Congratulations to all of our innovative and inspiring Grant Recipients
Thank you for making our schools exceptional places to learn and grow!
Grants Awarded for the 2026-2027 School Year
$12,000 in funding from WEF
Decodable Textbook Room
Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Madeline McDonough and Jennifer Gargan
Wild Learning: Live Animal Show
ELL Summer Academy, granted to Sara Connors Willoughby
Foundations for the Future
Gibbons Middle School, Student Services Dept., granted to Julie Zide, Jacqueline Rice, and Olivia Vigliatura
Empowering Future Innovators
Hastings MakerSpace Initiatives, Technology, granted to Julia D'Agata, Megan Mountzoures, and Cheryl Collins
Conservation, Citizen Science, and Community Building
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Geoff Maletta and Lisa Casparriello
Mill Pond Garden
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Elise Bissett
Outdoor Classroom
WECC, Science, granted to Brittany Peck
Investigating Energy Innovations: Building a Biological Battery
WHS, Science/Tech., granted to Brianna Chaves, Alisa Hilfinger, Cassandra Riley, and Heather Waterman
AP Chemistry "Legacy" Manual
WHS, Science, granted to Christine Thomas
Grants Awarded for the 2025-2026 School Year
$13,800 in funding from WEF
Building a World for Future Engineers
Armstrong School, Science, granted to Stephanie Peterson and Sue Conley
Beyond Classroom Walls- Opportunities for Outdoor Learning
Armstrong School, Science, granted to Merideth Ekwall
Hip Cats and Cool Kids: An Experience with Patrick Ware
Fales School, Armstrong School, Music, granted to Karin Prouty
RAVE-O (Retrieval, Automaticity, Vocabulary, Engagement-Orthography (Reading Intervention Grades 1-4)
Hastings School, Literacy, granted to Andrea Weber
Get Outside! Hastings Outdoor Learning Seat Spots
Hastings School, Science, granted to Emma Nicolazzo
Revitalizing 5th Grade Book Clubs: Fostering Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging
Mill Pond School, Literacy, Kate Roberts
Bringing MiniPCR bio to all Biology Classes
WHS, Science, granted to Jo-Anne Purdy
WPS Low Tech Assistive Technology Lending Library
WHS, Technology, granted to Candice Lefebvre
Grants Awarded for the 2024-2025 School Year
$11,700 in funding from WEF
Pocketalks: Improving Communication with Non-English Speakers
WPS District, ESL, granted to Daniel Mayer
Connecting Elementary Schools through Writing and Geography
Fales School, Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Kristen Andreson and Lindsay Moynihan
The Museum Heist
Gibbons Middle School, Science, granted to Lisa Greenwald
Play-Aways to support All Readers
Hastings School, Literacy, granted to Christina Cooney
Using Breakout Boxes in Social Studies Curriculum
WPS District K-8, Social Studies, granted to Tara Gestrich
Adding Connection and Curiosity to Science through Nature Journaling
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Elise Bissett
Vertical White Boards for WHS Math/Business Classrooms
WHS, Math, granted to Cynthia Mignini
We Are One with the Ocean
WHS, Science, granted to Kathleen Hoey
WHS Blooms
WHS, granted to Jessica Barrett
Grants Awarded for the 2023-2024 School Year
$16,600 in funding from WEF
GAME TIME!
Armstrong School, Literacy, SEL, granted to Stephanie Peterson
Gardening for a Brighter Future
Armstrong School, SEL, granted to John Mendes
Sensory Movement Pathway
Armstrong School, SEL, granted to Sarah Vineyard, Alison Macko, Julia Tierney, and Cady Spencer
Fales Windows and Mirrors
Fales School, ELL, granted to Anna Souza and Maryann Stannard
Connecting Elementary Schools through Writing and Geography
Fales School, Armstrong School , Literacy, granted to Kristen Andreson, Lindsay Moynihan
Building PCs for Esports Team
Gibbons Middle School, Technology, granted to Tyrone Notice
Joyful Reading in Kindergarten
Hastings School, ELA, granted to Christina Cooney and Kathleen Doyle
Climate Action at Mill Pond
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Geoff Maletta and Lisa Casparriello
Open Books and Open Doors
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Merideth Ekwall
Geodes: An Essential Resource for Emerging and Transitional Bilingual Students
Mill Pond School, Literacy, ELL, granted to Dana Feingold
Rocketry, our next frontier!
WHS, Engineering, granted to Aaryan Nagarkatti, Bill Parsons
PCR at WHS
WHS, Science, granted to Jo-Anne Purdy
Virtual Exchanges for WPS World Language Students
WPS District 7-12, Foreign Language, granted to Bobby Sullivan
Grants Awarded for the 2022-2023 School Year
$14,100 in funding from WEF
Connecting Elementary Schools through Writing and Geography
Armstrong School and Fales School, Literacy, granted to Kristen Andresen and Lindsay Moynihan
Growing for Good: A Sustainable Food Garden
Fales School, Science, granted to Maryann Stannard
Going Green (Screen) in the Classroom
Hastings School, 3rd Grade, granted to Megan Mountzoures
Hastings Community Garden Grow Lights and Observation Station
Hastings School, Science, granted to Emma Nicolazzo
RAVE-O - Reading Intervention Program for Grades 2-4
Hastings School, Literacy, granted to Andrea Weber
Living Large in the Library "Game On"
Mill Pond School, Literacy, granted to Caitlin Gardner, Paula Johnson
Increasing Diversity and Book Options for All Readers
Mill Pond School, Literacy, granted to Dana Feingold
Picture This: Social and Academic Goal Setting and Reflecting in Fourth Grade
Mill Pond School, Social, Emotional Learning, granted to Laurie Woodward
Climate Action at Mill Pond
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Geoff Maletta
DECA International Career Development Conference
WHS, Business, granted to Andrew Portnoff
Grants Awarded for the 2021-2022 School Year
$11,500 in funding from WEF
A Decodable Intervention Lending Library
Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Megan Kelty
CoSpaces: Using Virtual & Augmented Reality in the Classroom
Gibbons Middle School, Project Based Learning, granted to Mark McNeil
Diverse Literature Collection
Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Anita Cellucci and Laura D'Elia
Diverse Picture Books for Classroom Libraries
Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Kelly White
Drumming Up Some Fun!
Fales School and Hastings School, Music, granted to Pam Yanco and John Kinney
Hastings Walks Together
Hastings School, Physical Education, granted to Emma Nicolazzo
Math Plus Manipulatives and Supplies
Armstrong School, Math, granted to Colleen Stamuli
Past, Present and Future Women Innovators
Gibbons Middle School, Social Justice, granted to Lisa Greenwald
Specdrums: Turn Art into Music!
Armstrong School, Music/Art/Tech, granted to Jackie O'Rourke
Sustainable Farming at the BORO
BORO, Science, Project Based Learning, granted to Kerri McManus
Grants Awarded for the 2020-2021 School Year
$21,000 in funding from WEF
Diverse Literature Collection
Armstrong School, Literacy, granted to Laura D'Elia
You've Got a Friend in Me
Armstrong School, Music, granted to Michelle Casciano
Fostering a Culture of Avid Readers in 3rd Grade, Year 2
Armstrong School, Fales School, and Hastings School, Literacy, granted to Elizabeth Berry
Multilingual, Culturally Diverse Award-Winning Authors
WPS District K-8, ELL, Maeve Hutzenbuhler
Cultivating the Joy of Reading in All Students
Fales School, Literacy, Angela Caron
CoSpaces: Using Virtual & Augmented Reality in the Classroom
Gibbons Middle School, Social Studies, Mark McNeil
Things That Grow: Preschool Garden Year 2
Hastings School, Science, granted to Megan McNally
Melodies with Medley: A Day with a Master Orff Schulwerk Teacher
Hastings School and Fales School, Music, granted to John Kinney
Artist in Residence: Silkscreening for Community Engagement
Hastings School and Mill Pond School, Art granted to Alana Conlin
Agents for Change: Reusable Bags as a Tool for Plastic Problem Solving
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Vicki Walsh
Nature Based Learning at Mill Pond
Mill Pond School, Science, granted to Peter Guellnitz
Universal Design for Learning: Creating an Accessible & Inclusive Classroom
Mill Pond School, 5th Grade, granted to Caitlyn Kewriga
BioBuilder Team
WHS, Science, granted to Jo-Anne Purdy
Bringing the Archive to the Students-Expanding the Museum Collections
WHS, Social Studies, granted to Erin Kraus
WIFI for Remote Learning
WPS District, granted to Jon Green