Grants in Action
2022/23 Train Like a Viking
Greenland Central School: Stacey Gosselin
Focusing on equity for all students, this grant provides the materials to allow middle schoolers to learn proper fitness habits through a new Unified Arts class focused on strength and conditioning. PJ Strebel, owner of Maxway Performance in Greenland, is assisting students in developing the correct form and selecting activities to meet individual student needs.
2022/23 Best Buddies
Little Harbour School: Kristin Heath & Britt SantaMaria
Focusing on creating additional opportunities for lasting friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the grant allows Little Harbour School to create one of only 2 elementary school chapters in NH as part of the Best Buddies national organization. Multiple activities will take place at the school throughout the year, pairing students with peer buddies and culminating with participation in the statewide celebrations.
2022/23 Outside Art Studio
Dondero Elementary School: Adam Bastille
Connecting nature and art to learning through experiences, this grant provides the materials to repurpose a current unused space into an outdoor art studio for all students. The innovative space is open for all members of the school community to use for cross-curricular and multi-grade explorations, providing opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving, and team building through creation.
2021/23 Debate Team
Portsmouth High School: Joseph Krauss
The grant provided funds for the creation and continued growth of the now highly successful Portsmouth Debate team. With consistent added interest, the team has grown to over 30 students and has participated in multiple prestigious competitions, winning honors at events at the Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament. Skills have transferred to student acceptances at colleges and beyond.
2022/23 Beehive Curriculum
Dondero Elementary :Sarah McCain
Focusing on hands on science, this grant provided curriculum materials for the entire school to enhance learning around the importance of bees in our environment. Connecting with a local bee expert, students have the opportunity to observe the hive, ask questions and become part of a community of learners sharing the benefits of bees. All grade levels participated in the celebration of World Bee Day.
2022/23 Clipper Ripper
Portsmouth Middle School: Emily Sherman
Focusing on the newly developed STEM program at Portsmouth Middle School, the grant provided the funds for the preparation, deployment and tracking of a 5 foot sailboat equipped with a GPS transmitter through the partnership with Educational Passages. Students connected the design and items included within the hull to celebrate Portsmouth 400 and presented the boat at Prescott Park in February before launching in March of 2023. You can follow the Clipper Ripper’s progress here.
2021/23 Wired Wednesdays
Dondero Elementary School: Alex Clithero & Allison Smick
Focusing on introducing real world skills, this grant allowed for the creation of a coffee cart with students in charge of all the components: making the order forms and the actual coffees, delivering the coffee to staff, and collecting the money. Students work together in delivery teams.
2022/23 Vertical Grow System
Maude H. Trefethen School: Anna Spalding
Bringing science standards to life by providing hands-on experiences growing food year round with an aeroponic growing system , this grant serves all learners and staff at New Castle Elementary school. Students observe, collect data and enjoy the efforts of their labor through cooking and providing snacks. A full school curriculum has been enacted with the purchase of the system.
2022/23 Career Pathways Resource Center
Portsmouth High School: Nicole Bellabona
This grant increased the visibility and accessibility of Career Technical Education programs at Portsmouth High School, neighboring schools and trade schools. Interested students come to the newly designed space to explore careers through offerings such as internships, work-based learning, apprenticeship pathways, part time job opportunities, and entry level work opportunities for new graduates.