The Township of Union Education Foundation proudly announces two mini-grants and five macro-grants will be awarded to teachers in the Union school district for the 2018-2019 school year. The teachers will be honored at the annual spring reception to be held on May 10 from 5-8pm at the Knights of Columbus 1034 Jeanette Avenue in Union. Ticket donation for the reception is $30.00 and checks may be made payable to “Township of Union Education Foundation” and mailed to Susan Lipstein, 2569 Jackson Avenue, Union, NJ 07083.
The first recipient of the micro-grant is Greg Pardo of Connecticut Farms School for "Fixing is Engineering." Students will learn basic engineering skills by taking a hands-on approach. They will refurbish a non-working pinball machine by taking it apart and troubleshooting any problems. They will work together as a team to restore it back to working condition.
The second micro-grant recipient, Kelly Kitzman of Livingston School, designed a program titled "Kid Bloggers" This program will be implemented by grade 3 and grade 4 teachers and AAP teachers. The students will use an interactive writing program where students and teachers can teach, learn and
communicate interactively in a positive learning digital atmosphere.
Five macro-grants were awarded to district teachers for their innovative ideas. Mary Ellen Patricco and Brooke Gilligan, fourth grade teachers at Connecticut Farms School, titled their grant"Ignite Lifelong Learning"; The class will receive chromebooks and materials to continue their study of engineering in the classroom.
Marianne Deczynski, Kawameeh Middle School music teacher, was awarded a grant for "Music Hands On!" This project will provide instruments for use in the sixth and seventh grade music cycle classes. Xylophones and ukuleles will be added to provide more opportunities for hands on learning. These will be used in addition to the tubano drums which were received at Kawameeh from a previous grant funded by the Township of Union Education Foundation.
Jennifer Reguinho, kindergarten teacher at Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, will use "iPads in the Classroom." Five iPads will be added in the classroom to provide a myriad of literacy center activities. Lessons can be differentiated for different levels of learning. The program will be implemented
by additional staff members; Alina LoGuidice, Maria Manfra, Alison Murphy, Jessica Oliveira and Teresa Marino.
Tommy Harrell, principal of Burnet Middle School, was awarded a grant for "The Nature of Things;" which will provide for construction of a greenhouse in the courtyard at Burnet. Students in grades 6-8 will use the greenhouse to study environmental science and utilize writing skills explaining their project 39's
connection to physics and biology.
Maria Sibilia and Elena Patricco, fourth grade teachers at Livingston Elementary School, received the final macro-grant for "Full STEAM Ahead" The classroom will receive two chromebooks and specific material which includes LEGO models, conductive building clay, and chain reaction kits for
building. The students will then explain their projects and type their ideas and share them. Students will take an active role in their own learning. The Township of Union Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3 )non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to raise funds for grants awarded competitively to teachers for creative and innovative educational programs for children in the public schools of the Township of Union.