With the help of funds raised at the Sip & Support Our Scholars and through generous contributions by donors and supporters, the BBH Schools Foundation funds classroom enrichment grants to district teachers to foster creative, innovative teaching. Projects funded (in full or in part) in the 2020-2021 school year include:

​

​

Jen Collins, Lisa Feldner, Dena Wilson, Middle School – Language Arts/Science

A Long Walk to Water: An Interdisciplinary Unit

 

To help students understand both local and global issues and gain motivation to become contributors themselves, students will read and analyze “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park. The book tells the story of two African youths from Sudan and their heroic journey to help their community. The unit will integrate language arts, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry-based activities, culminating in a 7th grade team day in the Brecksville Metroparks which will include water testing and analysis, exploration of the Brecksville Nature Center and simulation of the “long walk to water” described in the book.

 

Pam Polman, Jane Jagielo – Highland Drive, All Subjects

“Engaged Learning with Re-Write”

 

To provide students with an innovative alternative to whiteboards in the classroom, or for home use in conjunction with online learning, Re-Write Boards will be used for student practice and to check for understanding across all content areas. Re-Write is a pressure-sensitive tablet that can be written on using a stylus or finger. It erases with the simple push of a button and is classroom durable. It runs on a replaceable coin cell battery and is designed for daily use.

 

Joe Zenir – Middle School – Language Arts

Show What You Know: Content Creation in the Classroom

 

The goal of this project is to enable students to create digital content to show their learning in the classroom with an acute focus on the Speaking and Listening standards, a major part of the Common Core Language Arts curriculum. An audio/visual studio will be created in the classroom so students can create and share content and to interact virtually. Each student will create a portfolio to archive evidence of learning throughout the year. 

 

Jacqui Berchtold – Highland Drive – Language Arts

Celebrating Diversity with Multicultural Literature

​

The grant would be used to purchase books to create a diverse classroom library. The current classroom library contains well-loved, older books. While many of the books contain wonderful stories and lessons, a majority do not contain diverse characters, and very few of them reflect the cultures of many students. Adding diverse books that celebrate different races, cultures, and ethnicities will help support the vast representation in the classroom. The books will help teach students more about each other and the world.

 

Kathryn Gastaldo  - Hilton – Grade 4

Ruling Our eXperiences Program

 

Funding would support the implementation of the Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) program. ROX is an evidence-based curriculum designed to address the issues that young girls regularly struggle with through a 20-week group intervention. Group topics include effective communication, healthy relationships, positive body image, self-esteem, problem solving, leadership, self-defense skills and more.

 

Morgan Kolis – Highland Drive – Makers’ Club

Recovering Forward: Back to Normal is Not an Option

 

The Highland Drive Makers’ Club has completed six successful years. Students can choose, once per week, to forego their lunch and recess times to engage in problem-solving, critical thinking, and the design process. The goal of this project is to create a more equitable, inclusive space by putting diverse books and inclusive materials into the maker space library. In addition, new tools are needed to welcome, engage, encourage collaboration, and provide diverse experiences for our students. The items requested will help give access to a broader audience throughout the building by providing more opportunities for digital fabrication, coding, 3D printing, and literacy.

 

Craig Kowatch – High School - STEM

Direct-to-Garment Printing

 

The technology department would like to expand the new fabrication curriculum by adding direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. DTG printing allows students to create a design, import design-prep, and print. In addition, it will allow clubs and organizations the opportunity to promote themselves. The entire process will be on a mobile table that could be moved to the cafeteria or auditorium to create t-shirts, sweatshirts, or even towels for assemblies, pep rallies or sporting events. Recent advances have lowered the cost of this technology to a more reasonable level. In addition to the Freejet 330TX Plus printer, a pretreat machine, heat press ink, and software is needed. The total startup package is estimated at $30,000. The remainder of the funding will be secured from other sources.

​

Kaitlyn Jonozzo/Gina Baeslach – High School – Counseling

BBHHS Zen Den

 

To provide students with an area to relax, decompress, and be mindful when needed, a Zen Den will be created in the counseling office. Students will briefly go to this therapeutic environment to calm down and relax using various strategies. This sensory supportive environment will provide tools to help students understand their behavior and refocus. The Zen Den will give students “time away” so their emotions do not escalate further. It will assist students in their self-calming efforts by offering them a room of relaxation.

 

Corey Shingleton, Blair Wood, Andi Mahoney, Jeff Sidaway, Heather Luckey

Beyond Works: Music Therapy for Special Education

 

Music therapy is the planned use of music for the purpose of achieving therapeutic gains. Research has stated that music therapy “can yield significant improvements for young people with behavioral and developmental disorders.” The grant will be used to provide one 30-minute session of music therapy per week throughout the school year for moderate to intensive special education students from preschool through high school.