2011-12 school year marks highest level of giving to Radnor schools

Wayne, PA – The Radnor Educational Foundation (REF) is pleased to announce grant awards totaling $100,000 for the 2011-2012 school year. Working in collaboration with Radnor Township School District teachers and administrators, REF awards grant support to programs that enhance curriculum at all five Radnor schools and impact the education of Radnor’s 3,000+ students.

“We set a goal in the beginning of the school year to fund $100,000 in grants this year,” explains Sarah Locher, REF Co-President.  “Our board and committed volunteers worked very hard to raise the funds to reach that goal.  This is a testament to the value our community, businesses and parents, places in offering diverse educational experiences for Radnor’s students.”

REF raises money throughout the year to fund programs that are not part of the school district budget. “We revamped our grant process this year and worked closely with the teachers and administration to make sure we were funding programs that would provide new experiences and support curricular needs while providing benefit to the most number of students,” reports Candyce Wilson, Co-President and Chair, Grants Committee.

“REF has granted over $700,000 to Radnor schools since 1994”, states Joy Antonoplos, Executive Director. “We rely on the generous gifts of individuals in the community, corporate sponsors, foundations, PA Tax Credit Program (EITC) contributions and partnership with the PTO/PTSA organizations to support the advancement of curriculum in Radnor.”

In the fall funding cycle, REF awarded$39,678.  For the spring funding cycle, REF is supporting grants in the amount of $61,147 for the following programs:

iPads for Radnor Middle School Integrated Watershed Program – $4,000

Students experience the different features that iPad technology provides including on-line forums, blogs and collaborative projects with classmates and students from other schools around the world.  Ipad applications allow for differentiated instruction and helps prepare students for 21st century learning by supporting research and tools for successful implementation of student writing/projects.

After School Tutor/Mentoring Program – $10,400

After school tutoring program for K-8 at-risk students.

Ants are Amazing/Wayne Elementary School – $1,000

Ants are Amazing enhances scientific study of organisms and generates interest in non-fiction texts for young learners. Ant farms enable learners to observe how ants work together in a social community. Request is for ant farms and non-fiction books which students will read to learn about ants and soils.  Students will compose short stories, poems and essays based upon reading and observations.

VEX Robotics Equipment for STEM/Gateways at Radnor Middle School – $8,585     

New England Dance Masters/Wayne Elementary – $3,000

Week long dance residency will teach students Anglo-American dance in gym class and songs in music class.

RAD TV upgrade/Radnor High School – $4,000

Technology enhancements to include green screens, backdrops, lighting, news room software, 3-D transitions & animation software, keyboards, and camera stabilizer.

Uganda Pen Pal Project/Radnor Middle School – $4,500

Materials and shipping for tiles to be used to build a latrine at the Bupala Primary School in Uganda.  Bupala students are pen pals of students at RMS and RHS.

Birding & Gardening/Wayne Elementary School – $2,643

Purchase of gardening and birding materials for enrichment of John J. Audubon unit on birds and habitats.

Matching Students with Books – $20,000

Purchase of a wide variety of Leveled Reader Independent Daily Reading (IDR) books for book baskets for elementary school libraries– Grades 2 through 5.

Anatomy & Physiology at Radnor High School – $3,019

Students study the body’s structures/functions at the molecular/biochemical, cellular, tissue, organ, systematic and organism levels. Purchase of equipment to include sheep brains, sheep hearts, spray bottles, non-latex gloves and dissection trays.

** PA Tax Credit (EITC) approved program.

Founded in 1994 by Radnor Township School District parents, REF’s mission is to secure and provide funding and support to enrich the educational experience, maintain academic excellence and encourage innovative opportunities for the students of Radnor Township School District.