Announcing Ossining MATTERS
Fall 2004 Funding

Ossining MATTERS Education Foundation is very pleased to announce the distribution of $21,300 in grants to nine projects in the Ossining School District. In keeping with the mission of Ossining MATTERS, the projects will reach students from preschool through the high school, supporting academics, cultural arts, and health/athletics.

Ossining MATTERS received grant applications from every educational level within the district. In reviewing the applications, Ossining MATTERS gave careful consideration to choosing programs that would reach the greatest number of students and best support the district's educational goals.

Pictured below, Cindy Winter, President of Ossining MATTERS, with some of the faculty members
whose projects have been selected for funding from the Fall 2004 Funding Cycle.

John Grady, Advisor to the African-American Club, and Aisha Alami, President of the African-American Club

Fourth Grade teachers Cori Boss, Ashley O'Hara and Leslee Hammer

Marie Iarossi and Michael Stutzman, OHS ELA teachers

Rise Daniels, Brookside Art Teacher

Carol Axner, Teacher Center Director and Scott Fridkin, 1,000 Book Project Coordinator

Rodrigo Vargas, OHS Band Director

The 2004 Fall Funding Grants will support a very diverse slate of programs, reaching a wide variety students from preschool through the high school. Awards will fund a nutrition and fitness program; the purchase of African percussion instruments; writing workshops; the purchase of iPods and recorded books for English instruction at the high school; a before-school literacy program for at-risk students; jazz workshops; workshops in the art of bookbinding; and supplying bilingual English/Spanish books for the 1,000 Books Project.

"We want to congratulate all of the award recipients and thank everyone who applied," says Cindy Winter, the president of Ossining MATTERS. "It is so very gratifying to be able to put the generous contributions from our community to such excellent use. The enthusiasm and financial support that we've received from families and businesses in the community, through their participation in our fundraising events, is really encouraging. We're looking forward to increasing the size of our grants to the Ossining District in the coming year, as awareness of our organization and the types of programs we support increases."

The projects we will be funding are as follows:

1. Fit Kids - Alice Habina, Brookside, School Nurse, Pat Lofaro, PTA Wellness Ambassador,
Faith Lippe, Nutritionist
Elementary school health, nutrition and fitness program for grades K-5. This successful program is well-supported by the school district and the PTAs. The contribution from Ossining MATTERS will be used to purchase nutrition related books for the libraries at each of the participating schools to support the goals of the program.

2. Afro/Latin Percussion and Dance - John Grady, OHS, African American Club Advisor
The donated funds will be used to purchase African percussion instruments for use by the African American Club in programs to enhance the appreciation and understanding of African and Latino cultures among Ossining's students. These percussion instruments will also be available for use by the district's music staff upon request.

3. Writemind - Leslee Hammer, Cori Boss, Eileen Kanganis, and Ashley O'Hara, Claremont, Fourth Grade Teachers
Writing workshops for four fourth-grade classes with a professional, David Surface. Four fourth grade teachers voluntarily attended teacher workshops for training to prepare them for the classroom writing experience in March, 2005. Mr. Surface will spend one full day for four consecutive weeks at Claremont School. He will walk the students through the writing process and provide feedback to the students on their writings. The project will culminate in an open mike night where the students will share their work.

4. Enrichment of the Literary Experience in the Classroom Through Audio Books - Marie Iarossi, OHS, Special Education Inclusion Teacher, Michael Stutzman, OHS, English Teacher
Purchase of iPods, speakers (to be connected to classroom computers), and Apple books on tape to enrich High School English instruction. It is expected that the process of listening to professionals read passages from books will be an engaging experience for all students and will be especially beneficial to those students who are reluctant readers.

5. Jump Start - Sheila Cory, Park School, Social Worker, Loretta Dedvukaj, Park School, Teacher, Gina Feeks, Park School, Teacher
Before-school pilot program in literacy to help at-risk/financially needy students. This two-morning per week program will meet at 8:00am and include breakfast. The program will serve up to 30 students, with three teachers providing instruction. The program will be tailored to meet the needs of low achieving students who require extra help and might not get academic support outside of school. The goals of the program are to improve literacy skills as well as attitudes toward school and behavior. In addition, they will promote collaboration between the school and families to form a better relationship with parents. The funding provided by Ossining MATTERS will allow the program to run for several months. It is hoped that with a measured record of success, the program can be expanded in the future with funds provided by an outside grant or the school district.

6. The 1,000 Book Project - Carol Axner, Brookside, Teacher Center Director,
Scott Fridkin, Brookside, Teacher
1,000 Book Project Coordinator Purchase of six bags, each filled with 10 dual-language books, which will be circulated by the Ossining Public Library to pre-schoolers and young elementary school students to promote literacy. This is an expansion of a successful, existing project supported by others in community.

7. Westchester Jazz Orchestra Educational Residency - Rodrigo Vargas, OHS, Band Director
Three days of workshops for OHS, AMD and Claremont Jazz Band and Band students, with members of a premier jazz orchestra. The goals of the program are to help students develop the skills necessary for playing in a jazz orchestra, to generate excitement and interest in jazz and to provide an opportunity to listen to and imitate the music played by professionals. The program will culminate in a concert given by students and the professionals with the entire community invited.

8. Bookbinding - Rise Daniels, Brookside, Art Teacher,
Workshop with professionals for an entire grade of either second or third graders to teach them how to make bound books. Students participating in the workshops will bind their own creative or written work that will be developed under the supervision of their classroom teachers. This hands-on, collaborative program will teach students a new skill that they can use in the future and result in a finished product that will make students feel proud.

9. Addressing the Standards Through Authentic World Music - Kim Meade, AMD, Music Teacher
Series of percussion workshops for AMD students with a professional in African drumming. The program will promote an appreciation and understanding of music from different cultures. .

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