Tolland Education Foundation Gives $40,000 To Local Schools

TOLLAND, CT — The Tolland Education Foundation has awarded its largest grant in the foundation's 20-year history – $40,000.

The donation is designed to "help commemorate the foundation's mission of inspiring and funding innovative, creative learning experiences for students of all abilities in Tolland Public Schools for two decades."

All funding for Tolland Education Foundation grants comes from donations from local businesses, residents, and organizations.

"The intention of this $40,000 grant is to reach every student in the Tolland Public School system for immediate and sustainable impact through a variety of enriching initiatives," Foundation officials said.

They include:

• A new readiness program will be introduced for students entering school for the first time and a "maker space" will be available to students at Birch Grove Primary School for "hands-on learning, exploring, and sharing."

• The recording studio at Tolland Intermediate School will be overhauled with state-of-the-art equipment.

• Field trips will be funded for Tolland Middle School students to 'bring math to life' and "to make connections and build curiosity for future professions."

• Educational robots for immersive student exploration in math, science, coding, and STEM will be introduced at Tolland High School in addition to vertical learning tools for design thinking and a dedicated peer tutoring lab space.

"The Tolland Education Foundation has been a consistent resource for our educators and their efforts have reached thousands of students over the last two decades, Superintendent of Schools Walter Willett said. "The funds granted to our educators help students learn and grasp new knowledge, build life skills, and seed possibilities through enrichment experiences that extend beyond our core curriculum."