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CFES.org > News And Events > Press Releases > Foundation Awards 30000 in Excellence in Education Grants

Foundation Awards $30,000 in Excellence in Education Grants
November 18, 2008

The Mary Gay Calcott Award for the outstanding educational project on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland was awarded to North Salisbury Elementary School. Representing North Salisbury Elementary are (l to r): Susan Bounds, Kelly Hamilton, Principal Janet Veditz, and Nancy Rowe.

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore honored Maryland Lower Shore schools and educators with $30,000 in grants through the Foundation’s 2008 Excellence in Education Program.

Excellence In Education Awards are made annually in conjunction with National Education Week through a competitive process to public and private schools on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Grants are made to those schools that have demonstrated through innovative programs a particularly meritorious concern for their students and communities.

“This awards program is the Community Foundation’s principle vehicle for recognizing and rewarding those schools that in a given year are engaged in making a particularly creative contribution to the education of our children,” said Art Cooley, Foundation Board Chair. “These awards recognize truly remarkable things our dedicated teachers and school administrators are accomplishing,” he added.

Calcott Award of Excellence

The Community Foundation honored North Salisbury Elementary School in Wicomico County with the Fourth Annual Mary Gay Calcott Award of Excellence. The award is presented to the most creative education program submitted for a 2008 Excellence In Education Award. In addition to the Calcott Award North Salisbury Elementary also received $1,000 from the Foundation to benefit the school.

The award is named for the late Mary Gay Calcott, a professor of English at Salisbury University whose life embodied her teaching ideals of liberal education; teaching students to think, to express themselves with clarity and to care about the world they live in.

The following eight schools in Wicomico County received Excellence In Education Awards for 2008 during ceremonies held at the Community Foundation’s Eastern Shore Nonprofit Resource Center in Salisbury:

In Wicomico County:

Beaver Run Elementary - An initiative called “Believe, Read, Succeed” focusing on literacy-related programs that motivates students and their families to begin the most critical phase of their education was recognized for an award. The program sustains family and community involvement through visitation, shared reading and writing and positive reinforcement.

Chipman Elementary - “World Drumming” exposes students to a cultural opportunity that allows them to develop skills playing as a group, composing rhythms, and performing for peers and parents. The students also build their confidence and sense of teamwork through the program.

Choices Alternative Learning Center - Through noncompetitive “Martial Arts Training” middle and high school students participate in physical activities that are used to help achieve a variety of goals for the students including improved school attendance, academic performance and social skills.

Mardela Middle and High School - An “Apple iPod Nano Mobile Learning Lab” was recognized as an innovative program designed to increase student achievement in reading and writing and improve attendance. Teachers use the technology in each unit of study to enhance the learning experience for students in grades 6 through 8.

Parkside High School - The “Parkside Wellness Club” was recognized as an innovative program to improve the health and wellness of participating students in noncompetitive activities after school. Through a variety of after school activities the club also promotes improved attendance, higher academic performance and a more positive school environment along with improved student health.

Prince Street Elementary - “A.R.T.S. Another Reason to Shine” is a six-month program that was recognized for allowing students to explore a variety of artistic activities. Students may select a primary focus from among dance, poetry, hip hop, drama or art. Students meet weekly during recess to learn the history behind each art form and prepare for a performance for their peers and families.

Westside Primary School - The school has planned a “Take 10 Program” designed to add at least 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to the school day while simultaneously reinforcing academic objectives. An estimated 280 students in Pre-K through 1st Grade will benefit from this program.

Wicomico Board of Education - The “Wicomico Mentoring Project” was recognized for its one-on-one guidance and encouragement of students to seek academic achievement and character development. In its fifteenth year, the project currently has about 900 students with mentors in grades K-12. Mentors give one hour a week for the entire school year to meet their students on school property, during the school day.

In Worcester County:

Buckingham Elementary – An Early Intervention Classroom Program that provides children with a language rich environment to encourage increased communications skills. The program serves children with language and developmental related needs.

Pocomoke Middle School – A program titled “Pocomoke City ARTifacts” combined highlights in the community’s architecture and history to inform them of the unique history and legacy of the area and preserve their own history through words, pictures and clay for the next generation.

Snow Hill Elementary School – A program titled “Talent All Around Us” will ennance the passion for young artists in a themed “Talent Show” to showcase the artwork of approximately 80 second grade students.

Stephen Decatur High School – AHA! An After Hours Academy provided students who were not already involved in after-school activities with an opportunity to enrich their academic experience in a variety of course offering after school.

Worcester County Public Schools for Snow Hill Middle – A grant was awarded to help support the production of a musical during the 2009 Summer Drama Enrichment Program for about 75 incoming students in grades 6 through 8.

In Somerset County:

Deal Island Elementary – Excellence In Education Award was presented to Karen Linamen, principal and program coordinator. The school received the award for its “Skipjacks Sail To Success” program which provides students with character building activities with an emphasis placed on respect, responsibility and perseverance. Teachers focus on a different pillar of character each month by integrating them into the curriculum through literature, character education, role playing, PowerPoint presentations and puppet shows.