Grants
The Norwell Education Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in Grants since 1992 that have enriched student education at all grade levels in the Norwell Public Schools. See below for highlights.
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Skipper, the Therapy Dog
Big Blue
Blocks
Suessical the
Musical
With the help of a large grant from the NEF, the NHS school psychologist worked with the non-profit organization, Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI), to get Skipper, a therapy dog, for the Norwell district. Research indicates the many benefits of having a therapy dog in schools, with positive impacts on social, emotional and behavioral functioning, as well as academic engagement and feelings of school community and belonging. Skipper has made a huge impact at Norwell schools.
NEF supported the purchase of a set of Big Blue Blocks at the Norwell Cole School to encourage playful learning at the Kindergarten level during recess time. These versatile soft play block sets and loose-parts play equipment inspire curiosity, foster indoor play and outdoor play systems, and promote self-directed exploration. They encourage problem-solving, spatial awareness, and collaboration, all while supporting physical activity, social interaction, and endless FUN!
The NEF contributed funds to help support the Spotlighter's Disney trip to perform Suessical the Musical at Disney as well supporting the various educational opportunities at the Disney Theme Parks. This was a once in a lifetime trip for many of the kids that this grant supported.
Angst Movie Showing
High School Drama Festival
Communication Board
The Norwell High School Counseling Department would like to break down the stigma surrounding anxiety disorders and provide education around the support available for our students and family members. As part of its initiative, the
Counseling Department- through a grant from the NEF- hosted a screening of the movie “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety.”
The NEF has funded the Norwell High School Theater program annually to attend and perform at the High School Drama Festival Competition. The NEF contributes to the necessary funding to enter the Festival as well as the moving costs to get the program's set to the competition site. In 2022, the Norwell High School Fourth Wall Players won the regional competition and won several individual awards.
The NEF funded a large communication board on the Cole playground that allows non-verbal students to communicate with their peers and teachers. Benefits of having a communication board include: Children can use the communication board to interact with play areas and to communicate and connect with other children on the playground; Children can communicate with their caregivers and peers through the use of picture symbols; Like most other accessibility designs, communication boards will also facilitate young children’s learning of new vocabulary and reading.
Augmented Reality Sandbox
Ukeleles
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Torch Plasma Cutter
The Augmented Reality Sandbox is an innovative way for middle school students to build topography such as mountains and waterways on a computer which projects a real-time contour map on top of a physical sandbox.
25 new Ukeleles were bought to to implement musical literacy skills while promoting a love for music for students of all sizes.
The torch plasma metal cutter has been integrated into the engineering, shop & robotics curriculum at the high school allowing students to design and produce accurate engineering related parts and professional quality signs.
Lexia Reading Core 5
1000 Book Club
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Pickleball
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Lexia Learning empowers educators through adaptive assessment and personalized instruction. Teachers are able to differentiate instruction for students to meet their reading level. It is a fun and interactive way for students to learn using the computer or iPad.
Students sign-up to receive bags of books that promote and are recognized at milestone markers of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 books to promote more reading amongst students. Monthly read-alouds increase participation with the ultimate goal to read 1000 books by the end of the year.
The Pickleball equipment purchased for the Norwell MIddle School in 2019 introduces students to this life-long activity that supports development of physical and mental skills and provides knowledge of the game that will allow kids the ability to engage in this activity with their family & community.
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Reality Works Babies
Multiplication Stairs
Kindergarten Dramatic Play
Educators around the world use this unique learning aid to teach early childhood, parenting, infant health lessons, and sex education. This smart baby adds meaning and accountability by using wireless programming to track and report on caregiver behaviors.
Colorful multiplication stairs are installed on the back stairway at the Vinal Elementary School. They add color to the stairway and promote fluency in a fun way. Teachers can use it as an interactive lesson for students learning their multiplication facts.
All kindergarten classrooms received dramatic play areas to better meet the social/emotional developmental needs of our students. Puppet theater, post office, tool kits, doll houses, camping sets and kitchens are just a few of the many additions to the kindergarten classrooms. Dramatic play gives students the opportunity to express their creativity, cooperate with their peers, control impulses and learn in a variety of different settings.
