BHEF Grants

BHEF Grants Awarded for the 2000-2010 School Year

In 2009, The Berkeley Heights Education Foundation awarded $35,846 in grants to support programs across all of the schools in Berkeley Heights. These grants would not be possible without generous donations from individuals and businesses in our community!

Our 2009-2010 grants included:

Service Learning Project and Humanitarian Initiative Based on the Program “Pennies for Peace”: This district-wide initiative will raise awareness about the importance of education in impoverished countries by establishing reading and study groups throughout the school district. This grant was awarded the Marsha Miller Grant for Outstanding Innovation in 2009.
Music from Many Cultures: Musical instruments and music education materials from different countries around the world will bring a diverse musical experience to the students at the Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center.
African Dance and Culture Workshop: 5th grade students at Hughes and Woodruff Schools will participate in an African dance workshop, complementing an integrated unit of study in world drumming music and art classes.
Knitting Program: With new knitting supplies, students at Woodruff will craft knitting projects to be donated to the community.
Cooperative Game Equipment: New, exciting physical education equipment and supplies at Woodruff will encourage teamwork, cooperation, and overall enhanced fitness.
Ancient and Modern World Musical Instruments: Authentic instruments from around the world will provide hands-on opportunities for Mountain Park students in their music classes.
Poetry and Dance: Based on winter-themed poetry, 2nd and 3rd grade students at Mountain Park will create choreography in dance and mime workshops.
Historical Colonial Cross-Stitching: Mountain Park students will explore the history of colonial samplers, learn to use technology to create cross-stitch designs, and sew their own samplers.
Interactive Gene Pools Program: Through an interactive program, 7th grade Columbia science students will work with ocean organisms to study live marine animals and their “gene pools”. This grant will be funded through donations received by the BHEF in memory of Mr. Geoffrey Lisk, who was a member of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, a science teacher, and supporter of the BHEF.
New York Philharmonic Experience: Columbia instrumental music students will experience an open final rehearsal of the New York Philharmonic in New York City.
Memoir Writing: 7th Grade English students at Columbia will work with a writer to create their own memoir writing.
Printmaking Press and Art Program: A new printmaking press will support a permanent printmaking program to the art cycle at Columbia, beginning with a visiting artist at Columbia.
Bullying and Harassment Program: Author Rachel Simmons will speak to female students at Governor Livingston and then later to parents about bullying and harassment.
Tactile/Dual Vision Books: GL art students will construct books crafted with tactile materials and Braille type and will then donate these books during a visit to young visually- impaired students.
Digital Photography Workshop: GL students studying graphics design and digital imaging will learn and experiment with lighting techniques for digital photography as demonstrated by professional photographer Nancy Ori.
Abstract Art and Biology Project: Art supplies for GL’s Open Studio/Advanced Art and Biology students will support the creation of relief printing and silk screen printing of abstract art influenced by biology (cells) after a visit to the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum. This grant will be funded with donations received by the BHEF in memory of Mr. Geoff Lisk and in memory of David Rattner, an artist and family member of the district’s Superintendent, Mrs. Judy Rattner.
Original GL Concert Band Composition: GL students in the Marching Band and Concert Band classes will collaborate with a professional composer to create a new piece of music to be performed by the students at GL.
Raku Workshop: Ceramics students at GL will learn about ceramics construction through the study of Raku, a 16th century Japanese firing technique, with artist Brett Thomas.
Video Camera for Inquiry Classes: All 4th grade students in Berkeley Heights will have the opportunity to use a new video camera to videotape presentations during the Inquiry program’s weather unit.
Watershed Model: Woodruff’s 3rd grade students will use a new watershed model in science classes, identifying pollution sources and the effects of pollution on water resources.
Video Camera for CMS: A new video camera will document and help to display activities of Columbia students such as student government, guidance groups and other student groups.
Livescribe Pulse Smart Pens and Text Convertors: This new assistive technology will help students with learning disabilities with class notes and lectures at GL.
Portable Flash Memory Card Readers: New flash memory card readers will help GL students use their photographic images in artwork.
HP Designjet Printer: A professional plotter will assist with the printing of Computer Aided Design drawings such as architectural blueprints, engineering designs, and woodworking projects for Industrial Arts and Technology Education students at GL.

2009-10 Grants