Wilson Primary Center Garden Opens
Members of the Summit Education Foundation were thrilled to attend the Wilson Primary Center Garden Opening Celebration today. SEF awarded a grant to Wilson teachers Susan Clamser and Anne Paris to create an outdoor learning environment for the preschool and kindergarten students. Sustainable New Jersey and Atlantic Healthy Schools also contributed grant money to this project. The Wilson students participated in the ceremony and each class prepared a banner and presented it during the ceremony to decorate the outside fence of the garden. After the ribbon cutting the faculty and students sang “This Land is Your Land” to conclude the ceremony. It was a beautiful day to open a garden!
Lady Gaga Keyboard Player Visits SHS
The Summit Education Foundation launched its newly endowed Arthur C. McCann Speaker Series with a visit from Brockett Parsons, keyboard player for Lady Gaga and Summit High School alum. Parsons spent two days with musicians at Summit High School. Many students across musical disciplines benefitted from his musical expertise. Parsons worked with the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Concert Band, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Choir and SHS singers and songwriters.
This endowment was named in honor of retired Summit High School English teacher Arthur McCann. Nicholas Stephens, Summit High School Class of 1972, donated $50,000 to the Summit Educational foundation to establish this ongoing series to recognize his former teacher. Mr. McCann is remembered fondly by Stephens and other students as a dynamic and caring teacher who had lasting impact on them.
The Brockett Parsons grant was written by Summit High School band teacher Alex Bocchino. Each year, through SEF’s regular grant process, the Arthur C. McCann Speaker Series Endowment will be used to bring speakers on various academic subjects to students at the Summit Public Schools. To learn more about the endowment, visit the SEF website at www.sefnj.org.
Secret Stories Have Lincoln Hubbard Second Graders Hooked
Secret Stories have our second graders completely hooked! This program teaches the students how the English language works thru Secret Stories to small groups. One example of how we are teaching the students more details about the alphabet is by disguising that vowels have superpowers. We show them that vowels are the only letters in the alphabet that can actually say their own name, or long vowel sounds, and because of this they need a disguise of short vowel sounds so the other letters don’t get too jealous. As a class, we have practiced the Better Alphabet song, which teaches students the sounds the letters make. In reflecting on the Better Alphabet song, one second grade student said: “The vowels get more stuck in my head every time I hear it. And, it reminds me that the consonants have other sounds.”
We are thrilled to announce the Summit Educational Foundation was selected as the first "Outstanding Education Foundation" by the New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership. SEF received this award based on its longstanding and significant financial support to Summit Public Schools. "SEF's comprehensive grants, community outreach and involvement have demonstrated a commitment that reached beyond the classroom walls, impacting the community and district in a multi-faceted approach," were the opening remarks of the Event Chair who went on to highlight many of SEF's historical successes and accomplishments, as well as read some of the letter of support from Superintendent Chang. Six of our twenty-one Board members attended a luncheon on April 20, 2018 to receive the award.
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