Nmsf Grant Application - Picocricket - 2008-9

The following Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation 2008/2009 Grants to Teachers Application includes newly revised 6/08 Rules and Regulations

The changes, if not incorporated in your grant, can drastically affect the score of your application

Revised 6/12/08

NEWPORT-MESA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Grants to Teachers What is the ‘Grants to Teachers’ program?

The Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation provides funds to certificated teachers in the Newport Mesa Unified School District to purchase or produce materials for programs and projects that are creative, innovative and responsive to student needs. Funds are presented directly to the teacher for implementation during the current school year. The N-MSF is the only District-wide Foundation to award teacher grants. To date, the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation has donated well over $5,000,000.

Who may apply?

This program is open to ALL CERTIFICATED TEACHERS in the Newport Mesa Unified School District. The grant application is included in this package and is the only acceptable format, Also found on newportmesaschoolsfoundation.org.

How are grant recipients determined?

A Grant Readers Committee composed of over 65 community members representing the educational, business, civic and nonprofit sectors of our community, read, critique and score each application without knowledge of the applicant or the school. N-MSF board members do not score grants. Decisions are based on the following criteria: • concise well defined objectives, and costs • expanded and/or interdisciplinary experiences in any subject area • adherence to all proposal requirements • correctly totaled budgetary items

A proposal receiving an average score of 80% or lower is not eligible to be funded.

How many grants may be funded per teacher?

A teacher may submit up to four grant requests, but only one at any funding level.

What categories are available?

The Foundation offers nine categories for Grant Writing: 1. Humanities (Arts/Music) 2. Special Programs (Career Ed./Health Ed./Physical Ed./Library Science) 3. Language Arts (Reading/Writing/Phonics) 4. Science/Mathematics 5. Technology (please indicate subject) 6. Social Studies (Geography/History/Economics) 7. Special Education 8. Multiethnic 9. Environmental Project

What are the $$ funding levels?

Four $$ funding levels are offered for teachers and/or school teams of up to three teachers. 1. Up to $1,000 (one certificated teacher per application - no school teams) ** 2. Up to $2,500 (one teacher or maximum of three certificated teachers) ** 3. Up to $5,000 (one teacher or maximum of three certificated teachers) ** 4. Up to $10,000 (one teacher or maximum of three certificated teachers) A teacher or school team may apply only once at any $$ funding level. Additional proposals by the same teacher must be written for a different $$ funding level. **School teams must select and name one lead teacher to be the official grant coordinator.

A maximum of two grants per teacher could be granted, including the combination of a teacher who authors an individual grant and who also participates in a team grant.

Do… What are the procedures for submitting a grant proposal?

1. Make certain your principal is aware of your grant proposal. 2. Complete the attached application with 12 point font (or larger) adhering specifically to this revised 2008/2009 format and spacing provided. 3. Check your proposal for correct grammar and spelling!! 4. Make eight copies of your proposal on three-holed paper. 5. Staple each individual copy of the grant proposal. 6. Double check Budget Information sheet for accuracy!! 7. Submit your applications to the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation directly or through the District mail. If using District mail, please date the envelope and allow 5 days for delivery to... Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation PO Box 1368, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (upper parking lot - adjacent to the ENC) 1701 Sixteenth Street Newport Beach, CA 92663 Phone: (949) 631-3293

Don't… What factors would cause a proposal to receive a low score?

• • • • • • • • • • •

Submit any proposal in a format different from the one provided Change any spacing provided for descriptions in the application Use 11 point or smaller fonts Handwrite your application(s) Submit applications on card stock Calculate incorrect budget totals Apply more than once at the same funding level. Duplicate proposals with different authorship Submit proposals that require hiring personnel Submit an application via internet or fax Attach extra material to the proposal

If your grant is funded… Are there specific requirements upon receiving my grant award?

• • •

What are the regulations concerning ownership of grant materials? Are additional applications available?

What is the deadline for submitting?

• •

Implement the programs/projects as soon as possible. Submit purchase receipts to the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation as soon as possible and no later than May 23, 2009. Failure to submit receipts will result in disqualification from the next year’s grants program. Submit a summary of the grant program/project implementation to the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation no later than May 23, 2009. Recipient’s grant materials remain with the grantee until their retirement, resignation, etc. and then will remain at the last school where the recipient taught. Materials/equipment for team grants will remain at the school site.

Applications are also available on line from the web sites www.nmft.net, www.newportmesaschoolsfoundation.org, and www.nmusd.us.us.

The DEADLINE is 5:00 P.M., Friday, September 26, 2008

___________________ Code # (office use only)

This section will be removed before the application is read and scored. Application categories Check one category, then check the most appropriate discipline within that category

✔

Art Music Humanities Career Ed. Health Ed. Physical Ed. Special Programs Reading Writing Phonics Language Arts Science or Math Technology (indicate subjects) Computer Programming & Math Social Studies

History

Geography

Library Science

Economics

Special Education Multiethnic Environmental Projects Funding amount requested (check one category) ✔ up to $1,000 up to $2,500

up to $5,000

up to $10,000

Describe your program/project in 25 words or less: (This part will be used for publication and in the Banquet program)

Students make art and music using MIT hardware and software, a sneaky way to engage all students in math and science. Return eight (8) paper copies of this signed four-page application on or before 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 26, 2008 Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation office PO Box 1368, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (upper parking lot - adjacent to the ENC) 1701 Sixteenth Street Newport Beach, CA 92663 Phone: (949) 631-3293

SCHOOL Estancia Credit Recovery Applicant(s) Signature(s)

PROJECT TITLE Music and Art for All - Courtesy of MIT /

Typed Name(s)

Dennis Ashendorf

/

E-mail

[email protected]

/

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___________________ Code # (office use only)

Newport Mesa Schools Foundation 'Grants to Teachers'

Official Application 2008/2009 Project Title (required)

Music and Art for All - Courtesy of MIT

Application categories Check one category, then check the most appropriate discipline within that category

✔

Art Music Humanities Career Ed. Health Ed. Physical Ed. Special Programs Reading Writing Phonics Language Arts Science or Math Technology (indicate subjects) Computer Programming & Math History Geography Economics Social Studies

Library Science

Special Education Multiethnic Environmental Projects Funding level requested (check one category) ✔ up to $1,000 up to $2,500

up to $5,000

up to $10,000

Grade Level(s) (check one - for Elementary indicate P for Primary or U for Upper elementary) Kindergarten Elementary - P U Middle/Intermediate ✔

High School

District Classes

•

Is your administrator aware of your grant proposal? ✔ Yes

•

Have you checked to see that, if applicable, your request meets the District requirements of health and No safety codes for students ? ✔ Yes

•

List two objectives of your grant proposal

No

1. Encourage more girls to try hardware programming in support of learning math. PicoCricket works like LEGO's Mindstorms' robots, but creates music, lights, and art. It has more universal appeal, than simply using MIT's Scratch software, which girls only used after boys were done last year. 2. Let students and teachers see and believe that they can create interesting things with the math skills they have. Overcome their shyness masked as reluctance.

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USE ONLY SPACE PROVIDED

DEFINE ALL ACRONYMS

*Do not identify your school, site council or zone in this application* •

Proposal Description

1. What is your plan? Placing hardware in students' hands and simple computer software before their eyes makes math and science vibrant. Let students experience the joy of making objects under their control, while experiencing the demand for sequence in software, like proofs in Geometry.

2. How will it be implemented? In January 2009, invigorate the math elective classroom with lights, motors, and sound that students control using variables in visual computer software. These devices were designed by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten Project and extend student usage of MIT's Scratch software. Last year, the boys thrived in working together on Scratch.

3. What will be purchased? Three PicoCricket kits and three PicoBoards will be purchased. They are controlled by visual programming software and were developed by the MIT Group that created LEGO Mindstorms robots. MIT wanted to make something not only exhibiting more flexibility, but also appeal to more people. Surf www.picocricket.com and www.scratch.mit.edu.

How will you evaluate your Grant’s effectiveness? Be very specific! 1. The percentage of girls starting/completing the class and the amount of time that they choose to work will be compared to the boys.

2. Place movies of student demonstrations onto the web. Survey students on popularity of course. See http://scratch.mit.edu/galleries/view/15325 for software-only examples of student work from last year. 3. Invite other teachers to see the students in action and demonstrate how to use software. Encourage interest by other teachers in implementing PicoCricket and Scratch in elementary schools with the vision of "graduating" students into First Tech (LEGO Mindstorms) or the JPL Annual Innovation Challenge. Surf www.usfirst.org and http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/inventionchallenge/.

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___________________ Code # (office use only) •

Proposed Budget (be accurate, concise and specific) (If your order has no shipping or tax, please explain)

Equipment/Materials/Supplies (list ALL)

3 PicoCricket Kits @ $250.00 each 3 PicoBoards

@ $50.00 each

Subtotal before tax

$$ Amount

$750.00 150.00

$900.00

0.00

Tax ( 0.00 %)* Subtotal with tax Shipping **

Total Cost

$900.00 $57.50

$957.50

* If tax rate is other than 7.75%, please enter the actual percentage above by typing Online Order from Massachusetts over the 7.75 (0, 8.25, etc.), and explain here. _____________________________________ ** If no shipping, please explain: __________________________________________

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