Date:   March 4, 2004 
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720 

The Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $20,627 in Innovation Grants during the January 2004 cycle to seven schools and one school division department.  

Leesylvania Elementary School was awarded $2,800 for “Literacy Bags for Learning.” The program goal is to increase reading levels, encourage family involvement, and reinforce SOL objectives in the first grade curriculum.  The grant proposal was submitted by first grade teacher Theresa Manning-Brown.

Old Bridge and Antietam elementary schools received $400 to fund “FEAST- Families Eating and Sharing Text.”  The inter-school project submitted by Mary Williamson and Arlene McFadden, fifth grade teachers, will feature a literature circle for fifth graders and their families.  

Penn Elementary School’s $3,250 grant entitled “Building a Strengths-Based School,” will implement the Gallup organization’s program designed to maximize instructional strategies and increase student academic achievement using block scheduling.  The grant was submitted by Linda Hange, administrative assistant.

River Oaks Elementary School received a grant of $1,700 for “Frog Family Program – Leaping into Success.”  This interactive math program reinforces SOL objectives at home and at school.  The grant was submitted by Megan Lamboni, Linda Sackett, George Parker, and Bridget Carter, fourth grade teachers.

Marsteller Middle School was awarded $1,199 for the program, “Accelerating Growth in Mathematics.”  The program, submitted by Gerald Buhl, math support specialist, will provide a diagnostic-prescriptive approach to teaching special needs students using a computer-assisted “Accelerated Math” program.  

Osbourn Park High School received $1,000 to fund “Osbourn Park’s Earth Jubilee.” Biotechnology students will demonstrate the application of the language arts and science curriculum through a unique “festival” for 500 elementary school students.  Cheryl Harnish, language arts teacher; Jane Jones, social studies teacher; and Wanda Labozetta, language arts teacher, submitted the grant proposal.

Melvin Goodwyn, Administrative Coordinator at Woodbridge Senior High School, submitted a $2,778 grant proposal entitled “Creative Composition through Music Technology: A Partnership Residency.”  This two-week residency will provide staff development and classroom instruction on the use of digital technology in music theory and the creation of original compositions.  

The Community Relations Department was awarded $7,500 to maintain the “Recognizing Employee Excellence” publication that acknowledges teachers and other employees for outstanding leadership, dedication, accomplishment and service.  Irene Cromer, supervisor, submitted the grant.