The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has awarded $20,250 in grants from the Anderson Family Fund for Education to 30 teachers and professionals within 14 public schools on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. The grants, which range from $400 to $1,000, are intended to enhance the learning opportunities for students.
“An evaluation committee reviewed 64 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 finally, where there would be a measurable and substantive outcome. The attached list outlines the funded proposals and purpose,” said CFVI’s president, Dee Baecher-Brown.
Two schools emerged as top winners in the committee’s review. On St. Croix, Educational Complex High School received $3,000 in grants for three teachers who are working to enrich students’ experiences of their culture through music, song and field trips to local historical sites, and for much needed classroom supplies. On St. Thomas, four teachers at the Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School received awards totaling $3,500 to strengthen students’ scores in math skills through additional math tutoring and the use of a math center. The grant is also being used to enhance students’ writing skills by connecting language arts with social studies, math, PE and art; to teach students about the weather in the Caribbean and to study the formation of hurricanes; as well as to teach kids to start a garden — from the sowing of seeds to the reaping of their crops.
President of TOPA Properties, Steve Morton, observed that there was a 33 percent increase in the number of applications received. “It is indeed heartwarming to note the number of teachers that are dedicated to making an extra effort to improve the reading proficiency of their students. There is also an increased interest in projects that take the students outdoors to learn about growing their own food,” Morton said. The annual teacher grant program administered by CFVI is made possible through the generosity of John E. Anderson Sr. and is 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 V.I. public schools, which are unavailable as part of the regular school curriculum. Since then, the fundhas awarded more than $185,000 in teacher grants throughout the territory. It 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.
The 2010 Anderson Teacher Grant Recipients
Jessica Parker, Arthur A. Richards Junior High School, St. Croix
Continuing Stepping Out: Exploring St. Croix through Art Field Trips – $1,000
Cultivate the appreciation of the local arts in students through a series of field trips, restorative and educational value of the humanities.
Kevre Hendricks, Educational Complex High School, St. Croix
Complex High Flag Team Enrichment After School Program – $1,000
This program is designed to help students build their self-esteem and overcome the obstacles of disadvantaged backgrounds. These students will receive mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment, skill development and community service opportunities.
Valrica Bryson, Educational Complex High School, St. Croix
From then to Now Celebrating Our Heritage Through the Eyes of Our Children – $1,000
In addition to learning the quadrille, students will learn bamboula dancing, masquerading, cariso singing and story telling.
Barbara Knight, Educational Complex High School, St. Croix
Class Room/Lab Make Over- $1,000
The funds from this grant will be used to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies to childproof this classroom.
Leona Cuffy and Althes Bridgewater, Juanita F. Gardine Elementary School, St. Croix
Enhancing Scores with Games- $1,000
This program will help to strengthen the students’ math skills so they can improve their test scores on standardized testing.
K.D. Munnelly, Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School, St. John
Green Thumb Gardening – $400
Lunch time and recess club teaches the elementary students the importance of gardening and reaping their produce.
Stephan Jurgen, Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, St. Thomas
One with Nature – $1,000
Teaching male students in a peaceful environment how to set goals and achieve them, anger management, and learning alternatives to aggression.
Liza Freeman, Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, St. Thomas
Strong Girls in a Tough World – $1,000
The objective of this project is to develop an on-site, clinical treatment geared towards building the self-esteem of our female students and empowering them to make good choices.
Roxanne Kloper, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School, St. Thomas
Fun Hands-On Math that is all Student Centered – $1,000
Helping students increase their math scores by after school tutoring and the development of the math center with an online Math program to strengthen their math skills.
Topaze Lake, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School, St. Thomas
A future in the Garden – $500
Teaching students the fundamentals of gardening with a concentration in growing fruits and vegetables.
Phebe Schwartz Davis, Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School, St. Thomas
BCB Art Project through Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Physical Education- $1,000
To introduce the world of art through reading, writing, math, social studies, science and physical education with projects depicting the Medieval and Renaissance Times.
Rebelto Harrigan Jr., Bertha C. Boschulte Junior High School, St. Thomas
BCB’s Meteorological Club- $1,000
Students will study the local weather and atmospheric conditions in a micro climate.
Maybelle Fale, Charlotte Amalie High School, St. Thomas
On the Job Training – $500
Training for students with special needs to equip them with the social skills and other qualities needed by a potential employer.
oanne M. Saunders, Evelyn E. Marcelli Elementary School, St. Thomas
Art Rainbow Visual & Performing Arts Club – $750
Lunch time recess club that develop and showcase the kids’ creativity and artistic talents.
Barbara Young, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Diversity Among Us – $1,000
Photography students will be asked to take portraits that reflect ethnic and racial diversity among their peers and do an exhibit of the best 5-7 shots.
Amy H. Roberts, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Upgrading Online School Newspaper for Kean High – $1,000
Upgrading the school’s online newspaper using the latest software and technologies. In 2009 the school’s website was established to serve as a community bulletin board, showcase talents of the students in arts, creative writing and a space for students and staff to express their opinion.
Frances Rutnik, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, St. Thomas
Print to Read – $1,000
Students will learn a variety of printing techniques such as collograph-making, linoleum block, wood-cut, silk screening and monoprinting on plexiglass.
Tiana E. Wilson, Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School, St. Thomas
Primary Art – $500
Expanding the art department within the school to expose students to different types of art, creating varied designs using modern art equipment and fostering a love for art beyond the classroom doors.
Yvonne Potter, Beverly Todman, Beverly Bukle and Carolyn Thomas, Joseph Gomez Elementary School, St. Thomas
Third Grade Star Readers – $1,000
Students will read non-fiction scholastic newspapers to help build vocabulary, math, reading comprehension and critical thinking skills on a weekly basis.
Malisadie Hodge & Merle Vanterpool, Lockhart Elementary School, St. Thomas
Brag Book Nook Project- $1,000
This project will allow the kindergarten students to have books to take home and read with their parents. These young readers will be able to brag to their friends about the story books that they read.
Eugenia Cruse, Ulla F. Muller Elementary School, St. Thomas
Notification Readers’ Theater – $750
Students in the 1st – 3rd grades will read science and social studies plays, stories and poems on a 1st and 3rd grade level. Students will then work out with each other a skit to reflect what they read.
Phylllis Almestica, Ulla F. Muller Elementary School, St. Thomas
Muller Boys Reading Club – $500
This lunch time program helps to motivate boys to strengthen their reading skills through story books, magazines and the local Daily News.
Kathleen Taylor and Ms. Jessica Phillips, Ulla F. Muller Elementary School, St. Thomas
Muller School Gardening Club, $500
Students will learn how to plant a garden. They will each have gardening chores that will teach them responsibility. Students will also learn the nutritional value of the fruits and vegetables they plant.
Ivanne Farr, Rare Earth Studio, St. Thomas
Treasures of the Earth- $1,000
This project will introduce the students to local, regional and global minerals and gemstones. Students will choose a gemstone to work with. They will learn how to measure, size-grade and weigh the gemstone of their choice. Then they will learn the art of making jewelry.
Sara Husein, Special Education to Head Start, St. Thomas
All Children Can Learn – $500
The grant will help provide funds to purchase necessary materials for special needs children to help them learn and achieve the skills important to either meet and master their goals or to manage in school and everyday home life.
