SFES Supports Innovation and Education

Raising funds and awarding grants for innovative educational projects which fall outside of the normal school budget has been the goal of the Suffield Foundation for Excellent Schools (SFES) since 1988.   

The foundation raised approximately $60,000 in 2010 for the benefit and enrichment of children in the Suffield public school system.

Over the years, SFES has funded more than $440,000 in grants. The grants have led to an observational astronomy lab, mural projects, a grand piano, foreign language and math software, literacy programs and science equipment for Suffield public schools, among others. 

SFES was recognized by the Connecticut Consortium of Education Foundations in October 2010 for creating outstanding educational opportunities within the local community. The selection centered on the foundation's commitment to the development of the science curriculum and literacy for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Currently, SFES is completing a program called Honor Thy Educator. Suffield is has many educators who have influenced their students' lives over the years. This holiday season, individuals looking to provide a meaningful gift for their child's teacher were able to make a donation to SFES in honor of that teacher. 

According to Maria Andrade, coordinator of the program, a dozen teachers from Spaulding School, McAlister Intermediate School and the Middle School were honored this year.  Each recipient will receive a certificate acknowledging the donation made in their honor.

"Our mission is to support innovation and education programs that would not be supported by the town's tax budget," said Chelen Kost, president of SFES. "So we look to fund things that are innovative, would be sustainable and have a broad impact and align with the curriculum."

SFES also provides grants to teachers. Grant proposals are submitted in the form of an application and proposals come from individuals and groups including teachers, administrators and other school personnel. Students, Suffield citizens and school organizations are also welcome to apply.

The SFES Grants Committee provides a special grant writing workshop to help applicants take their ideas from concept to paper. The next workshop sessions will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Two sessions will be held that day. Session one runs from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is oriented towards grant requests for Suffield High School and Suffield Middle School. It will be held in room 617 at Suffield High School. Session two runs from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is geared toward grants for McAlister Intermediate School and Spaulding School. It will be held in cafeteria A at Spaulding School. For more information regarding the workshops and SFES in general, visit www.sfes.org.

An appeal for funds went out to residents in Suffield in early December. But the primary fundraiser for the foundation is an auction and gala held each spring. In 2009, more than 200 individuals attended the event. 

This coming spring, the event will be held on March 19, 2011 at the Riverview in Simsbury. The auction is made possible through the donations of individuals within the Suffield community.  SFES is accepting auction items through March 5, 2011.

SFES is made up of 21 board members, many volunteers and contributors. It strives to make a difference for the students of Suffield.