Bright Ideas Grants are designed to support teacher initiatives to make curriculum come alive for students. These grants are designed to provide funding to pilot new programs. Funding is typically for a one year initiative. Since 2008, MEF has provided approximately $25,000 each year to fund these new ideas.
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS ’21-’22
- Graphic Design VersaLink Printer (Grades 7-12, 300 students impacted)
- Flexible Seating (3rd Grade impacted)
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS ’18-’19
- AP & MS STEAM & STEM T-Shirts (AP & MS)
- Arts-In-Education (All/K-12)
- FACS (MS/HS)
- 8th Grade Trip – Scholarship Funding (MS/Grade 8)
- Giving Tree (All/K-12)
- MS Building Read (MS)
- Partnership Grant (All/K-12)
- “Positive Affirmations” Bathroom Makeover (MS)
- Staff Appreciation (All/K-12)
- STEM Supplies for Students (ED/AP)
- Weight Room (HS)
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS ’17-’18
- FACS for a farm tour to learn about sustainable foods
- Japan Club Shinto Wedding Demonstration PBIS kit to increase positive behavior in our schools PE Dept. for a climbing net for the Elm Drive students
- Physics class equipment Fourth grade educational sail on the Clearwater Graphics and IB Film Department for film equipment
- Cheer Team to go to an international competition at ESPN in Disney World.
- IB Science Lab equipment (motion sensor trail cameras, etc)
- IB Visual Arts various items including portfolio cases, matt cutter and 3D printer pens Second Language Acquisition Methods training
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS ’15-’16
- “Demonstration Station” Family & Consumer Science (MS/HS)
- Funds to support the “8th grade DC Field Trip”
- Music Technology (Elm/Alden)
- Small Motor Skills Art Class (Elm)
- Scholastic News (Elm)
- Kindergarten ELA/Math Supplies (Elm)
- Transformative Mediation Training (MMS)
- Technology for Special Education Classroom (MS)
- PBIS Reward: Bardavon Science trip (MS)
- PBIS Materials & Resources
- Health: “Fatal Vision” Alcohol Awareness program (MS/HS)
- Partnership Grant for IB related fees (HS)
- Reading Primers
- SET Fair T-Shirts (District)
- Book Room Organizational Supplies (Elm)
- “One Book Initiative” (MS)
- Japan Club mini workshop (HS)
- Arts in Residency Grant (District-wide)
- Professional Development (District-wide)
BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS ’13-’15
- Funding for the drama clubs and chorus programs
- Equipment for technology, arts, and music education
- Expanding the humanities and science curriculum
- Funding for writer’s workshop model classroom
- Funding for field trips
- Colonial Day at Alden
- Literacy Big Books at Elm
- Smart boards for the music department
- Nook e-readers at the high school
- Support for Lego Robotics
- Model UN at the high school
- Purchase 15 new light microscopes
- 8 pairs of snowshoes, poles, storage bags and storage carts
- Funded “Intro to Culinary Arts Class”
- NEWSELA Access for the Middle School
- No Bullies Allowed Assembly for Elm and Alden
- Dream box Learning for K-5 Technology
- Annual scholarships for graduating seniors