Waterford Education Foundation 2006 Initiatives

Hygienic Film Festival

In collaboration with the Connecticut Commission on Culture  and Tourism, the Foundation provided the funding for the Hygienic Filmworks Independent Filmfest, a juried competition of short film entries and screen plays as well as workshops about film-making. Participants got to work under professional guidance using professional film-making equipment  not otherwise available to schools in the area. 

Habitat for Humanity

The Foundation initiated a partnership  between The Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern Connecticut and the students and faculty of Waterford High School to increase awareness of substandard housing and homelessness in Southeastern Connecticut. As a result, a Waterford High School course was developed that involved analyzing problems of poverty, welfare, affordable housing, and homelessness. WHS students and faculty in company with Habitat, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army met with the area homeless to learn first-hand what it means to live in substandard or homeless conditions. Waterford High School students worked as volunteers at a local Habitat building site.

As a result of this initiative, WHS was the winner of the AASA award for school-community partnerships and will be recognized at the AASA Awards Banquet in New Orleans.

Childhood Obesity Forum

Dr. Partick Cooper, Superintendent of Schools of McComb School District, McCoom, MS, was speaker at a Health and Wellness community forum that had a focus on Childhood Obesity. This presentation was very timely in that it occurred as Waterford's school district wellness policy was being written in anticipation of a September implementation date. Dr. Cooper stressed that while it does take an entire village to raise a child, it is equally important to be sure the village is in good shape as well! He provided many practical suggestions taken from his own district's success in this area that can be applied to the wellness initiative in Waterford

French Initiative(High School)

A supply of French books , approximately 100,  were purchased for the display bookshelves in the  French classroom.  Every Wednesday, students have a free reading period of 20-25 minutes and  are allowed to select a book with the obligation of having to write a paragraph at the end of class period on what they read.  The response has been extremely positive. A significant  amount of French vocabulary is acquired in addition to what is learned  in the traditional classroom setting. The ability to individualize a segment of their classroom work has provided a  meaningful added dimension to the learning process.

Peer Mentor Initiative(SW School)

The funds received from the Waterford Education Foundation were used to support and enrich the Grade Five Peer Mentoring Program. Each peer mentor was supplied with a "To Go" kit consisting of a canvas bag, writing tools, stickers, a calendar and various other art supplies. These kits are used by the mentor when working with  assigned student or when  assisting in whole class activities. The kits allow the mentors to feel invested in the program and work independently. The materials provided encourage the mentors to plan their time with the younger students knowing they have the materials and supplies necessary to do the job.The funds provided by the WEF truly enhanced the  mentoring program and have been very much appreciated by the students.

Marine Science Initiative(SW School)

An excellent way to learn about Long Island Sound and the estuaries in our area is to set up an aquarium with organisms from the waters of the Sound and mouth of the Thames River.  The WEF grant provided the funds to purchase a 30 gallon tank and everything needed to maintain the aquarium.  Project Oceanology assisted in collecting the organisms and educating the class on how to care for and maintain the aquarium.  Daily,  students collected data: tank temperature, outside temperature, surface water temperature (www.mysound.uconn.edu/apmet), ph level, ammonia level, salinity and relative gravity. In addition, the students were able to go on three field trips with Project Oceanology.  Two trips were onboard the R/V Environlab III, conducting experiments in Project O's science labs; the third trip was to Bluff Point to conduct a field study.  The year  culminated with a visit and field study at the Niantic Boardwalk.  These studies used a seine and nets to collect organisms, study them, and then release them back into the Sound.