>>2007 Grants Brochure - highlights the grants funded in the Fall of 2007. More photos coming soon!
Science Mobile Learning Project –This cutting edge technology provides a complete set of PC tablets, Virtual labs, online textbooks, and robotics capabilities for DHS Science students. This wide-reaching grant impacts students in 13 chemistry classes, 10 physics classes, and two computer science classes a year. In total, more than 500 students a year will benefit from this learning experience which closely resembles the science in college and industry. The virtual lab software component of this grant allows students to work with concepts we currently cannot demonstrate in the school lab. Examples of labs include a space docking mission and piloting a craft to Mars. Additionally, this grant provides the means to develop robotics as a viable curriculum tool in physics and computer science, as well as launch a Robotics Team at DHS. Cyber-bullying Peer Training – High school students will attend the World of Difference Institute Peer Training Program presented by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The program model focuses on strategies to combat name-calling, bullying and harassment to create a safe and inclusive school community. A special focus this year will be on cyber-bullying prevention. The 30 DHS peer leaders will be responsible for outreach programs within the DHS and DMS student and parent communities.
Artist in Residence – Jan Zabiliski, a local artist, will teach an AP Studio Art class at DHS as an “artist in residence” this spring. Artist Jan Zabilski has studied with Bob Greene, an accomplished portrait artist, and has been trained in his very specific techniques to achieve the likeness of a subject. The teacher and the students will train for 3 weeks, gaining a tremendous amount of information as well as confidence in the area of portrait drawings. This technique will then be implemented into the curriculum, benefiting students for years to come. Visit the Featured Grant Page for more details.
Professional Development - a. Co-Teaching Inclusionary Workshop– DHS teachers will attend a co-teaching workshop sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Research. This workshop highlights best practices in co-teaching, consultation and collaboration. A co-teaching instructional model will be piloted in US History and English classes.
b. National Science Teachers Association Annual Convention- DHS and DMS staff will attend this Boston convention to research materials and methods, strategies and best practices in science curriculum and teaching.
Digital Video Camcorders – Six new digital video camcorders were purchased for use in two growing Duxbury High School video production electives. Pictured at left the video camcorders were used to film the DEF Spelling Bee.
There are currently 147 students in grades 9-12 enrolled in the Video Production and TV Studio courses. The additional video camcorders allow the students to cover more events and create more programming, while allowing each student more hands-on learning in video production.
Digital Video Camcorders, continued - There are currently 147 students in grades 9-12 enrolled in the Video Production and TV Studio courses. The additional video camcorders allow the students to cover more events and create more programming, while allowing each student more hands-on learning in video production.
Executive Functioning Skills Seminar – Sarah Ward, a Speech and Language Pathologist specializing in executive functioning skills, will speak to parents and teachers about how to help children improve organizational and decision making behavior to learn more efficiently. The benefits of these improved skills will be seen in the classroom and during homework time.
Classroom Amplification System – Alden School received an additional FrontRow Pro Digital sound system. This amplification system ensures clear communication throughout the classroom. The sound system clarifies and evenly distributes sound giving every student equal access to each lesson.
The fourth grade class pictured at left is enjoying the system that includes wireless microphones for both the teacher (on a neck strap) and students (hand-held), and surround sound speakers in the four corners of the room.
Response to Intervention Programming – This proactive prevention and intervention system integrates general and special education services for all Chandler School students. This grant provides a library of scientifically based high-quality intervention offerings to promote a system of standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to each student’s academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. Educational decisions for students will be based on data derived from frequent monitoring, individual performance and rate of learning. Digital Cameras – Three digital cameras were purchased for use at Alden School. Using IPhoto programming, the students download and organize photos into journals of writing to create digitally enhanced reports and projects. With the addition of these 3 cameras, teachers at Alden School will be able to “check out” a camera for project use from the library. Respect and Responsibility Speaker – Ed Gerety, an experienced keynote speaker and leadership trainer, will return to DMS to speak with 7th and 8th grade students on real issues facing today’s youth. Topics include drugs and alcohol prevention, peer pressure, bullying, making a difference, believing in oneself, and decision-making. This high-energy, interactive assembly program promotes a positive classroom climate emphasizing respect, responsibility and scholarship.
Art Archive –This archive houses a collection of art reproductions protected in a visual arts portfolio used by over 380 middle school art students each year. The collection of two-dimensional art reproductions includes artwork by artists of all mediums, cultures and periods throughout history. Art students benefit by seeing the works of art before creating their own art. Visuals support student learning in art, bring a piece of world culture to the classroom and link lessons to art history and famous artists.
String Ensemble Composition Commission – The Duxbury High School string ensemble will receive professional instruction by music Composer Paul Salerni. Composer Salerni will commission a piece specifically for the DHS String Ensemble. The orchestra will rehearse the piece under the guidance of Composer Salerni, and later perform the piece in concert. This grant provides a unique opportunity for DHS musicians to be taught first hand by a well-known living composer.
Spring 2007 Grant Round:
TI-83Plus Graphing Calculators - Funding was also provided to the Duxbury Middle School for one classroom set of TI-83Plus graphing calculators for 8th grade algebra students.
Digital Design Fabrication Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of digital design fabrication equipment to enable Duxbury High School Technology and Engineering students to create physical models of objects they have designed.
The machine is pictured at left and a student's project is below.
Digital Design Fabrication Equipment - Pictured at right, a 10th grade Technology and Engineering student's circuit board model was used to create an electronic guitar effects pedal.
This original design by the student was created using the new vinyl cutter machine pictured above.
SMARTBoard Interactive Whiteboard - Following the successful implementation of DEF-funded SMARTBoard Interactive Whiteboards for the Duxbury Middle School, the DEF funded an additional SmartBoard for 9-10th grade math students and for students participating in the after-school MCAS program.
Digital Studio Art Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of equipment for the Duxbury High School Art Department. This grant included funding to purchase a 3 light complete studio kit, digital camera and infocus projector. This equipment will benefit students submitting digital artwork for AP portfolios and college applications.
Digital Photography Lab Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of equipment for the Duxbury High School Photography Lab. This grant included funding to purchase enlargers and projectors. This popular high school elective needed expanded and additional equipment.
"Time Timer" Devices - At Chandler School a grant was approved to purchase “Time Timer” devices for all classrooms. This instructional tool is designed to support the teaching of time and time management, making the concept of elapsed time easier to understand for all ages and ability levels.
Innovative Digital Classroom Concept - The Duxbury Middle School (DMS) received funding for the purchase of digital equipment for an 8th grade English inclusion classroom. Equipment included a digital projector, three digital cameras, one airport base station, and five laptop computers. This technology will greatly enhance the communication abilities of all students including some with expressive and receptive language challenges. This technology brings digital storytelling, translation of text-to-speech and power-point presentation capabilities to the classroom-enhancing the learning experience.
World Culture/Geogrphy Library Materials - The Duxbury Middle School received funding for a new collection of World Culture/Geography materials for the DMS library.
Students pictured at left are holding geography books purchased with this grant.
Online Geography Suscription - An online geography subscription was also funded as part of the world culture and geography grant. www.NetTrekker.com, a search engine providing students access to educator-selected online resources for efficient and reliable high-quality results from their internet searches.
World Language and Culture Course - Funding was awarded to the Duxbury Middle School for the development of curriculum and the purchase of materials for a new World Language and Culture Course. This course offers an exploratory approach to language learning and culture and will allow students to gain experience with and insight into each of the three major languages offered in the Duxbury school system. The recent development of this course at the high school, was also funded by the DEF.
Science Mobile Learning Project –This cutting edge technology provides a complete set of PC tablets, Virtual labs, online textbooks, and robotics capabilities for DHS Science students. This wide-reaching grant impacts students in 13 chemistry classes, 10 physics classes, and two computer science classes a year. In total, more than 500 students a year will benefit from this learning experience which closely resembles the science in college and industry. The virtual lab software component of this grant allows students to work with concepts we currently cannot demonstrate in the school lab. Examples of labs include a space docking mission and piloting a craft to Mars. Additionally, this grant provides the means to develop robotics as a viable curriculum tool in physics and computer science, as well as launch a Robotics Team at DHS. 
b. National Science Teachers Association Annual Convention- DHS and DMS staff will attend this Boston convention to research materials and methods, strategies and best practices in science curriculum and teaching.
Digital Video Camcorders – Six new digital video camcorders were purchased for use in two growing Duxbury High School video production electives. 
Digital Video Camcorders, continued - There are currently 147 students in grades 9-12 enrolled in the Video Production and TV Studio courses. The additional video camcorders allow the students to cover more events and create more programming, while allowing each student more hands-on learning in video production.
Classroom Amplification System – Alden School received an additional FrontRow Pro Digital sound system. This amplification system ensures clear communication throughout the classroom. The sound system clarifies and evenly distributes sound giving every student equal access to each lesson.
Art Archive –This archive houses a collection of art reproductions protected in a visual arts portfolio used by over 380 middle school art students each year. The collection of two-dimensional art reproductions includes artwork by artists of all mediums, cultures and periods throughout history. Art students benefit by seeing the works of art before creating their own art. Visuals support student learning in art, bring a piece of world culture to the classroom and link lessons to art history and famous artists.
TI-83Plus Graphing Calculators - Funding was also provided to the Duxbury Middle School for one classroom set of TI-83Plus graphing calculators for 8th grade algebra students. 
Digital Design Fabrication Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of digital design fabrication equipment to enable Duxbury High School Technology and Engineering students to create physical models of objects they have designed. 
Digital Design Fabrication Equipment - Pictured at right, a 10th grade Technology and Engineering student's circuit board model was used to create an electronic guitar effects pedal. 
SMARTBoard Interactive Whiteboard - Following the successful implementation of DEF-funded SMARTBoard Interactive Whiteboards for the Duxbury Middle School, the DEF funded an additional SmartBoard for 9-10th grade math students and for students participating in the after-school MCAS program. 
Digital Studio Art Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of equipment for the Duxbury High School Art Department. This grant included funding to purchase a 3 light complete studio kit, digital camera and infocus projector. This equipment will benefit students submitting digital artwork for AP portfolios and college applications.
Digital Photography Lab Equipment - The DEF funded the purchase of equipment for the Duxbury High School Photography Lab. This grant included funding to purchase enlargers and projectors. This popular high school elective needed expanded and additional equipment.
Innovative Digital Classroom Concept - The Duxbury Middle School (DMS) received funding for the purchase of digital equipment for an 8th grade English inclusion classroom. Equipment included a digital projector, three digital cameras, one airport base station, and five laptop computers. This 
World Culture/Geogrphy Library Materials - The Duxbury Middle School received funding for a new collection of World Culture/Geography materials for the DMS library. 
Online Geography Suscription - An online geography subscription was also funded as part of the world culture and geography grant.