses wishing to know more about CFVI should call 774-6031, or visit the Web site at www.cfvi.net.
(1) Arthur Brown, Arthur A. Richards Junior High School
Remembering and Showcasing Our Culture: Keeping Quelbe and Quadrille Alive – $1,000
Lunch time program where students will learn the island’s rich musical history and under direction create original songs and various performances that might include cruise ship passengers.
(2) C. Kelitha Joseph, Arthur A. Richards Junior High School
World Drumming Cultural Enrichment Program: Drumming with a Purpose – $1,000
This lunch time program will teach drumming techniques and singing with an emphasis on team building, respect, focusing, listening, problem solving and other social skills.
(3) Jessica Parker, Arthur A. Richards Junior High School
Continuing Stepping Out: Exploring St. Croix through Art Field Trips – $1,000
Cultivate the appreciation of the local arts in students through series of field trips, restorative and educational value of the humanities.
(4) Edwin Russell, Juanita Gardine Elementary School
Guitar Band for Juanita Gardine – $985
Teaching a variety of guitar methods to the students that will lead to the creation of a guitar band.
(5) Sue Diverio, Project Link High School program
Smokin’ Word-The Art of Public Speaking – $1,000
Students enrolled in the Project Link program will learn public speaking techniques. The students in return will share their message about staying in school with various junior high and high schools.
(6) Margaret Flynn, Addelita Cancryn Junior High School
Photojournalism Class – $480
Teaching the art of photography and how it applies to journalism will improve student writing.
(7) Niels Gooding, Addelita Cancryn Junior High School
Keep our Musical Culture Alive – $1,000
Develop a performance quality scratch band to accompany the existing quadrille and maypole group.
(8) Phebe Schwartz Davis, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School
BCB Mural Arts Project – $1,000
To expand an existing mural in a project that encompasses reading, writing, math, social studies, science and physical education.
(9) Maybelle Fale, Charlotte Amalie High School
On the Job Training – $665
Training for students with special needs to equip them with the social skills and other qualities needed by a potential employer.
(10) Edney L. Freeman, Charlotte Amalie High School
Space Camp-Art-Stem and Rocketry – $1,000
After school progam that encourages science technology engineering and math through hands on activities that incorporate other areas including business and art.
(11) Joanne M. Saunders, Evelyn E. Marcelli Elementary School
Art Rainbow Visual & Performing Arts Club – $600
Lunch time recess club that develop and showcase the kids creativity and artistic talents.
(12) Neomie Toussaint-Williams, Gladys Abraham Elementary School
African Drumming – $1,000
Students in grades 4- 6 will be taught the art of drumming in polyrythmic, African style using authenic drums from Ghana, West Africa.
(13) Amy H. Roberts, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School
Online School Newspaper for Kean High – $1,000
Re-establishment of the school’s online newspaper to serve as a community bulletin board, showcase talents, arts, creative writing and a space for students and staff to express their opinions.
(14) Michael Skrbich, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
V.I. Inclusive Website – $750
Students will create and maintain a website to showcase the work of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Inclusion classes.
(15)Tiana E. Wilson, Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School
Primary Art – $1,000
Expanding the art department within the school to expose students to different type of arts, creating varied designs using modern art equioment and fostering a love for art beyond the classroom doors.
(16)Yvonne Potter, Yvonne Potter and Beverly Bukle, Joseph Gomez Elementary School
Third Grade Reading Rocket – $400
Students will read non fiction scholastic newspapers to help build vocabulary, math, reading comprehension and critical thinking skills on a weekly basis.
(17)Beverly Todman, Yvonne Potter and Beverly Bukle, Joseph Gomez Elementary School
Third Grade Academic Achievers – $870
Enhance the importance of reading, grammar usage, math and science skills within the realms of the cirriculum through the use of CDs in those subject ares.
(18)Rick Kaplon, Physical Therapy St. Thomas-St. John School District
Special Olympics Mural/Banner – $500
Kids in Physical Therapy (P.T.) or Special Olympics will design a picture about their experience to incorporate into a large mural composed and put on canvas by the kids.
(19)Eugenia Cruse, Ulla F. Muller Elementary School
Buddy Reading – $1,000
Students in the 4th – 6th grades will read with partners in the kindergarten or 1st grade. Students will be taught how to select age appropriate books, read aloud and to be supportive of younger readers.
(20)Phylllis Almestica, Ms. Eugenia Cruse, Leniese Mercer and Allegra Callwood
Ulla F. Muller Elementary School
Reading is Fundamental – $1,000
Motivate K – 6th graders to read and improve attitudes towards reading by distributing a variety of high quality, inexpensive books at no cost to students or families. Students will develop literary taste and learn from their book choices.
(21)Adam Kloper, Ulla F. Muller Elementary School
Muller Chess Panthers, $1,000
To enhance and extend the club so it appeals to more students, through use of a giant chess board, books to create a chess library and clocks so students learn to play according to tournament rules.
(22) Michael Skrbich, Ivanna Eudora Kean High
V.I. Inclusive Radio – $750
Students will maintain and broadcast live, along with prescheduled events and music.
(23) Dr. Edna J. Recana, Eulalie Rivera Elementary School
Intervention/Enrichment Program, $1000
To provide a reading intervention to the students with low reading skills using different techniques such as story telling. The funds will produce a student’s lounge and carpet for the story telling area of the library.
