Date:  July 8, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

The Prince William County Public Schools Education Foundation is pleased to announce the award of $30,872 in grants during the April cycle to eight schools, Youth Salute, and four school division departments.  

New Dominion Alternative School received $2,256 for its “Discovering Child Development, Parenting and Family Relationships.”  This program will provide an alternative method of education that combines comprehensive school curriculum with core instruction in parenting skills, child development, financial responsibility and language arts.  Phyllis Arnoldi, teacher aide; Vicki Ballentine, teacher assistant; Theresa Peoples, nurse; and Ruth Garza, substance abuse counselor; wrote the proposal.

Coles Elementary School was awarded $1,135 for “Buddy Up,” a project designed to improve reading achievement.  The program provides reading-level appropriate books for first, second and third graders who need extra reading practice.  Shirlee Teets, reading specialist, wrote the proposal. 

Gar-Field High School received $3,145 for its “Accessibility for Disabled Students,” program.  The funds will be used to purchase and train staff on computer software designed to 
help increase the number of special education students who successfully earn standard high school diplomas.  Special Education Department Chair Judy Zophy wrote the grant proposal.
Nokesville Elementary School was awarded $2,450 for “SPOT Teacher Training Program.”  Teachers receive training in reading and writing and the grant also provides students with quality learning materials and instruction.  Dr. Wayne Ralston, Principal, submitted the grant proposal.
Potomac Senior High School received a $1,300 grant for “Reality Biology,” a program that targets abstract scientific concepts in a laboratory environment.  Students will experience written text explanations through hands-on activities.  Lesley Johnson, biology teacher, wrote the proposal.

Old Bridge Elementary School was awarded $6,000 for “Elevating Students’ Opportunities to Learn.”  The grant provides non-fiction multi-leveled reading material to support curriculum in science and social studies for ESOL students.  Dawn Evans, fifth grade teacher, submitted the grant. 

Old Bridge Elementary School was also awarded $720 in support of the “Utilizing Pedometers for Physical Education & Beyond,” a project that implements recently updated state and county curriculum using pedometers.  Mathematics, geography, problem solving, cooperative learning and community involvement will be integrated into the program.  Sandy Comar, physical education teacher, submitted the grant proposal.

Stonewall Middle School received $1,000 for “R.O.S.E.” (Raising Our Self-Esteem), an after-school project that focuses on raising the self-esteem of adolescent girls.  Female students will learn skills to help them make responsible choices and decisions, resist peer pressure, and solve problems.  Language arts teacher Riley O’Casey applied for the grant.
Woodbridge Senior High School received $900 for “Use of Manipulative Materials in History.”  Students will use World History II and United States/Virginia History material to increase content area knowledge, resulting in higher achievement in the SOL exams.  Social studies teachers Carolyn Hardney and Christine Ware wrote the grant proposal.

 PWC Youth Salute Chair Glenda Campbell and treasurer H. Sally Shively received $1,250 for their program.  Youth Salute fosters leadership skills essential to the success of the school division graduates through recognition and public awareness. Students develop team building skills, initiative and positive self-concept. 

 Curriculum & Staff Development was awarded $3,000 for “Achievements and Culture of Freed Slaves in Northern Virginia.”  Each school will receive five copies of the autobiographical style book: “For My People: The Jennie Dean Story.”  The books will be used with a coordinated language arts – social studies unit with grade appropriate complexity and SOL correlation for students in grades three to six.  Nancy Lyall, Administrative Coordinator of Multicultural Education, submitted the grant.

 Head Start was awarded $3,000 for “Kindergarten Readiness,” a program designed to give parents a better understanding of the skills students need to be successful in kindergarten.  Lee Schuellser, early childhood education specialist, wrote the grant proposal.

Student Services received $2,216 for its “School Health & Community Outreach.”  The
grant will provide parents, faculty, and the community with a more in-depth look at the school health program and will show how school nurses help student achievement.  Registered nurse Gina Bellamy submitted the grant proposal.

 The Media Production Office received $2,500 in support of the “Lyceum: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”  The grant provides funding to transport students by bus to attend performances of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Series.  Ben Swecker, Supervisor, wrote the grant.