Providing
Monetary Aid
Teaching Tools
Enriching Resources
for our Schools

Projects Funded By Ossining MATTERS as of December 2006

Funded Projects for 2006-2007 school year:

• Workshops in the art of Bookbinding for second graders at Brookside
• A set of world percussion drums for a pull-out program at Brookside
• Books and books on tape to support a before-school program for English Language Learners at Brookside
• A chess program during recess at Brookside, taught by a professional chess instructor
• Instruction in dances from around the world, for all fourth-grade PE classes at Claremont, by a professional dance instructor
• Colonial Day, a program of activities and hands-on projects to reinforce instruction and celebrate Colonial America at Claremont
• Writing workshops for all fifth graders at Claremont, with a professional writer
• An elliptical machine to support the expansion of a fitness center at AMD
• Helmets and pants for the fire - fighting PE elective at OHS
• Steppers, weight machines and other equipment for the new fitness center at OHS
• After-school ballroom and multicultural dance program at OHS, taught by professional dancers
• Writing workshops for Latino students at OHS, with a professional writer

Math and Science Projects Approved in November 2006 for 2006-2007 School Year:

• Carts stocked with science experiments for Pre-K students at Roosevelt
• Enriching Saturday trips for selected African American and Latino boys at Park School who would benefit from the experience
• Discovery workshops with a naturalist, and books for a research project on nature and the environment at Brookside
• A new shed to store gardening tools and bird food for a special Claremont program
• Microscopes and a micro-projector for Claremont
• Math- and science-related literature for a middle-school math classroom, to heighten interest and encourage reading
• A projector to aid calculator instruction for Math A students at AMD
• A creative math and ELA interdisciplinary trip and project that ties together geometric math concepts, observation of sculptures and poetry, also at AMD.

Projects funded during the 2005-2006 school year:

• A Pre-K music library, plus rhythm instruments, at Roosevelt
• The purchase of new roller skates and rollerblades, designed to help new and special-needs skaters, for the phys ed department at Brookside
• A colonial Day event for all fourth grade classes at Claremont
• A second year of the very successful Writemind writing workshop series at Claremont
• The printing and lamination of signs to promote and reinforce the Fit Kids nutrition program, to be placed in school building for grades K-8
• Contribution toward “High Hopes and Expectations” program to increase awareness among all African American sixth-grade boys at AMD of the educational and career opportunities available to them – includes entrance fees to Lincoln Center to listen to “Music of the Harlem Renaissance”
• A one-time donation toward entrance fees to lend some needed support to the Whale Watch trip for all sixth graders
• A library of recordings and a sound system to implement an active listening program for the music department at AMD
• A teleprompter for use by the education TV station, and AMD and OHS student video clubs (and available to the entire school district)
• A pilot program using disposable cameras (and film processing) to allow special education students at OHS to take photographs to be used as creative inspiration for writing
• The purchase of books to be used by reading groups studying Global History and Geography in the new OHS 9th Grade Academy
• An electronic display board to communicate information and announcements about science courses, science research, and student awards to the OHS student body
• A renovation converting the OHS weight room into a modern fitness center, beginning with six pieces of weight and cardiovascular training equipment
• Digital camera and memory card for Roosevelt teachers
• Lending library of books on tape for Park School ESL students, recorded by OHS students
• Fun Tunnel for the Park School playground
• "Jump Start” before-school literacy program for at-risk students at Park School
• Project PALS, a series of literacy-strengthening workshops for families at Park School
• Participation in the Jacob Burns “See Hear Feel Film” program for classes at Brookside
• Storytelling workshops and residency at Claremont
• Colonial American Trunk filled with artifacts, books, videos, and more, for all seventh-grade classes
• Games and new materials to aid math instruction for Academic Intervention Services students at AMD
• Latina Power workshops for sophomore and junior Latina girls at OHS
• New LCD projector for all departmentalized (special needs) classes at OHS
• Expansion of a library of fiction, nonfiction, and videos relating to the African-American experience, to be housed within the OHS library
• Workshops for OHS “Gimme the Mike” students with the musician Daniel Bernard Roumain including a culminating performance at the Ossining MATTERS Gala

Previous Projects Funded:

• Digital camera for the OHS newspaper
• Staff development program in Math and Science for K – 8 teachers
• Nutrition-related books in each elementary library to support the “Fit Kids” nutrition and fitness program
• Books for independent reading for seventh-grade classrooms
• Percussion workshops at AMD, with a professional in African drumming
• New video library for the ninth-grade Living Environment (Biology) course
• New camera and equipment for high school photography classes
• Contribution toward new lighting system for the OHS auditorium
• Jazz workshops with the Westchester Jazz Orchestra for students at Claremont, AMD, and OHS
• Workshops in the art of bookbinding at Brookside
• New books for the “1,000 Books Project” aimed at the youngest children in our district
• iPods and recorded books for English instruction at OHS
• African drums for the OHS African American club (and available to the district’s music staff)
• Library of books on tape and videos in the “Muzzy” language series for English Language Learners at Roosevelt