Aristos Scholars Program Grants for 2005-06

ARISTOS is a Greek work meaning excellent, optimum, the best

The Aristos Scholars Program received 24 grant applications this year. The judges awarded a total of $65,377 to the Project Leaders of ten grants. Listed below are the grants, project leaders, school and the amount of the awards.

Modified Content Materials for English Language Learners	Lisa Benitez	$6,500
Social studies texts, even at the elementary level, are dense, using long sentences with multiple embedded clauses, cause and effect statements, and various verb tenses, all within relatively short passages. The language level of the current materials is particularly difficult for English Language Learners ELL because it depends so heavily on language. This grant supports the development and implementation of Social Studies materials for ELL. The materials will help teaches differentiate instruction and encourage active student participation. ELL students will improve comprehension skills, increase academic vocabulary, and gain language fluency. Assessment is designed to monitor each student's progress in the acquisition of academic English language skills, and meeting the content area objectives based on the 4/5 grade MMSD social studies standards.

LMC Reading/Browsing Renovation "Library Café"	Mary Clark East High School	$3,000
The East librarian/media specialist intends to promote reading, increase library traffic, develop life-long library and reading behaviors, and provide a positive experience for students using a renovated LMC. Students indicated they wished a relaxed space with color, appealing displays, comfortable furniture, and small tables; an atmosphere similar to a bookstore. The new, very visible LMC environment will respond to students' input by creating a warm, welcoming library that is so comfortable, appealing and appropriate that students will want to spend time there. Periodicals will be evaluated and new high interest titles will be purchased. The Library staff will schedule book displays and features to maintain interest in reading. Data analysis, reading pattern observations, and project evaluation status will be monitored throughout the year.

CHALLENGES in Action	Sue Gorud Sherman Middle School	$12,900
A school-wide thematic unit that crosses curricular and departmental lines will offer Sherman students a highly engaging learning experience that embeds literacy into learning, promotes relationships with the community, and encourages students to build character. Connecting all the exploratory areas will offer a series of challenges to students focusing on the skills and attitudes they will need as they address new challenges in life. A comprehensive evaluation plan includes project rubrics, self-reflective rubrics, daily journaling, daily discussion group data, portfolios, community and staff surveys and progress report to parents.

Stop and Think Student Link	Kathy Hellenbrand Chávez Elementary School	$7,500
This grant supports professional development, consultation and resources so that the Chavez staff will be able to effectively implement a program for social and emotional learning that focuses on the prevention of at-risk and socially undesirable behaviors. The Stop and Think program teaches all Chavez students the social skills that help students develop the ability to recognize and manage emotions, develop caring and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships and handle challenging, possibly risky situations effectively. The project leader hopes to maximize learning and decrease the number of student behavioral referrals.

One Drum Experience	David Hoon Affiliated Alternatives	$2,000
Affiliated Alternatives is a group of four alternative programs, each designed to meet different objectives for students of different age levels and diverse ethnic backgrounds. The intent of this grant is to integrate these different populations, create a positive sense of school identity, and produce a feeling of community within and outside of schools, through the use of whole-school events. One Drum performs music that draws from cultural traditions throughout the world. Students will learn about each culture and its musical tradition and participate in smaller workshops.

Improving Student Achievement (e-SIS)	Kurt Kiefer Research and Evaluation	$9,998
A new seamless, easy to use electronic intervention and record keeping system will be developed to bring together the current electronic Elementary Report Card, the Student Achievement Form and tracking interventions tried over time. Currently tracking interventions is a paper/pencil record keeping system. The e-SIS will support students most in need and provide efficient communication among staff and between staff and parents. Current research suggests that an emphasis on prevention and early intervention will prevent school failure and increase student achievement, which the e-SIS will facilitate.

Community Partnerships through Schools Museums ART Project	Meri Lau Midvale for all Elementary Schools	$5,550
Art teachers will be able to customize student group visits to art museums and create meaningful field trip experiences for elementary students as they address the objectives of the SchoolsMuseumART Project (SMART) that was developed by MMSD art educators, the fine arts coordinator, and museum curators in education. The project will support one field trip experience package for each of our 30 elementary schools. The art educator will design the field trip for specific grade levels, teams, classes or art focus to involve 40-60 students per school and reaching 1200-1800 students in one year.

Bilingual Resource Specialist Knowledge Project	Enoch Melarejo ESL/Bilingual Department	$2,000
Professional improvement through self-reflection, a best practice process, will be used with the Bilingual Resource Specialists (BRS) based on a model provided for teachers in the Teacher Knowledge Project. The project addresses the professional development needs of the BRS who support English Language Learners with a focus on the teaching context, students, and what and how students learn. A core group of trained BRS will become do-facilitators and sustain the project in the future.

Tutoring for Equity in Geometry and De-Tracked Advanced Algebra	Mark Nelson East High School	$9,285
The East High School Math Department is focusing on third year completion of Algebra2/Trigonometry as three yeas of high school math are required for entrance into most universities. Next year a new de-tracked Algebra 2/Trigonometry curriculum will be implemented. The result of "raising the bar" is more students with lower skills and abilities will take higher level math. This grant supplies the additional support that students need in order to be successful in Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry, by providing critical, supplemental tutoring services. The project emphasizes reaching out to students immediately and directly, rather than waiting for needy students to identify themselves and take the initiative to seek help.

Archives and History Museum	Victoria Straughn La Follette High School	$6,644
LaFollette High School may have the only independent public school archives in the nation. The archives and history museum educates students about the history of LaFollette High School and the community by preserving students' own history and involving them in the preservation process. The archives offers access to local primary sources which facilitate teaching history methodologies and encourages students to apply them. Students can connect America's history with the history of their friends, neighbors, and family members. The grant will support continued development of the website, open the archives more frequently to increase access, create lesson plans for teachers, and expand the collection.

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