MESTRACT MINI-GRANTS

The Terri Peters MESTRACT (Mid East Suffolk Teacher Center) Mini-Grant Program is designed to provide funding up to $1,000 to teachers for the implementation of educational projects for which funding is not available through normal district channels. The grants are designed to result in the improvement of instruction for students, Pre K-12, in helping them meet the NYS Learning Standards. (The grant program is named after a premier educator and former principal of the Phillips Avenue School.) Riverhead teachers and a parent group received 13 mini-grants this year. Each grant is for $1,000.  

Donna Verbeck's class enjoying one of their new poetry books.

The following teachers received a 2004-05 MESTRACT Mini-grant for $1,000:

Marion Dorman & Rita Maloney - The Wonders of China - Riley Avenue -

A celebration of the the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster (4703), was the culminating event of the mini-grant entitled "The Wonders of China" awarded to Marion Dorman and Rita Maloney at the Riley Avenue School. The second graders in these two classes read books, researched and rehearsed. They made posters from the facts they learned about Chinese culture, geography and history. They rehearsed traditional Chinese songs and dances, and shared the information they had learned in a presentation on China to over 200 guests. The new year celebration ended with the parade of dragons, traditional gift giving and feasting. This was Mrs. Dorman's 14th year of celebrating the Chinese New Year with her class. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Janice Mackey - Water, Water, Everywhere: A New York Connection- Phillips Ave. (4th graders at Phillips all benefited from the “Water, Water, Everywhere” grant through supplies and field trips to aquatic sites all around LI & NYC);

Marion Dorman & Rita Maloney - In the Company of Nonfiction Authors - Riley Ave.;

Melissa Ries - Kindergarten Good Citizens - Riley Ave.

Donna Verbeck (above) & Linda Gordon & Lisa Falco - Enlivening Poetry (poetry books) - Riley Ave.;

Jacqueline Buono & Wendy Finter - A.M.E.R.I.C.A. - Appreciating Many Ethnicities Represented In Culturally Rich America – Roanoke;

Xiomara White - Oh! The Places I Can Go - Roanoke Ave.;

Marge Lawrence - A Residency with Author-Illustrator Kathleen Bart - Roanoke Ave.;

Juliet Carlson, Keri Stromski, & Stacy Tuohy - M.A.T.H. - Make Amazing Things Happen - (above) Roanoke Ave.;

Eileen Gorman - RIPPLE - Recognizing the Impact of Peer-Presented Learning Experiences - Pulaski Technology Grant: Eileen Gorman - A Star Is Born - Pulaski St. (This grant added a digital camera, a digital video camera and a DVD player to Ms. Gorman's arsenal of teaching tools);

Marge Lawrence - The S.M.A.R.T. Project (received a smartboard) - Roanoke Ave.

School Parent Grant: Joanne Ramierez & Xiomara White - P.A.C.T. for Reading - Roanoke Ave.

Photo caption (middle): Riley Avenue second graders in Mrs. Dorman's and Mrs. Maloney's classes during their presentation on "The Wonders of China". (Also pictured is Mrs. Dorman in the lower right hand corner of the picture.)