27
Funded Projects and Professional Development
$60k+
Grants Awarded
9th
School Year
9
All Schools In RPS District Serviced
Through our fundraising efforts and support from the community, we have been able to promote and advance our school district through innovative teaching and learning techniques.
For teachers looking for grants to help administer your project click the button below to learn more about the process.
Check out the grants that have been awarded throughout the years.
Barcode Ridgefield teaches the scientific process of DNA Barcoding. It gives students a sense of ownership over our shared resources, and empowers students to make positive impacts in their community through STEM. Students learning DNA barcoding strengthings their overall understanding of environmental science which can be applied to other areas of their science education indefinitely.
The Unified Sports Program brings to the Ridgefield Public Schools team sport opportunities to children with disabilities. This program kicked off for the High School in the spring of 2017 with Volleyball. In 2017-18 this expanded to three sports seasons – soccer, basketball and volleyball. It has since expanded the program to the Middle Schools.
Dash and Dot robots is a STEM based program that enhances K - 5 learners. It teaches students coding, problem solving, and creative thinking. Lessons are directly connected to the RPS curriculum. Dash and Dot provided an opportunity for purposeful hands on and sensory play as students worked collaboratively to create solutions.
Unified Sports Program was created at RHS. Unified Sports® is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disability on sports teams for training and competition. All Unified Sports ® players, both athletes and special partners, are of similar age and matched sport skill ability. Teams are placed in competitive divisions based upon their skill abilities and range from training divisions (with a skill-learning focus) to high level competition.
A real authentic experience for students. Access to industry analysis reports and recommendations were made to businesses in the community. Assisting local businesses with their operations while providing students with an engaging opportunity to work with them as colleagues promoted real-world business application while updating businesses to newer technologies.
Nature lab’s goal provided access to natural history specimens that encourages curiosity and creative thinking. Hands-on access to the collection enabled students to make connections between not only science, art, and design, but all aspects of their learning. Ultimately the exposure and interaction with preserved resources and living specimens fostered a greater appreciation and understanding of our relationship with nature.
Library Learning Commons (LLC) is a resource center and hub of creativity and collaboration. The SRMS Makerspace is increasingly used for immersive, inquiry-based creation and exploration. Virtual Reality is an appropriate offspring of the LLC, allowing students to “travel” in 3D to just about any location, while deepening understanding and appreciation for the subject at hand. This provides teachers and students with the opportunity to deepen student-centered learning by providing the materials, resources and support for 3D, Virtual Reality “travel.”
In partnership with a local environmental education organization, an aquaponics demonstration site and curriculum was initiated in the High School biology classes. Aquaponics is the process of growing plants as well as fish, is a closed loop system that combines aquaculture (cultivating fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in liquid nutrient solutions).
By collaborating with The Prospector, Ridgefield Public Schools educated the RPS staff on the work place challenges facing adults with disabilities. Outcomes provided creative inclusion practices for the classroom, taught workplace skills in a variety of multi-modal approaches, and shared The Prospectors best practices to RPS as well as community businesses.
Through movement, breath and mindfulness, students and teachers can cultivate a safe space in which to build a practice that supports the goals of 21st century learning and will strengthen their psychosocial, physiological and physical abilities.
A collaboration with the Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, CT, an introduction to a new writing program and assembly that builds student learning and critical thinking utilizing new strategies around the life and times of Mark Twain. This to complements the complex text of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Utilizing a STEAM-based program, ArchForKids offers projects to deepen students’ understanding of the world built around them via architecture, design, engineering and urban planning. A collaboration between two different schools, students worked on projects that culminated in a joint opening and exhibition of the student work at the Ridgefield Recreation Center, titled, “Healthy Living and Recreation for our Community.”
A 3D printer, scanner and product material enhanced and supported STEM initiatives as the district prepares for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). STEM initiatives require students to see and do more. A 3D printer offers the ability to assess a problem, brainstorm and create a three-dimensional solution. This hands-on learning provides endless opportunities in all subject areas.
Utilizing a handheld sensor, SCiO, that works with a smart phone to analyze matter on the molecular lever will bring scientific practices into the classroom, but being portable and convenient will allow students to engage in the scientific inquiry outside of the science classroom offering broader reach and depth.
Makerspace - a “do it yourself”, high energy community space for students and staff to collaborate and creative. Providing technology, equipment and materials it enhances the curriculum with cross-disciplinary exploration and learning that supports the development of inquiry based learning and 21st century skills
This unique partnership with Norwalk, Bridgeport and Ridgefield schools along with The Aldrich Museum resulted in school-museum-artist collaboration. Students working with with artists exploring ideas, creating artwork individually and collaboratively, and writing about their learning process enhanced inquiry based learning.
Coding with a modern, fun twist. Gamestar, the popular student gamification website, promoted problem and critical thinking skills to build games.
Enhancing social and verbal skills through technology, flip cameras recorded both structured and unstructured conversations of students.
Utilizing the SmartMusic app, students recorded, evaluated and submitted a recording to the teacher allowing online review, feedback and revised assignments. Students created a personalized portfolio of work as well as tracked practice time, grades and progress.
The Vernier motion detector uses ultrasound to measure position, velocity and acceleration of moving objects. It can be connected to any computer to provide tables and graphs of the data to help students understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines and linear equations. Students interpretted data they collect from an engaging activity.
Increasing student-student, student-teacher interaction using Skype. Skype is a digital video connection device for use on computers and smart phones.
A curriculum targeted eBook collection that allows teachers and students access to current e-titles when working in the library, classroom, computer lab or home. This enhances the classroom experience by enabling the ability to use the same title for all students.
Six unique lab stations where created for hands-on physics projects and demonstrations that provided students’ the application of the inquiry based model. Students worked collectively, questioning, problem solving, building and exploring. This program supported STEM-based, next generation science standards.
Advancing the physics class through iPads that allow classroom collaboration. The iPads have simulation and scientific software where students can measure and record data relating to electrical resistance, gravitational pull, and Bernoulli’s Principle among others. This will allow students a deeper understanding of complex scientific concepts.
Digital Art Tablets for Every Computer Art Student - The Ridgefield High School Art Department introduced Wacom digital tablet and pen. Digitizing art, students can work naturally drawing motion using a digital pressure sensitive pen instead of a mouse. Drawing is tactile and these skills carry over into more advanced art and design classrooms, as well as professions.
RHS English Department goes wireless allowing for an untethered teaching experience. The integration of iPads in two RHS classrooms connects with the existing Apple TV devices and existing projectors using bluetooth. The iPad and Apple TV sets up for a mobile more interactive teaching experience. This set up was also used to transmit information on student devices.
Skype with Authors was introduce for a have richer discussion about writing. Skyping with authors is another way for students to "chat" with more authors and promote conversations about reading and writing throughout the school year.
Enhancing second grade fluency in reading and writing through iTouch. Utilizing all aspects of literacy; reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and enacting, students work through their writing process and publish them using a variety of digital Apps.
A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, The Ridgefield Education Foundation is a collection of citizens who believe that education is at the heart of our community. The REF is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of parents, local community leaders, Board of Education members, the Ridgefield Public Schools Superintendent, and teachers.
Providing grants to teachers and administrators to advance student learning and skills!
Advancing teachers and administrators through cutting-edge practices!
Creating long-lasting, positive impact on the community through teacher, administrator, and student engagement.
Interested in learning more? Contact us.