Twenty-seven schools in the Newark, Delaware area have been able to enrich their students’ interest in science and the environment thanks to the efforts of the FMC Health & Nutrition (formerly BioPolymer) Plant and its Community Advisory Panel (CAP).
This year marks the 10th consecutive year that the Newark Plant and its CAP have sponsored the educational mini-grant program for teachers in the Christina School District.
The program enables teachers to apply for mini-grants ranging from $100 to $500 to help fund special classroom projects and activities.
“The FMC Newark Plant is honored to continue a strong tradition and partnership with the Christina School District to support funding for STEM activities and programs that enrich the development of their students”, added Plant Manager, Dan Pierce. “It’s exciting to see the creativity that goes into the projects with real life application and learning. In the end, it’s all about supporting the future growth of the students and inspiring our next generation of leaders and scientists.”
This year’s mini-grant recipients include Alaine Grunow, a kindergarten teacher Downes Elementary, who plans to utilize her $499.97 grant to expand her students’ knowledge of animal life cycles. The students will have the opportunity to watch chicken eggs hatch in the classroom and experience the growth of the baby chicks, first-hand.
Jenny Rovner, who teaches 4th and 5th graders, will fund a unit on space exploration with the help of her $376.31 mini-grant to enable her students at Wilson Elementary to learn more about solar energy and habitats on the moon.
Timothy Werbrich, a 5th grade teacher at Leasure Elementary and repeat mini-grant recipient, plans to use his $275.55 grant to purchase materials that will enhance his students’ knowledge and exploration of wind energy and solar power as alternative energy sources. “FMC’s continued support of STEM projects by teachers in the Christina School District is so appreciated. Many of these projects simply wouldn’t happen or the teachers would ultimately pay for them out of their own pockets. The generous funding from FMC enhances learning for the students we teach.”
Other mini-grant recipients this year include Nancy Ventresca, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, who will purchase materials with her $412.85 grant so that her students can construct solar cars and learn more about the power of the sun.
Connie Crumlish, who teaches K-2nd grade at Wilson Elementary, will use her $420.20 grant to purchase books and other materials to assist her students in learning about the life cycles of butterflies, frogs and plants.
Kim Blevins and Suzanne Cline – both teachers at McVey Elementary, also are mini-grant recipients for 2017. Kim plans to use her $444.99 grant to purchase materials to enhance her kindergarten students’ learning about simple machines and force and motion while fellow McVey teacher – Suzanne Cline – will utilize her $150.00 grant to help her 3rd-5th grade students learn about the principles of engineering and physical science. Other grant recipients this year from McVey Elementary include kindergarten teacher, Marleigh Darcangelo and K-5th grade teacher, Jennifer Tachaepe.
During a recent meeting where the recipients were awarded their grants, Tara Lynch, who teachers 4th and 5th graders at Gallaher Elementary informed the members of the CAP that her grant would be used to purchase various materials to help bring 21st century learning and innovation into the classroom through the Makey Makey process.
Rounding out the group of mini-grant recipients for 2017 is Margaret McNutt, from Maclary Elementary and Catherine Vento, from Newark Charter School. Both teachers plan to use their $500.00 grants to bring excitement about science into the classroom. Ms. McNutt plans to purchase materials to establish a nature study/citizen science program while Ms. Vento looks forward to teaching her students about earthquakes by guiding them through the design and construction of a shake-proof building and a water purifying filter.
Since 2006, mini-grants totaling more than $44,000 have been awarded to 16 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. Newark Charter, Newark Charter Intermediate, Sarah Pyle Academy for Academic Intensity, and the Delaware School for the Deaf also have been recipients of the mini-grants since the program’s inception
As part of the Newark plant’s mini-grant program, recipient teachers attend CAP meetings to report on the success of their classroom projects and activities. Many have shared videos, photo albums and student testimonials about the fun and success of their projects and how they have helped to enrich the educational experience.
The FMC Newark CAP was organized in 2002 and serves as a forum for ongoing dialogue between the facility and its Newark neighbors. One of the CAP’s objectives is to further educational efforts in the science field in the Christina School District.
