Education Foundation Prepares for Grants and Auction

Approximately 30 teachers, staff and administrators attended SFES grant writing workshops last Thursday at the Suffield High School and McAlister media Center.

Topics included: grant deadlines, common pitfalls of grant writing, sample successful grant proposals, Raise the Paddle initiatives at the foundation’s annual March auction and a round table discussion.

“It was impressive to see the creative ideas that the teachers have already brainstormed,” said SFES President Christine Mercadante. “As a group we were very pleased by not only the number of teachers who attended the workshops but also the level of interest in pursuing a grant.”

“We wanted to create awareness of our grant process and get teachers to explore innovative ideas that align with the curriculum,” said Maria Andrade, a member of the grants committee. “Based on our discussion, I feel that the event was a success and look forward to the submissions due to the Superintendent by February 15, 2013.”

SFES hands out up to $40,000 in grants some years which support and supplement curriculum in the Suffield School District. The group began monthly mini-grants last year and just recently awarded grants to McAlister for its Funky Foot exercise program and to the high school biology department for equipment. There are grants available for March, April and May due on the 15th of the month before.

These monies largely come from the group’s annual fundraiser. This year the Annual Dinner and Auction, “Sow the Seeds of Education” is March 23, at the Sheraton Bradley Airport from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tickets $100 to $150 and are now available by calling Lori at 860-668-5122. Please check the website sfes.org for more information on the grants, auction and donating items to the auction committee.