SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard
Following the successful deployment of this innovative technology (funded by DEF in prior years), in the fall of 2006 the DEF funded the purchase of 4 additional SMARTBoards.  Three have been installed in math classrooms at Duxbury Middle School, like the one pictured at left.

Chandler School SMARTBoard -
An additional  SMARTBoard has been installed at the Chandler School Computer Lab.   

Click on the link to a PowerPoint presentation to see how the Express students at Chandler School create a song using the SMARTBoard. 

Students Against Destructive Decisions Program (SADD) 
The focus of this project is an expanded public relations campaign to be implemented over the next two years for the Student Assistance Program and the Duxbury Youth Risk Task Force within the Duxbury community.  This grant will fund SADD program speakers and many student-designed and implemented programs all to promote teen healthy decision making.

Professional “Fiddle” Instruction
This grant will provide professional fiddle instruction to all 280 string students in grades 5-12.  This instruction will provide musical enrichment and experience in the “Fiddle” genre of string playing, exposing students to a different style of music.  The Fiddle group “Notorious” will work with each school orchestra.

Sound Amplification System
Chandler School has already implemented six Easy Listener/FrontRow sound field amplifications systems in use in kindergarten through grade two classrooms. This grant funded the purchase of two additional sound amplification systems for Chandler School.  This project will support ongoing efforts by the Chandler School community to improve and develop the learning environment for all students, specifically as it relates to the classroom listening environment.  

Professional Choir Instruction
This grant funds professional choir instruction for all middle school through high school choir students.  Dr. Doneski, the Assistant Professor of Music at Gordon College, will lead “master-class” rehearsals to further develop the students’ musicianship, taking their music to a higher level.
 
The Six Traits Writing Approach
The DEF funded this day-long workshop for  Alden School staff. The workshop, facilitated by the staff from the Bureau of Education Research, addresses the Six Traits of Writing Approach.  This approach enumerates six areas of writing;  Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions.  The Six Traits Approach serves as the basis of the writing component of Scott Foresman’s Reading Street series, which the Duxbury Public Schools have selected to be the primary vehicle by which the Massachusetts English/Language Arts Curriculum Frameworks will be taught.

Boardmaker Speech Program Software
Chandler School has already implemented the use of the Boardmaker Speech program software to create printed symbol-based communication and educational materials.  These materials help beginning and pre-reading students, as well as special education students. The DEF funded the purchase of 7 software program upgrades.

Guidance Department Course Management Software
Last year the DEF provided funding to the Guidance Department for the purchase of Naviance software, which facilitates transcript administration.  “Course Manager” is an additional component of Naviance software and will allow Duxbury High School’s Program of Studies to be available to families on-line.  The software will also allow for a systematic approach to course planning and course requests with all students.