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IPEI Grants support innovative ideas that energize the curriculum and foster authentic learning experiences for Ithaca City School District (ICSD) students. We fund learning projects that stretch students’ imaginations, provide them with hands-on learning experiences, and engage them with their communities.
Please note that there are three grant cycles for the 2024-25 school year, using the following deadlines and timelines for application submissions:
Mon. Oct. 7, 2024
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by Nov. 7, 2024.
Any funded projects must be completed by June 1, 2025 with a final grant report due on June 30, 2025.Mon. Jan. 27, 2025
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by Feb. 27, 2025.
Any funded projects must be completed by June 15, 2025 with a final grant report due on June 30, 2025.Mon. April 7, 2025
Applicants and school principals are notified about funding decisions by May. 5, 2025.
Any funded projects must be completed by Dec. 1, 2025 with a final grant report due on Dec. 30, 2025.Applications are due by midnight of each deadline day and must be submitted through the Google Form that is linked in each grant’s Guidelines and Application document.
A copy of the application will be sent to the applicant as well as the applicant’s mentor (for Student Leadership Grants) or the applicant’s school principal (for Red & Gold or Teacher Grants). Any questions should be directed to ipei@ipei.org.
Would you like support on how to apply for an IPEI grant?
Sign up for a 30 minute time slot during our Grant Office Hours every Thursday from 2:30pm – 4:00pm from March 6th – April 3rd, 2025.
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Red and Gold Grants
Red and Gold Grants are one-time awards of up to $750 to ICSD teachers and staff members for projects that strengthen and enrich curriculum.
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Student Leadership Grant
The Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) Student Leadership Grant grant provides up to $500 to support an Ithaca City School District (ICSD) 8th -12th grade student as they pursue a project that has a local community impact and builds upon their leadership skills.
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Teacher Grants
IPEI’s Teacher Grants program provides grants up to $1750 to ICSD teachers interested in implementing an innovative educational project that directly enhances student learning and/or support student achievement.
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Connecting Classrooms Grants
Connecting Classrooms Grants began in 2014-15. Funded by the Our Children * Our Schools * Our Future capital campaign, they encourage partnerships within and across Ithaca schools.
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Grants Funded 2023-24
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Red and Gold Grants
Global Citizenship Through Maps
Kristina DeCicco
Ithaca High School
Students expand their connection to geography and enhance their global citizenship through differentiated lessons specifically linked to a large world map posted in the classroom space.Participation in Government - Field Trip to City of Ithaca
Ludi Augustine
Ithaca High School
Each semester all of the seniors enrolled in Participation in Government meet with local government officials downtown to learn about how to create a thriving city.Engaging Students with eSpark
Kim Lazzaro
South Hill Elementary School
E-Spark is an engaging online ELA and math program that differentiates lessons based on students’ abilities. Students proceed at their own pace and will be assigned videos, lessons, and interactive activities based on their reading and mathematical abilities.5th Grade Musical - Leap Day
Elizabeth Dawson
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
A musical at CHES for all 5th grade students to participate in performance as well as set and costume design.Art in AP US History
Kyle Erickson
Ithaca High School
A collection of art posters will be used to enhance the AP US History curriculum.History Center Programs for First and Second Grade at Fall Creek
Maureen Gilroy
Fall Creek Elementary School
First Grade will be experiencing the Quilt exhibit "Knot So Fast" and Second Graders will be making connections with the documents and objects of historic Ithaca to their studies of Urban, Suburban and Rural.Yoga Props!
Marie Sadusky
Ithaca High School
Using props in a yoga practice such as: yoga blocks, yoga straps, yoga balls, yoga rings, etc. are excellent teaching tools, provide comfort/stability, help students modify yoga postures to their individual fitness level, and also provide students with a more creative way to practice yoga!Stories without Screens
Meg Webster
Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Providing students with opportunities to listen to audiobooks and other digital media without needing to interface with screens.Science Olympiad
Nicole Skiba
Ithaca High School
Science Olympiad is an American team competition in which students compete in 23 events pertaining to various fields of science, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.Base Games @ IHS
Justin Carr
Ithaca High School
An exciting opportunity for students to engage in base game activities for recreation, exercise, and enjoyment.Rural Community Field Trip
Julie Shields Uy
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Students will explore and interact with different types of communities in our area.Accessible and Flexible Classroom Environment
Lucas Wyman
DeWitt Middle School
Classroom supplies and accessible seating will be purchased for the 6th grade math classroom to support Social-Emotional needs and create a Universally Designed space for Learning.Braiding Sweetgrass: Book Read and Virtual Visit
Kimberly Anderson
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Students will join a virtual talk with author, Robin Kimmerer, on November 1st and read her book: Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.Archery at South Hill Elementary
Carl Williamson
South Hill Elementary School
Students will be able to learn archery skills while bolstering hand eye coordination in a dynamic fashion.Calculators for Chemistry
Michelle Lee
Ithaca High School
This grant will implement a consistent and convenient calculator for chemistry class to maximize equity in learning.Partners in Pollination and Seed Dispersal
Julie Wells, Jennifer Goodmark, Ellen Eurich & Marsha Accerra
Caroline Elementary School
This case study culminates with students producing three scientific illustrations, alongside informational writing about their specific pollination or seed dispersal process, to teach others about these concepts.Southern Tier Regional Science Olympiad Tournament
Matthew Fellman
Ithaca High School
Ithaca High School is hosting over 200 students from 15 other schools to compete in over 20 science events as the regional tournament for the National Science Olympiad Program and this grant will support our volunteers.Equity in Birding Initiative
Melanie Siegelson
Boynton Middle School
The school will be hosting a local community member to educate 6th graders about birds in our community, how we effect them and how we can sustainably build bird feeders and houses to place around Boynton.Fish Tank in Welcome Center
Jeffrey Dubert
Ithaca High School
Provide the fish tank for students to observe in the Welcome Center.Recess Rejuvenation
Nicole Dauria
Boynton Middle School
Increasing outdoor recess options for all students at Boynton with student participation.Telling Traditional Stories in New Ways: CHES 2nd Grade Hangar Theatre Trip to "Snow White"
Carolyn Anderson and Marta Eva
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Students will experience live theater with peers and discuss and analyze that experience.Tools for 6th Grade Science @ DeWitt
Jill Browne
DeWitt Middle School
Purchase of a CO2 sensor, a Go! Link connector and 25 Lowes buckets to be used for 6th grade Science at DeWitt Middle School.Reading Celebration - Animals and Books!
Maureen Gilroy
Fall Creek Elementary School
This project is a pre-summer Reading Celebration with the theme of animals- reading fiction books about animals, researching animals and reading to the animals!Pollinator Plant Learning and Garden
Aurora Rojer
Lehman Alternative Community School
The Sunrise Movement Project will take a trip to the Cornell Botanical Gardens to learn about Pollinator Plants, then buy some plants and gardening supplies and do some gardening!Dorothy Cotton Community Connections
Priscilla Reyer, Rachel Chalmers, Devin Bokaer
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
1st Grade students at Cayuga Heights Elementary School will partner with the local chorus, the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers, to engage in learning focused on music, local history, and the work of Dorothy Cotton.LACS 50th Anniversary Parade Float
Bronwen Exter
Lehman Alternative Community School
This is an in-school initiative to involve the current LACS community in building a celebratory parade float over the course of the spring, a kick-off in anticipation of LACS' 50th anniversary celebration this summer.Supporting TAB Learning in the Art Room
Michelle Harty
Northeast Elementary School
Teacher Michelle Harty will be creating learning centers in the art room based on media (art materials) and age, aligning to the big ideas of TAB - the student is the artist, the art room is their studio, students have full choice for the art that they create. -
Teacher Grants
Big Ideas in Fashion (Year 3)
Gina Cacioppo
Ithaca High School
This partnership between IPEI and ICSD impacts students by allowing students to propose a hands-on fashion project. Students have support from a professional designer and seamstress to bring their idea from concept to actual garment. This is an experience that is impactful to student understanding of cost to produce items, global impact, garment construction and opens up opportunities for careers in fashion.Youth Theater Project
Simnia Singer Sayada
Lehman Alternative Community School
During LACS Project time, students will collaborate with Civic Ensemble teaching artists to develop their own short play exploring experiences and issues such as identity awareness, emotional wellness and regulation, community development and equity.Morocco Cultural Exhange Club Trip to Morrocco
Elizabeth Crawford
Ithaca High School
24 students from IHS will be traveling to Morocco over February Break to learn about Moroccan and Islamic culture and engage in a cultural exchange with Moroccan high school students at a partner high school.Science of Indoor Agriculture
Jill Browne
DeWitt Middle School
Exploring the energy use and possible efficiencies of growing food hydroponically.Strengths Assessment Workshop
Sarah Ostrom
Ithaca High School
The Clifton Strengths Assessment helps students identify their natural talents and strengths, and then students are guided to understand how to use the findings to reflect on how they can apply their strengths in their academics, their personal lives, and career.Renewable Resources and Intentional Living Communities
Michele Mitchell
Boynton Middle School
Students will be looking at ways to create more sustainable living situations by creating their own intentional community.WonderWorks - Kinesthetic Learning Field Trip
Betty Wolfanger and Trina Allen
DeWitt Middle School
The kinesthetic processing needs of neurodivergent students are most often unmet at the secondary level, this fieldtrip will center their learning style and provide them an opportunity to highlight their gifts in a community of peers.Learning Locally
Jevon Ballard
Boynton Middle School
Students will select, visit and analyze a visit to a local historical/educational site.Celebrating the History and Culture of Hip Hop - a multidisciplinary approach
Lisa Trent
Fall Creek Elementary School
Students will learn about the history and culture of hip hop through multiple mediums using a multidisciplinary approach (art, music, dance, literature)."Ithaca Is" Mural
Theresa Souchet and Jennifer Visscher
DeWitt Middle School
7-grade students will create an "Ithaca Is" mural, which will showcase the diversity, culture, and creativity of the place in which they live and go to school.A Cross-Exploration of Tintype Artistry and Chemistry
Ursula Hilsdorf
Ithaca High School
This grant will facilitate a collaborative project between AP Art and AP Chemistry students, inviting a local tintype artist (Crystal Van Gaasbeck) to explore the historical and chemical aspects of tintype photography, culminating in the creation of tintype artworks.Learning the Community Unity Music Education Program (CUMEP) Curriculum with LACS
Simnia Singer-Sayada
Lehman Alternative Community School
LACS School Social Worker, Simnia Singer-Sayada will work with Dr. Nia Nunn to learn to utilize the Community Unity Music Education Program (CUMEP) curriculum workbooks, posters, messages, and songs to help a group of students strengthen their Black consciousness in preparation for a trip to National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. in May and school-wide assembly in June.Climate Action Matters
Cindy Kramer
Boynton Middle School
Climate Action Matters is an interdisciplinary project that builds understanding of climate science and engages students in taking informed action for a sustainable future.Monarch Butterflies: The Science of Nature’s Living Art
Taura McMeekin
Fall Creek Elementary School
This project is a long-term learning experience that will allow students to increase the available habitat needs of the monarch, provide a variety of field experiences for students, allowing them to apply new learning, practice critical science and build awareness in the community about a national environmental issue.Breaching Social Barriers with Merengue at Boynton Middle School
Jeannette Palmer, John McNally, Emmanuel MunozAbreu
Boynton Middle School
All 530 students at Boynton MS will learn about Latin culture with Jeannette Palmer, John McNally and Emmanuel Munoz while Jorge Cuevas will teach them the Dominican Republic’s National Dance, The Merengue, over the course of four days culminating in a PTA-sponsored dance in which the band, “The Caribe Jazz All Stars” will perform.Connecting Classrooms Grants
Vietnam Student Experience
Robert Tuori
Ithaca High School, Caroline and Enfield
A cultural exchange trip for high school students to go to Vietnam, with asynchronous exchanges before the trip. Community partners from Cornell experienced in Vietnamese culture, language and environmental issues also work with the club.Rovers, Writers, and Robots to Inspire Readers
Megan Hulburt
Belle Sherman, Beverly J Martin, Caroline, Cayuga Heights, Enfield, Fall Creek, Northeast, South Hill
With this grant, all of ICSD’s elementary school students will have the opportunity to engage with the dynamic author Jasmine Warga and her amazing book A Rover’s Story, connect with local universities about the content of the book as well as a global community of readers, and engage with the book’s story by using robot “rovers” students will get to program and learn from for many years to come.Student Leadership Grants
Pollinator Gardens at LACS
Frances Schill, Lehman Alternative Community School
The LACS Sunrise Movement Project, LACS Eco-Action Committee, and other interested parties along with Frances Schill and fellow students aim to transform some of the lawn on LACS's grounds to pollinator gardens. This project will help support the population of important pollinators, as well as create many learning opportunities. It could also cut down on the environmental impact and cost for mowing the lawns.Equality Fun Run
Izabel LaForge, Ithaca High School
The Equality Fun Run will be held at IHS track for the 2nd year now, and will address racial injustice and support our community.
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Grants Funded 2022-23
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Red and Gold Grants
World Map Mural
Suzanne VanDeMark
Ithaca High School
A World Map Mural will be integrated into the Global 1 co-taught classroom to benefit all students, especially those with learning disabilities.Hydrogen for Halloween Chemistry
Michelle Lee
Ithaca High School
The Halloween Chemistry Demo Day finale demonstration needs a hydrogen gas lecture bottle.Safe and Dry Outdoor Learning Materials
Spencer Hill.
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Lockable, waterproof storage containers will be purchased for our four 3rd-grade outdoor classrooms, to keep our supplies safe, dry and close at hand.Trout in the Classroom
Jennifer Willkie
Caroline Elementary School
Funding will support a student inquiry-based project raising trout to study how they survive and are connected to our own/the land/community health.The Memory Project
Kate Wheeler
Ithaca High School
Students create portraits of Nigerian students to send to them as a gift to help build cultural understanding and care.AVID 12 Trip to NYC
Matthew Fellman
Ithaca High School
We will be taking a bus of AVID Students to the American Museum of Natural History and New York City College for a college tour.Science Olympiad
Nicole Skiba
Ithaca High School
Science Olympiad team members gather twice a week to prepare for competing in various events within the competitions.Skills & Thrills!
Blair MacLeod
Northeast Elementary School
We are investing in PE equipment to allow students to utilize frisbee throwing skills more effectively and efficiently.Get Belle Sherman's Kids Rolling!
Megan Ginley
Belle Sherman Elementary School
"Kick starting Belle Sherman Bike Program with helmets, bike parts and tools (to maintain bike fleet and teach basic bike maintenance) so that all 2nd graders can learn how to ride bikes inmPE and other grades can use bikes for field trips and as curriculum aids."Fuel for Engagement
Tara O'Malley
Ithaca High School
Funding will provide snack and food resources for Student Services. Student Services is a place where students can come to meet multiple academic and emotional needs, and where we hope to eliminate some of the hunger we're noticing this year.Power of the Written Word
Deborah Lynn
Ithaca High School
Funding from IPEI will allow IHS’ “The Tattler” editors to attend a journalism conference at Columbia University in NYCMusical Theater for Reimagining Justice
Devin Boaker
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Our 1st grade class is co-creating a musical theater performance with superhero characters, which includes an exploration of how different forms of justice impact individual and community needs.“Tompkins County Votes” Murals
Jackie Richardson
Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Our BJM team is collaborating with voting advocates and Ithaca Murals with a goal to inspire and organize for BIPOC artists to paint voting-themed murals at BJM and every school in Tompkins County!Sneaker Program*
Courtney Kane
Enfield Elementary School
Funding from IPEI will buy sneakers for students so they can be safe in Physical Education (PE)Speaker Series - Poetry & Exploring Identity
Mary C. Mantelli
Boynton Middle School
We will host two published poets as guest speakers, one an Indigenous man who is a member of the Cayuga Nation and one who is a white mom to children of color; they will address oppression and identity in their presentations and read some of their work to the students.Fieldtrip to Hangar Theater
Mariah Prentiss
Enfield Elementary School
Enfield Elementary’s K-3 students will attend The Kiddstuff production of Little Red Riding Hood at the Hangar Theatre.Periodic Table Mural
Elizabeth Quadrozzi, Allison Kootsikas and Carlan Gray
DeWitt Middle School
Funds from IPEI will help replacing a very old and outdated mural of the Periodic Table at DeWitt.
Cups, Conversation & Crafts
Tracy S. Voorheis
Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS)
This project will provide an opportunity for students of all abilities to have a drink/beverage, conversation and create "potholders" to be used as gift giving/fund raising.Atomic Structure Props*
Michelle Lee
Ithaca High School
Funds will help purchase non-consumable equipment to engage student interest and deepen understanding of atomic structureSunnytown Ecovillage: The Future of Ecological Living
Michele Mitchell
Boynton Middle School 6th graders will be creating their own Ecovillages, including the laws/rules, and a garden to support their ecovillage models.IHS Healthy Snacks for Student Services*
Jacquelyn Aman
Ithaca High School
Funds from IPEI will purchase healthy snacks for high school students, which will help them learn.Caroline Music -Red Riding Hood at the Hangar Theatre
Katherine Gould
Caroline Elementary School
4th grade Caroline students will visit the Hangar Theatre to attend and participate in a professional theatre experience.Unit 3 Book Group*
Kyle Erickson
Ithaca High School
During the course of Unit 3, student will engage in lit circles (all books will be related to a Unit 3 topic) which will culminate in an individual one-pager assignment.iRacing
William Sauve
Ithaca High School
The iRacing program aims to allow students the ability to apply math, science, and technology skills to the racetrack in a mathematically simulated environment!
Baseball/Softball Program
Anthony Archetti
Fall Creek Elementary School
Funding will help purchase baseball/softball tees for our elementary Physical Education program*Grant will be funded in partnership with ICSD funds.
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Teacher Grants
Hydro-Harvest
Jill Browne
Enfield Elementary School
We are exploring the benefits and challenges of growing produce hydroponically.
Community Partner: Cornell's School of Integrative Plant Science. Active researchers in the fields of hydroponics and aquaponics. They will serve as our expert advisors via virtual visits where students can hear from them about their work and ask them questions about the work in the classroom. We will also plan a visit to their greenhouses to learn about their hydroponics and aquaponics facilities and research.Reform in the 1800s
Jevon Ballard
Boynton Middle School
Students will visit 4 regional sites to get a better understanding of the change that occurred in the 1800’s and will be actively involved by presenting each site with a marketing campaign to encourage more educational visits
Community Partners: St. James AME Zion Church, Howland Stone Store Museum, Cinemapolis, Africana Studies, Professor Gerard Aching, National Women's Rights Historic ParkEnfield Family Welcome Center Mural, an “Equitable, Edible Farm School”
S Kissilof
Enfield Elementary School
We want to create a mural outside of our Family Welcome Center depicting our Equitable, Edible Farm School motto. The design will incorporate the ideals of social/food justice.
Community partners: Ithaca MuralsBig Ideas in Fashion- Year 2
G. Cacciopo
Ithaca High School
This partnership would impact real-world skills to my students, opening work opportunities and/or study in the future.
Community Partner: Amelia RosenthalIHS Moroccan Cultural Exchange
E. Crawford
Ithaca High School
A group of 24 high school students will be traveling to Morocco to experience Moroccan and Muslim culture.Facing History Holocaust Remembrance
Rebecca Page Johnson
Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS)
The Facing History Holocaust Remembrance project aims to educate ICSD high school students about the Holocaust through in-depth study and educational programming, with an experience at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.West African Music for Social Justice
Devin Boaker
Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Our 1st grade class class is inviting Dr. Baruch Whitehead to teach us about West African drumming and its connections to dance and storytelling.
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Grants Funded 2021-22
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Red and Gold Grants
Yay Ukulele!
Leslie Kurzweil, Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Students will learn basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs on the ukulele.Water Justice
Stephen Anderson, Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Our district continues to import water jugs every week into schools. My students will test the water coming from the pipes and in local streams to determine levels of lead in the water and make a recommendation to the board of education as to the continued use of water jugs in our buildings.Kindness Rocks at IHS
Marie Sadusky, Ithaca High School
The Yoga & Self Care for Every Body (Physical Education) students will design rocks with kind messages and either hide their rocks around campus or place their rocks in the IHS rock garden to help spread kindness around Ithaca High School to both students and staff.Missing COVID Rockets!
Spencer Hill, Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Our current 4th & 5th graders missed Rocket building and launching at CHES due to COVID and we want to get them caught up, one year at a time.Science Olympiad Registration Fees
Matthew Fellman, Ithaca High School
Our Registration Fees for competitions are increasing every year as our team grows and succeeds.The Girl Who Swallowed A Cactus- Syracuse Stage ( Virtual)
Maureen Gilroy Fall Creek Elementary School
A virtual performance by the Syracuse Stage draws on elements of traditional storytelling and explores themes of courage, friendship, and environmental preservation.
Contemplative mural space Michelle Harty Fall Creek Elementary School We are creating a quiet contemplative space to install a mural created by incarcerated youth which commemorates black men and women murdered by police.A Taste of Spain
Claudia Miettunen, Ithaca High School
Walking field trip to La Bodega in Dewitt MallKinder Yogis
Jessica Custer-Bindel, Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Kinder Yogis is a mindful based yoga program that aligns with social emotional learning.Edison Robots for our Elementary Engineers
Megan Hulburt, Northeast Elementary School
"Our project will give our elementary school students the ability to engineer solutions like real robotics engineers with Edison robots that are simple enough for students to work with independently but versatile enough that our students will be able to really engineer robots with lego attachments and coding to “help humans” just like career robotics engineers!"Independent Music Production
Harry Nichols, Dewitt Middle School
Using online tools to foster student creativity through music production3d Printer for our Elementary Innovations.
Megan Hulburt, Northeast Elementary School
Northeast’s 4th and 5th-grade students are learning to engineer 3-dimensional creations with Tinker Cad. With our own 3D printers, our students will be able to bring their designs from a model on a screen to a creation they can hold in their hands!Hoophouse growing facilitation for HIS
Robert Tuori. Ithaca High School
I would like to purchase a weed wacker to simplify clean-up of the hoop house in the spring before planting; I would also like to purchase a black tarp to cover our cover crops after they are weed whacked.SEL Onstage at Northeast
Brian Goodman. Northeast Elementary School
Students will engage with our social-emotional curriculum through theatre arts.I See You, You See Me: Diverse Books for the Fall Creek "Share-a-Book"
Shelf Sarah Smith. Fall Creek Elementary School
Imagine a bookshelf at Fall Creek school from which all children can take books home. And imagine that this shelf is always full of a beautifully diverse collection of books in which all children see themselves and see others. The FC Pre-K class is starting a giveaway bookshelf for the whole school, and we need books with BIPOC characters to fill the shelf.Breakout EDU
Michelle Lee. Ithaca High School
Escape-room like boxes that are content-driven for use in small groups - each Breakout EDU game requires collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication.Field and Contemporary Small Group Activities
Justin Carr. Ithaca High School
This PE elective aims to increase student engagement by offering traditional back yard style games that promote movement, challenge, and teamwork.Diverse Needs, Flexible Environment
Michelle Szymczak. Northeast Elementary School
Students' diverse academic, social, cultural, neurological, and sensory needs dictate that a classroom environment should have flexibility in seating and a diverse array of tools to help all students be successful.Loom Knitting with Kids
Kelda McGurk. Cayuga Heights Elementary School
Teaching students to use knitting looms to make hats as an activity to build self-regulation in the classroom and fine-motor skills and confidence.Vacuum Pump
Andrew Lesser. Ithaca High School
A vacuum pump is an amazing tool to make ideas like pressure/volume relationships and the effect of pressure on a substance's boiling point real for students.Anansi Does The Impossible- A Fifth Grade Play
Maureen Gilroy. Fall Creek Elementary School
Chris Bell and I will work with 5th graders at Fall Creek School to craft a script, design a set, and perform based on the book Anansi Does the Impossible an Ashanti Tale by Verna Aardema.Solar Power!
Perry Gorgen. South Hill Elementary School
Solar power engineers will visit our classrooms, explain their work and the science behind it, and provide a hands-on experience building a solar-powered fan for the class. -
Teacher Grants
Caroline Rides- Caroline Bike Trail and Bicycle Riding Development Program
Samuel Trechter Caroline Elementary School
Continuing to build out the Caroline Bike program by increasing our fleet of bicycles and significantly building out our rough draft dirt trail with the addition of dirt berms, rollers, and other low-level challenges appropriate for beginning and intermediate young bicycle riders.Capoeria: (part 2)
Stephanie Colombo Enfield Elementary
In its second and third years, this project will focus on the cultural and musical aspects of the art form. More attention will be paid to the finer details of style in the movements, player interactions, rituals and customs. Instruments will be provided to the school so children can participate in the Batteria. Gourd seeds and trees will be purchased and the ground of the “Enfield Vines” location as well as the forest will be worked to curate a capoeira garden for the creation of Birumbao’s in the third year of this project (and beyond). Another goal for the third year included in this project will be teaching the upkeep of the type of gourd used for the musical instrument and responsible forest management for the trees/boughs harvested for the stick of the instrument.Art-A Cultural Dig into the World through Artifacts & Storytelling
Taura McMeekin Enfield Elementary
Through yearlong partnerships with National Geographic’s Explorer/Educator Project, Cornell’s Archaeology Department, The Museum of the Earth & the Johnson Museum of Art students will design a Student-Led hands-on Geography of the Soul Community Festival on Friday, June 10th, 2022 highlighting a cultural dig into the world of artifacts and stories of identity from both near & far.Storytelling Project.
Kathryn Arnold, Northeast Elementary
Students attending remote classes will create and present an original story. We expect that using the tradition of storytelling, students will be able to improve their social connections, begin to define their identity, and develop kindness and compassion for others. Our classrooms are participating in remote learning. We are looking for opportunities for students to overcome the challenges of isolation and distance through building bridges with storytelling.3rd Grade Mural.
Marlena Doerr. Cayuga Heights Elementary. Community Partner – Hugo Medina"All students in 3rd grade will work collaboratively with Teaching-Artist, Hugo Medina, to
learn about murals, develop a mural concept, and paint a mural in a Cayuga Heights stairwell.
BSES Social Justice Mural.
Ashley Paolangeli. Belle Sherman Elementary. Community Partner – Ithaca Murals
As part of their study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Belle Sherman
5th graders, in collaboration with a professional muralist, will work to bring a mural to the 1,135 sq ft Belle Sherman Annex wall that will highlight the core values and motivations of the school and its surrounding community.
6th Grade Joyshop. Nicole Dauria.
Boynton Middle School. Community Partners – Elboner Stevenson and Kenneth McLaurin
As part of an entire week of events and explorations for students, we are bringing in Elbonee Stevenson and Kenneth McLaren, the local duo, for interactive performances/workshops for 6th-grade students.
Student Identities and Graphic Design
Ann Kolodji. Beverly J Martin Elementary School
Community Partner: Samarra Khaja
As part of an anti-racist curriculum project, a local illustrator and graphic artist will work with 4th-grade students to design a mural highlighting BJM and student identities.
A Sensory Garden for Mental Health
Jill Browne. Enfield Elementary School
Community Partner: Johnson Museum of Art, Carol Hockett
Students will design, construct and present to the school a sensory garden to support mental health to be used by the Enfield School Community.Multicultural Mural
Claudia Miettunen. Ithaca High School
Community Partner: Mary Beth Inhken
Culturally and linguistically affirming mural welcoming students and staff entering the World Language area of K building
Big Ideas in Fashion
Gina Cacioppo. Ithaca High School
Community Partner: Amelia Rae Rosenthal
This partnership would impart real-world skills to my students, opening work opportunities and/or study in the future.
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Past Awarded Grants
Lists of past recipients of Teacher Grants, Red and Gold Grants, Connecting Classrooms Grants, and Community Collaboration Grants are organized by school years. For past grant information beyond what’s listed here, visit our Grant Archives page linked below.
Related Posts
IPEI Grants dates announced!
September 6, 2018Fall Grant awardees!
November 7, 2017Workshop for IPEI Grant-Seekers: Getting to Yes!
August 29, 2017ICSD Educators: Grant Applications Ready for 2017-18
August 20, 2017