Melville Teachers Score Classroom Innovation Grants

From the Rhode Island Foundation:

PORTSMOUTH, RI—The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded three Melville Elementary School teachers nearly $3,000 through a program designed to encourage classroom innovation.

Launched by philanthropists Letitia and John Carter in 2013, Spark Grants were available to full-time third-grade teachers in any public or charter school statewide were eligible to apply for grants of up to $1,000 to fund proposals that will engage students through unique experiences and creative learning methods in order to stimulate their interest in academics.

“Third grade is a critical stage in the educational development of children. The creativity and impact of these proposals will put more youngsters on the road to a lifetime of academic success," said Letitia Carter.

Spark Grants are for one-time expenses and cannot provide ongoing funding to sustain projects. Eligible expenses include software licenses, field trips, equipment and other resources that otherwise would not be available in the classroom.

“Once again, the Carters are advancing change by example. Thanks to their vision, teachers all over Rhode Island have an extraordinary opportunity to be innovative,” said Neil Steinberg, president and CEO of the Foundation.

Melville teachers Erika Magilton, Meg Brennan and Michele Polselli received $2,950 to take 75 third-graders on field trips to Escobar’s Highland Farm, the Portsmouth Historical Society and Fort Adams in Newport.

“The purpose is to learn about the history, places and faces of our town and Aquidneck Island. During this 8-week unit, students will research and visit places, events and historical figures in order to acquire knowledge of historical significance,” said Polselli.

“The students will be creating a visual representation of 10 famous landmarks on The Cliff Walk in Newport. We think the visual representation of some of Newport's most famous landmarks along with the Aquidneck Island book will prepare our students for the field trip that will take them all over Aquidneck Island,” she said.

Students will create their own history books, which Polselli hopes will be displayed at the Portsmouth Free Public Library, the historical society and the school department’s central office.

“Our students’ knowledge of historical places, events and figures will provide them the opportunity to interact with community members and learn the importance of past community events thus aiding in their background knowledge of where they come from and how our communities on the island came to be,” said Polselli.

Elementary schools in Barrington, Burrillville, Central Falls, Charlestown, Coventry, Cumberland, East Providence, Glocester, Hopkinton, Johnston, Lincoln, Middletown, Newport, North Kingstown, North Providence, Pawtucket, Richmond, South Kingstown, Smithfield, Warren, Warwick, Westerly and Woonsocket also received grants. Statewide, the Foundation awarded $215,000 in grants.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2015, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.