By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer The Southington Education Foundation (SEF) celebrated its tenth round of grants last week, during a presentation made by several teachers who received funding for different STEM-related projects. The SEF gave grants to first grade teacher Ellen Bellinger and Food Services Manager Marion Virello of South End School, who created an indoor organic vegetable garden, and to fourth grade teacher Chanel Curtin, who started the FIRST LEGO League team at Thalberg Elementary School. Each grant integrates at least two of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering or math). Both grants total $4,000 for the projects. Jan Galati, the chairman of SEF, said the Foundation has now awarded $78,000 in teacher grants. Recently, SEF also celebrated the launch of its Virtual STEM University, which was budgeted for $13,000. Thus far, the SEF has provided $130,000 in grants, Galati said. “I truly do believe that when students are engaged and involved with making and doing, that is the things they do really learn in depth—years from now, they’ll recall those experiences whether it’s with the indoor vegetable garden or the robotics teams,” said Galati. Beginning earlier this year, the indoor organic vegetable garden at South End consists of [...]
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer The Southington Education Foundation (SEF) celebrated its tenth round of grants last week, during a presentation made by several teachers who received funding for different STEM-related projects. The SEF gave grants to first grade teacher Ellen Bellinger and Food Services Manager Marion Virello of South End School, who created an indoor organic vegetable garden, and to fourth grade teacher Chanel Curtin, who started the FIRST LEGO League team at Thalberg Elementary School. Each grant integrates at least two of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering or math). Both grants total $4,000 for the projects. Jan Galati, the chairman of SEF, said the Foundation has now awarded $78,000 in teacher grants. Recently, SEF also celebrated the launch of its Virtual STEM University, which was budgeted for $13,000. Thus far, the SEF has provided $130,000 in grants, Galati said. “I truly do believe that when students are engaged and involved with making and doing, that is the things they do really learn in depth—years from now, they’ll recall those experiences whether it’s with the indoor vegetable garden or the robotics teams,” said Galati. Beginning earlier this year, the indoor organic vegetable garden at South End consists of [...]