Education Foundation Grants and Kick Off Event Info!

For the past four years Oakmont's Technology Education Department has held its own regional robotics competition. In order to grow our competition and involve more students and schools, Oakmont teachers David Landry and Greg Secino have teamed up with Vex Robotics to host a regional Vex Robotics competition at Oakmont.

Robotics at Oakmont

Oakmont Regional High School

Vex Bottle Bot

In the past, Rowing Robots and Lobster Catch were held at Westminster's Crocker Pond Recreation Area, and last year's competition, Robotic Mini Golf, was held at Oakmont. This new competition will be open to all schools in the mid-Wachusett area.

With a Founders' Grant in the amount of $500, these teachers will be able to purchase additional robotics parts not only for this year's competition, but for future competitions and Robotics and Engineering courses. Our Robotics and Engineering classes at Oakmont will be able to design, construct and enter multiple robots into our own competition.

Students benefit from this by way of introduction to robotics design, engineering, construction and programming, as well as the exposure to a regional robotics competition. This direction of education reflects a national trend in preparing the next generation, which is why the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence is proud to assist their efforts.

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Interdisciplinary Project at Overlook

Overlook Middle School

Overlook Middle School sixth grade teachers and Tony Gleason and Kristi DiSalle submitted a proposal to the Foundation for a project called George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt, an interdisciplinary project including language arts and science. Their goal in applying for this $500 grant is to purchase a copy of Stephen Hawking's children's book George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt for each sixth grade student on Team Blue.

Students will be using a nonfiction source (their textbooks) to conduct research on each planet in our solar system. While research on the solar system is being conducted in Science class, students will be reading George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt, a hunt that takes place on various planets in our solar system, in English class.

This book is a realistic fiction story with all of the story elements for a fiction book, yet it includes a plethora of factual information on many objects in our solar system. This project meets Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks for both Science and English. Stephen Hawking, regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Albert Einstein, wrote George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt. Students will experience an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Finally, and perhaps the best benefit to the students, is that students get to learn factual cosmic information while reading a fun story.

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Interactive Bright Board System at Briggs

J.R. Briggs Elementary School

Tiffany Davis, Lynne Pinsoneault, Joy Weiss, Julie Fredette and Katie Bennett

will use $500 from the Foundation to implement a mobile, Interactive Bright Board System to support Language Arts instruction in grades 3 through 5 at John R. Briggs Elementary School.

Many elementary students approach the task of revising their writing with disinterest. An interactive bright board system can help teachers make the revision process more visible and motivating for students. Teachers can display a piece of writing on a big screen, using the computer and projector. Teachers and students can then interact with the text from anywhere in the room using wireless tablets. For example, the teacher could focus on word choice by displaying a three paragraph essay and asking small groups of students to identify and underline the "tired" words that need to be replaced.

In researching the purchase of equipment required to implement this innovative idea, teachers at Briggs intentionally selected a system that can be moved from classroom to classroom. As a result, one classroom at each of the upper grades (3-5) will initially benefit from the technology (approximately 80 students), with the goal of purchasing 2 addition systems after this pilot program has proven successful.

These teachers also intend to use additional funding sources to achieve their goal of bringing this innovative technology into their teaching areas. This includes $940 raised by recycling printer cartridges and PTO basket raffles, as well as a 2009 Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education in the amount of $200. With this grant from the Ashburnham Westminster Foundation for Academic Excellence in the amount of $500, teachers at Briggs are bringing a new level of technology to their school.

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Words Their Way at WES

Westminster Elementary School

Magnetic Tub O' Letters

The Fourth Grade teaching team of Kate Romano, Cori Litalien, Cindy Robbins and Diane Roumbakis Davolio at Westminster Elementary School has been awarded a grant to enhance spelling and strengthen literacy learning. Grade 4 is piloting a new spelling program known as Word Study, using the text Words Their Way. During Word Study, students are actively engaged in studying and using the rules of phonics and spelling.

The focus of Word Study is placing words into categories known as word sorts. In putting words into categories, children can make associations and connections between words. Children are given time to discriminate and make judgments about sounds, word structures, spelling patterns and meanings. Word Study involves the entire fourth grade and resources can also be shared with third grade.

Instruction is differentiated for each student based on errors made and each student is taught at their instructional level. Students are actively engaged in studying and using the rules of phonics and spelling. Grant money awarded to this team of teachers also funds the purchase of magnetic letters to supplement this program.

The Foundation chose to fund this grant request in the amount of $310.95 because Words Their Way is a creative way to address the need for differentiated instruction, the teachers involved researched the most economical way to purchase the materials they needed, and the program can be used by both grades three and four at WES.

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Around The World
Interactive Maps

Westminster Elementary School

Second Grade teachers Jane Leamy, Lynne Courtemanche, Pattie Mitchell and Nancy Morgan at Westminster Elementary School submitted a Founders' Grant request to purchase four Around the World Interactive Maps to support approximately 100 second grade students.

After completing a year-long project entitled How Boys and Girls Learn in the Classroom, much insight was gained as to how differently each gender's brain learns. Despite some of their learning differences, it is strongly evident that both boys and girls benefit from similar approaches to learning. Specifically, both genders benefit from the use of manipulatives and visuals to maintain their interest and strengthen learning.

This dynamic tool supports Massachusetts Geography Curriculum Frameworks, which requires students in the second grade to identify cardinal directions and apply them to maps, locate all continents, boundaries of the United States, Mexico and Canada, identify major oceans, the five major rivers in the world, the major mountains or mountain ranges in the world, the five Great Lakes and more. The purchase of these hands-on educational tools is funded in the amount of $150.

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Night at the Museum Event

Silent Auction Items Current Listing

Visit our website at www.ashwestfoundation.org

to purchase event tickets online.

If you are not able to attend the event, but would like to bid on any of the items below, send an email to info@ashwestfoundation.org. Be sure to include your name, the item number and name of the item you are bidding on and your highest bid amount. We will accept bids by email until noon on Thursday, November 19th (the day of the event).

Item #1

Family Annual Membership to

Fitchburg Art Museum
Donated by: Fitchburg Art Museum

Value: $50

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Item #2
Four New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Tickets
Game information: Sunday, December 13th 1:00pm

Section 128, Row 16, Seats 5-8
Face Value: $676
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Item #3

Four Red Sox Tickets

(vouchers for next season)
Face Value: $300

Item #4
Four Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Tickets
Game information: December 2nd 7:00pm
Section: LGE21, Row 10, Seats 11-14

Donated by: Chartwells School Dining Services
Face Value: $356

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Item #5
Wood Chuck Cider Experience

A behind the scenes tour of Green Mountain Beverage Cidery in Middlebury, VT - makers of Wood Chuck and Cider Jack Hard Cider. Complete your tour and head to Two Brothers Tavern with a $50 gift certificate to enjoy dinner and some cider. Cap it off with a night's stay at the Middlebury Inn
Donated by: Brett Williams, Oakmont Class of 1988, Green Mountain Beverage Middlebury, VT

Value: $250

Donated by: Aylmer Given and Brittany Newton

Item #6

Woodbound Inn and Resort

$50 Gift Certificate

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Item #7

One Week Rental of a waterfront 2-bedroom vacation home on Anna Maria Island in Florida
Donated by: John and Beth Bowen
Value: $1,500

Item #8
3 Hours of Professional Home Cleaning and Organization

Kathy Norton, Advanced Home Solutions
Cleaning and Organizing for Home and Office. Also offering Organizing and Decluttering from homes to closets to kids rooms. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-timers welcome. 18 years experience. Stay organized, reduce stress. Highest bidder will receive 3 hours of any of the above services.
Donated by: Kathy Norton
Value: $120

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Item #9

Wood Block Limited Edition Print

Donated by Artist: Margaret Richard

Value: $75 (minimum bid $45)

Watercolor Pen and Ink Limited Edition Print

Item #10

Donated by Artist: Brian Beaudoin

Value: $60 (minimum bid $45)

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Item #11

Wheel Thrown Bowl

Donated by Artist: Anne Banning

Value: $60 (minimum bid $30)

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Item #12

Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals Game Information: February 2, 2010

Donated by: Concordant, Inc.

Value: $222

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Item #13

Custom Gifts by Bonny Caisse and

Wanda Dow
The high bidder receives both a custom photo star (view samples at www.photostarsonline.com) and a custom memory frame (view samples at www.knoweroriginals.com)

Donated by: Bonny Caisse and Wanda Dow

Value: $135

Photo Sitting Session for up to 4 people including one 10" x 13", two 5" x 7" and 8 wallet photos.

Item #14

Donated by: Kristen Smith of

Smith Photo and Creative Design

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Item #15

4 Hours Home Improvement Services

A.H. Home Improvement Services

Donated by: Adam Hurd, Oakmont Class of 1983

Value: $160

Complete Dog Grooming at your home

Item #16

Woof Wagon

Donated by: Megan Sunderland

Value: $60

Donated by: Edward W. Hurd

Item #17

Stained Glass Lamp

Value: $300

Gunstock Mountain Resort, 4 Prime Passes

Item #18

Donated by: Gunstock Mountain Resort

Value: $264

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Tickets

Item #19

Two Luxury Box Tickets

Game information: Sunday, December 13th 1:00pm

Donated by: BHR Life

Value: $1,500 (minimum bid $250)

Item #20
Hand Woven Scarf, Hand Painted Warp

Donated by: Carla Roy

Value: $70 (minimum bid $50)

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Item #21

Hand Woven Scarf, Teniel and Wool Bead Trim

Donated by: Carla Roy

Value: $70 (minimum bid $50)

Value: $65 (minimum bid $40)

Item #22

Ceramic Vase

Donated by: John Bennard

Value:$60 (minimum bid $45)

Item #23

Ceramic Vessel

Donated by: John Bennard

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Item #24

Westminster Artisans Sampler Collection
An assortment of items hand-crafted by Westminster Artisans.
Donated by: Renee DalBon, Sarah Dellasanta, Chris Haley, Sarah Paiste, Nancy Sampson

Value: $250

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Item #25
Room Redecorating Consultation (to work within high bidder's budget)

Donated by: Wanda Dow

Value: $300

Autographed 8" x 10" photo

Item #26

Boston Bruins Ray Bourque

Donated by: Celebrities for Charity Foundation

Autographed 8" x 10" photo

Item #27

Boston Bruins Milan Lucic

Donated by: Celebrities for Charity Foundation
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Item #28

New England Patriots Kevin Faulk

Autographed 8" x 10" photo

Donated by: Celebrities for Charity Foundation

Basket, Cookbook, Coffee, Mugs, Pancake Mix and Maple Syrup

Item #29

Donated by: Cirillo Trucking

Donated by: Wyson Trucking

Item #30

Gulf Gas Card

Value: $100

iHome Speaker System and
$25 iTunes Gift Card

Item #31

Donated by: C. Streeter Landscaping

Overnight stay at Wachusett Village Inn and 2 Wachusett Mountain Ski Area one-day passes.

Item #32