Foundation awards $26,670 for three grants this cycle for Chromebooks ^™ to enhance Writer's Workshop,

  MakerBot Replicator ^® 2 3D printers, SketchUp ^® 3D modeling software and a "Dinosaurs Rock" a ssembly

Millstone TOWNSHIP, NJ, May 29, 2014 – Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence (MTFEE) awarded three grants today totaling $26,670 to Millstone Township Schools. In January, MTFEE awarded five grants totaling $22,215.60. Between its two grant cycles this school year, MTFEE awarded a total of $48,885.60. Since 2002, MTFEE has awarded more than $486,670 to its schools. There are currently more than 60 MTFEE-funded grant programs running in the Millstone Township School district. Every child that matriculates through the school district will in some way benefit from an MTFEE funded grant.

This grant cycle awards included Chromebooks ^™ to enhance the Writer's Workshop curriculum; MakerBot Replicator ^® 2 3D printers and SketchUp ^® 3D modeling software to support the rapid prototyping program; and a "Dinosaurs Rock: A Journey Through Earth's Prehistoric History" assembly.

Following is a listing of the grants and recipients:

Crafting with Chromebooks ^™ ($18,950) (Edward A. Bittner, Seventh Grade Language Arts Teacher and Rachael Moriarty, Seventh Grade Language Arts Teacher) - The grant consists of 50 Chromebooks ^™ (25 each class) that will enable all seventh grade students to have access, on a daily basis, to the Internet—where they can access up-to-date materials, interactive planning tools and Google Docs ^™ — to enhance the Writer's Workshop curriculum. Google Docs ^™ will improve the students' ability to draft, revise, edit, share, create and store information. With Google Docs ^™ immediate feedback in real time will be provided to students, without interrupting their writing process, for truly responsive teaching. Students will also have the opportunity to create multimedia products with the Chromebooks ^™ using apps such as Prezi ^™ and GoAnimate ^™ .

Rapid Prototyping: Bringing Our Ideas to Life! ($6,600) (Thomas Semko, Middle School Assistant Principal and Ellen Osborne, Middle School Technology Teacher) - The grant consists of two MakerBot Replicator ^® 2 3D printers and SketchUp ^® 3D modeling software, for Applied Technology students, to enhance STEM education and provide those students with real-world design applications. Teaching 3D modeling and providing exposure to fabrication equipment will allow technology education classes to take a crucial step towards becoming the home for student creativity and scientific exploration. 3D printing is a rapidly developing technology that allows users, with no fabrication experience, to easily produce computer-designed parts, which would be impossible to make with conventional tools. Through the use of 3D modeling software, SketchUp ^® , students will gain a deeper understanding of spatial relationships as they are challenged to create new products. Students will be given design challenges, which will promote the use of skills acquired throughout their academic day, in mathematics, science and even language arts.

Dinosaurs Rock, A Journey Through the Earth's Prehistoric History Assembly ($1,120) (Valerie Gunsalus, Second Grade Teacher) - The grant consists of an interactive assembly to all second grade students where a "Dinosaurs Rock" instructor will bring an exhibit of museum quality pieces, including genuine fossils. During the assembly, students will engage in a hands-on fossil dig, which will enable them to increase their knowledge about dinosaur extinction theory, different types of dinosaurs, how fossils formed, as well as scientific clues. By viewing actual fossils, students will gain an understanding of the size of dinosaurs and increase their knowledge about prehistoric life. Students will also learn about how museums build exhibits of dinosaurs and their fossils.

For more information about donating to MTFEE, becoming a trustee or its fundraising programs and events, please e-mail info@mtfee.org , visit www.mtfee.org and like us on Facebook.

###

About MTFEE

From its initial conception in 1995 to its designation as a 501©3 charitable organization in 2002, the Millstone Township Foundation for Educational Excellence (MTFEE) has remained steadfast in its goal to fund grants for items that nurture extraordinary educational experiences for every student in Millstone Township Public Schools and are beyond the scope of the general school budget. Items include innovative classroom programs, educational opportunities for students, staff development, and state-of-the-art teaching materials. Through the creativity of the teaching staff’s grant applications and the fundraising efforts of MTFEE, the foundation is proud to have awarded more than $486,670 in grants to Millstone Township schools. MTFEE grants, which have been awarded at every grade level and in every discipline, have included STEM enrichment programs, SMARTBoards ^® , mobile computer and iPad ^™ labs, and a rock climbing wall. MTFEE was the first organization in the district to put iPads ^™ into the classroom in the spring of 2011. There are currently more than 60 MTFEE-funded grant programs running. Every child that matriculates through the school district will in some way benefit from an MTFEE-funded grant. MTFEE is a member of New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership and The National Consortium of State and Local Education Foundations (NCEFS).