Category: Archive (Page 4 of 13)

WEDGE, the West Geauga Educational Foundation is a non-profit group that provides funds to help introduce new and innovative learning methods to students at West Geauga schools. WEDGE is excited to announce the approval of over $3500 for four grants which include the use of learning methods such as Geometee Golf, Chick Incubators, Stability Balls and Technology-Based, Individualized Reinforcement for Language Skills.

Current WEDGE President Jerry Pignolet said, “Funding these programs through private donations allows our schools to gain first-hand experience with new ways to improve learning, enhance teaching efficiency, boost students who might be struggling with reading and other areas and more. When proven, they can be integrated into the regular curriculum.”

Each year the foundation receives many grant requests from teachers, administrators, students and parents. Although many great ideas are submitted each year, selection is based upon applications that meet criteria created by WEDGE founders. Trustees follow these criteria as they carefully review each application before deciding upon which programs to fund.

West Geauga Educational Foundation 2012-2013 school year grants:

Chick Incubators 

Funds for this program provide Lindsey Elementary teacher, Debbie Lachman with an opportunity to present an in-depth study of the life cycle of chickens from the fertilized egg – provided by a local farm – to adulthood to third grade science students.  Students will be able to watch the development of embryos using an OvaScope allowing them to view the different stages of development starting with egg formation, parts and functioning, development and hatching.  Students will get insight into biological topics such as blood circulation, respiration and bones.  The chicks will be returned to the farm and owners of the farm will visit Lindsey to conduct presentations on the care of the chicks as well as information about the day to day running of sustainable farming.

Stability Balls

WEDGE funds in the 2011-2012 school year provided Westwood teacher Jeff Baker with the opportunity to replace chairs in the classroom with Stability Balls.  As a result of the successful introduction, Mr. Baker is expanding the program.  Studies suggest that balance balls can lead to improved concentration, create less classroom noise, help students get fit as well as stimulate brain activity.

Technology-Based, Individualized Reinforcement for Language Skills (Grades K-12)

Funds provided by WEDGE provide Speech Therapy, Intervention Specialists Kristen Hendl, Debbie Kisicki and Denise Gaskell with the opportunity to implement the Technology-Based, Individualized Reinforcement for Language Skills Program, applicable for all grades. The software addresses vocabulary, reading comprehension, social, sentence, word structure and auditory comprehension skills and is able to track progress made.  The program allows teachers to utilize evidenced-based computer programs to help target students’ necessary remedial skills. 

Geometee Golf

Fifth grade Westwood Elementary teacher, Dan Reich has developed a creative way to teach geometry and measuring skills to elementary students.  Groups of students will work in teams to design miniature golf holes based on various geometric principles.  Students will be encouraged to use their creativity and ingenuity to design holes that reveal multiple or complex geometric components. Once the holes are built, this new program will be a permanent, sustainable fixture playable by students of all ages at Westwood. Each hole will have a sign that describes its particular geometric component and gives credit to the student team members.

None of these grants would be possible without financial support from the community.  Thank you to those who attended our most recent fundraiser, the Thanksgiving Day pancake breakfast at the Chesterland McDonalds. If you would like to help, attend one of our events or make a donation, please contact WEDGE Vice President, Linda Todaro at 440-487-1663.

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Caroline Concilla

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440.729.8431

WEDGE President Jerry Pignolet with 2012 WEDGE Award winners Lindsey Teacher Angela Wiatt and Westwood Teacher Jeff Baker.

West Geauga fifth grade teachers Angela Wyatt and Jeff Baker have been named the 2011-2012 winners of the WEDGE award for their part in gaining $100,000 in outside funding for tablet computers for elementary school students. The teachers will share a $500 grant they can use for any classroom purpose.

The WEDGE Award is presented at the beginning of each school year by WEDGE, The West Geauga Educational Foundation. It recognizes those within the school community who make outstanding efforts to introduce new ideas and methods to learning.

“Any of the three nominees for last year would have been deserving winners of the award,” stated WEDGE President Jerry Pignolet.

Wyatt and Baker know the value of using the Apple iPad as an educational tool for elementary students. Their drive to integrate the iPad technology into the classroom translated into action as they secured funds and created instructional activities enhancing the learning experience for every fifth grade student in the district.

Wyatt, who teaches at Lindsey, and Baker, who teaches at Westwood, not only assisted in writing and securing grant funds for the Apple iPads from Fairmount Minerals and other resources, they worked collaboratively to integrate the use of the Apple iPad into their lesson plans.  Examples of their projects include a genealogy unit culminating with students producing a family memory book using iBook Author and researching and creating virtual Presidents and First Ladies reports using the applications of Keynote and Pages.

“These two teachers worked to secure the iPad technology, created and implemented related lesson plans as well as trained both students and staff.  Their leadership and willingness to try new ways to improve learning drove the use of this technology in West Geauga classrooms.” said Pignolet.

The other nominees were high school teachers, Natalie Cooper, Kristin Gregory, and Michael Sustin for their work and implementation of “the flipped classroom” instructional technique to increase student engagement in their science classes as well as Kim Mathis and Kim Glessner, both West Geauga Middle School teachers for their role in planning and implementing the OLWEUS Bullying Prevention Program at the West Geauga Middle School.

The West Geauga Educational Foundation also awards money for innovative and creative programs in the West Geauga School System. WEDGE helps those interested in finding better ways to teach and learn to try new approaches.

Please visit the programs page on our website for more information on approved programs and how to apply for funding.  The primary qualifications to apply? A willingness to try new ideas, experiences, technology and programs with West Geauga students in and outside the classroom.

To learn more about the West Geauga Educational Foundation, please visit our website at https://wgef.org/.  If you would like to join, help, attend one of our events or make a donation, please contact WEDGE President, Jerry Pignolet at 440-338-5196.