JEANIE RITCHIE GRANTS

What’s My Path: An Introduction to Career Exploration (new)
Hillview,  8^th grade, 225 students
Students will assess their personal interests and explore different career options through a Career Day featuring presentations from community members who represent a variety of professional fields. Teachers: Robyn Watts, with Debbie Devoto.

Life Strategies: Beyond the 3-R’s (new)
Hillview,  7^th grade, 222 students
Seventh grade students will listen to locally and nationally renowned speakers on topics related to adolescence including: cliques and social pressures; dealing with anger and resolving conflicts; managing stress; and technology etiquette and cyber-bullying. Related workshops led by on-site counselors will follow. Teachers: Debbie Devoto, with Robyn Watts.

“With a Little Help from My Friends”: Training Students to Be Active Members of Their Communities” (repeat)
Hillview,  8^th grade, 225 students
Students learn leadership, communication, collaborative decision making and conflict resolution skills in small groups taught by the California Association of Student Councils. Large group instruction focuses on student teamwork and motivation. The training involves CORE teachers and counselors as coaches and helps prepare students for group curriculum projects. Teachers: Barbara Berkowitz, with Lexy Keller Eaton, Daria Finstad, Willy Haug, Jennifer Hutsell, Carolyn Malquist.

Power is Ours: Becoming a Man (new)
Hillview,  7^th and 8^th grade, 15+ students
This afterschool program is aimed at teaching socially at-risk boys the responsibilities and joys of becoming a mature man in our society, in contrast to the failed models of manhood reinforced in the media.  Carefully selected texts, poetry, anthologies, folktales, movies, documentaries, open dialogue, self-reflections, and guest speakers will help each boy determine his own path of initiation into manhood. Potential elective pilot. Teacher: Kim Staff.

Ethnicity, Education, “E”nvolvement (new)
Hillview,  6^th-8^th grade, 667 students
A group of students will work in conjunction with staff to sponsor an Africa Faire during lunchtime. Live music, dance performers, food sales, and information booths will be used to educate students about the richness of African cultures, poverty and regional issues, and to inspire students to become involved in raising money for various causes in Ethiopia or South Africa. Teacher: Debbie Devoto, with Hillview students Sydney Young, Kinsey Dittmar, Katherine Reed, Kayla Satzger.

Learning with Flags – The Parade of Nations (repeat)
Laurel,  1^st grade, 189 students
Students will learn an appreciation of different cultures through the study and creation of world flags, providing another dimension to the first grade Ancestor’s Day.  This program was expanded from two first grade classes last year, to nine classes this year. Teachers: Joan Posilippo, with Joanie Woodard, Kristen Gracia, Stacei Santana, Courtney Shackleton, Mia Henry, Maisy Chin, Whitney Engle, Sue Peterson.

Measuring Noah’s Arc (new)
Hillview,  6^th-8^th grades, 670 students
Physics will come alive as students in physical education, science, and math use “Noah”, a portable computer device designed to measure the arc of basketball shots.  In physical education, students will build muscle memory and consistency through verbal feedback from “Noah”.  In science and math, students will gain an understanding of concepts including angle variation, distance variation, entry speed, and parabolas, while practicing their basketball shots. Teachers: Harry Bell, with Ernie Imura, Mike Bratt, Laura Delaney, Phil Eaton, Tom Lyons, Mike Doroquez.

Globetrotters  (repeat)
Laurel,  1^st grade, 189 students
This interactive, two-day event will culminate the first grade social studies unit about the seven continents and the variety of countries that make up these continents. Students will be exposed to traditions of each continent through food, music, dance, arts & crafts, and other environmental simulations. Teachers: Courtney Shackleton, with Kristen Gracia, Joanie Woodard, Joan Posilippo, Sue Peterson, Masie Chin, Whitney Engle, Mia Henry, Stacei Santana.

Life Cycles Unlimited (repeat)
Laurel,  2^nd grade, 100 students 
Students study the life cycle of frogs through research, direct observation, and comparison with butterfly and other amphibian life cycles. A field trip to Lake Lagunita provides an opportunity to see the endangered California Tiger Salamander habitat. Teachers: Sandra Horwitz, with Emily Mathews, Ruth Peterson, Andrea Mazzoncini, Steffany Cressey.

Life Is But A Stage (repeat)
Laurel,  1^st grade, 189 students
 Children will connect literature and theater through the comparative study of five children’s classics, which they will read, view on film and experience at live performances. Teachers: Joanie Woodard, with Stacei Santana, Joanie Woodard, Joan Posilippo, Whitney engle, Masie Chin, Mia Henry, Kristen Gracia, Courtney Shackleton, Sue Preston.

Art Rocks (new)
Laurel, 2^nd grade, 40 students
The second grade science unit on rocks and earth will be connected to with art through activities including: exploring the work of contemporary artist and environmental sculptor, Andy Goldsworthy; a field trip to Stanford’s Cantor Arts Museum to see Goldsworthy’s wall sculpture; and the creation of student art sculptures. Teachers: Priscilla Seely, with Steffany Cressey.

Physical Physics (new)
Laurel, 2^nd grade, 160 students
Children will create and participate in an obstacle course to demonstrate  body control and spatial awareness—building on the second grade science unit that explores objects in balance and motion.  The unit will culminate with a field trip to the Exploratorium to experience the science behind physics more fully. Teachers: Steffany Cressey, with Emily Mathews, Ruth Peterson, Sandra Horwitz, andrea Mazzoncini, Priscilla Seely, Jeriann Hirsch, Sue Booth.

A Child’s Narrative of US History: Connecting Writing, Art, and Social Studies (new)
Encinal, 5^th grade, 25 students   
Working with their teacher and a graphic artist, students will study four different periods of U.S. history and will create a piece of art and a piece of writing connected to each. Teacher: Susan Preston.

Kindergarten Community Workers (new)
Laurel, Kindergarten, 180 Students
Children will experience the roles of different community workers through field trips, role-playing, dress-up opportunities, storytelling with puppets, building, books, and guest speakers.  This unit will help better prepare students for first grade where they will study goods and services that workers provide for a community. Teachers: Emily Getchel and Erika Glavan, with Sydney Fisher, Brynn Cahill, Lynn Callahan, Christen Oberdoerster, Jeannie Wynne, Sydney Merk, Maribeth Andolina, Kristen Foley.

Family History / Old Country (new)
Encinal, 3^rd-5^th grade, 17 students 
Children will explore and share the journey of how their family immigrated to America through interviews, writing, artwork, class presentations, and a multi-cultural lunch. Bound books that showcase the journeys of all families will be created. Teacher: Rosa Mass.

Get a Grip (repeat)
Oak Knoll, K-1^st grade, 220 students
Students will be provided with a wide variety of hand muscle activities using an array of tools and equipment.  These will aid development of the coordination that is essential across the curriculum. Teachers: Trish Stella, with Carole Towle, Juli van Telligen, Jane Bennion, Alicia Bush, Joyce Chan, Leah Yujuico, Linda Cotter, Andrea Boatwright, Elizabeth Wood, Jan San Filippo.

US History & Cultural Dance: Now and Then (new)
Hillview,  6^th-8^th grade, 670 students  
Students will learn and perform dances related to curriculum.  These include Aztec and U.S. dances from the last century as well as contemporary Hip Hop. Teachers: Harry Bell, with Ernie Imura, Mike Bratt, Laura Delaney, Phil Eaton.

Science: Cosmos, Gizmos, and Gadgets: Enriching the Science Curriculum (new)
Ingrid Smith Math and Science Award
Oak Knoll, 5^th grade, 102 students  
Students will “do science in the regular classroom” using a well-balanced, dynamic resource of materials inspired by the National Science Education Standards and California Science Standards. Teachers: Caryl Brewbaker, with Joan Von der Linden, John Fuller, Ceil Kellogg.

History Alive! (repeat)
Oak Knoll, 4^th grade, 120 students
Students connect personally with the 4^th grade social studies unit on Pioneer and Gold Rush History as they participate in a two-day, interactive time warp of activities. Students don pioneer costumes, pan for gold, create crafts, square dance, listen to story tellers, and watch a real blacksmith in action. Teachers: Johnna Becker, with Stacy Emmert, Jon Coldoff, Jessicca Bouret, Teri Murphy, Michelle Tom.

A Kindergarten Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (repeat)
Oak Knoll, Kindergarten, 140 students  
Students will be photographed in class as they demonstrate positive behaviors such as sharing, kindness and helpfulness.  Children are thus encouraged to learn about their classmates, work together, cooperate and communicate. Teachers: Juli van Tellingen, with Trish Stella, Alicia bush, Leah Yujuico, Carole towel, Joyce Chan, Jane Bennion.

Puppets, Puppets, Everywhere! (repeat)
Laurel, 2^nd grade, 80 students   
Students learn storytelling, role-playing and other useful skills through a variety of interactive puppetry experiences. Activities include professionally-led puppet workshops, classroom and cross-age “buddy” events, and videoconferencing workshops broadcast from the Atlanta-based Center for Puppetry Arts. Teachers: Jeriann Hirsch, with Sandra Horwitz, Ruth Peterson, Steffany Cressey, Andi Dehne.

Striking it Rich! (repeat)
Encinal,  4^th grade, 135 students
Students make the California Gold Rush a personal experience through this multidisciplinary program featuring a Gold Rush Interactive Unit, a novel set in the Gold Rush era, and hands-on Gold Rush activities culminating in experience as gold prospectors. Teachers: Charlene Mattos, with Karen Strohmaier, Georgia Kleeman-Keller, Kiira Bough, Lela Ward, Rachel Naishtut.