What We Do

The Conestoga Valley Education Foundation helps bring the ideas of visionary educators to life in our schools! Through semiannual grants that support enriching programs for Conestoga Valley students, CVEF is shaping our community's future, one program at a time, encouraging exploration and achievement that wouldn't be possible within the district's regular budget.

The Board of Trustees gives preference to innovative and creative projects that align with its mission, as well as projects that impact large numbers of CV students.

Every year, a portion of grant funding is reserved for technology initiatives that enhance the curriculum and challenge students to use and think about tools of tomorrow. These monies come from businesses that contribute to the Foundation through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. CVEF is a state-approved Educational Improvement Organization with standing permission to direct EITC monies to technology initiatives.

Below you'll find many highlights of how more than $700,000 invested by the Foundation was used to enrich education and values, encourage creativity, create cultural experiences and support teachers, staff and community members.

Conestoga Valley Education Foundation relies on the support of individual donations, annual fundraising events and contributions from area businesses to execute our mission and reach our goals. If you'd like to share in our success, promote excellence in the Conestoga Valley school district and encourage students to embrace creativity, cultural experience, innovation and the technologies of the future, we invite you to discover the many ways you can offer your support.

Students, educators and administrative staff can submit grant applications for future initiatives by visiting our grant submission page for guidelines and forms.

Past Grant Award Highlights

Art
CURRICULAR TOOL: ART REPRODUCTIONS/IMAGES – $12,100 DISTRICTWIDE (2019)

Students benefit from having reproductions and images of classic works of art for both display and as examples for their work. All of the art teachers who serve the six schools in our district are a part of this grant to utilize these resources with our students in their learning experiences.

COLLEGE VISIT: DAY AS AN ART MAJOR – $50 HIGH SCHOOL (2017)

A small grant can go a long way! Travelling to Elizabethtown College for the day, 25 AP Advanced Placement Art students are able to experience a day as an actual college art major. Students attend classes and take part in college level instructional activities.

SCIENCE WING MURALS - $650.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2009)

The appearance and "feeling tone" of a classroom can make a positive impact on the students and teachers. The same can be said for the hallways leading to those classes. The purpose of this grant is to provide an artist with the materials and space to create murals of all four science disciplines taught at the Conestoga Valley High School.

VISITING ARTIST for TWO WATERCOLOR CLASSES - $300.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

A watercolor artist from the community came into the High School art class for four consecutive days to present new approaches, techniques and a personal perspective of what is involved in becoming a profession artist.

YEARBOOK PRE-PRESS DIGITAL PROJECT - $4,000.00 (2007)

This grant purchased in-house technology and software to create a completely digital, high quality middle school yearbook without the need to advertise.

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Art
Citizenship
HOW DO WE ELECT OUR LEADERS? – $650 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2020)

During a national election year, elementary students get a better understanding of an important process in our nation. Students receive election skill books through this grant about the 2020 election process.

EARTH DAY AWARENESS PROJECT – $750 HIGH SCHOOL (2020)

This grant provides funding for high school students in the Fresh Water Biology elective course of study with Earth Day materials and resources. This project creates a community-wide awareness campaign for Earth Day in 2021.

ORDER IN THE COURT – $1,500 HIGH SCHOOL (2018)

HS students in Mock Trial receive special training from a consulting agency, Stand Up Mock Trial, which has advised various Mock Trial groups to excel in reaching high school, college, state, and national competitions. This grant allows for a field trip to Drexel Law School in Philadelphia as part of the training.

PARENT WORKSHOP ON "EMPOWERING BYSTANDERS IN BULLYING SITUATIONS" - $700.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2012)

A recent parent survey on bully prevention revealed a need for education in the role of bystanders in the Olweus Bullying Circle. This workshop would be the initial outreach to our community in what we hope to develop into an annual event.

THE WORLD IN OUR SCHOOL - $750.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2014)

Leola is comprised of many different nationalities and cultures. Through a previous CVEF grant, some of the nationalities were recognized with flags. It would be nice to represent additional countries through flags hung in the auditorium instead of the hallways. Classrooms will sponsor the flags by earning them through activities.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION - $250.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2009)

The Alternative Learning Programs exists at CVHS to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of students who have not experienced success in the traditional classroom setting. We have developed a "Levels-Based" behavior and academic system for this classroom. Students start off with a few privileges (Entry Level) and work their way up through the levels to Leadership Level. We would use this money to buy in-class rewards, travel on field trips that allow students to perform community service and have an end of the year "Adventure-Based learning project.

GIRLS' LEADERSHIP CAMP - $650.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2012)

The project was a day-long "camp" for girls and a parent. The camp took place on a Saturday and presented different activities that center around leadership, team building, arts, self care and technology. This project is a further extension of the Leola It's A Parent Thing and It's A Girl Thing Clubs that have been funded in the past by the CVEF.

WORK TODAY FOR A GREENER SCHOOL TOMORROW - $720.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2011)

The purpose of this project was to further educate students on how we can use our lunch time waste to make a greener school. Students placed their compostable lunch waste into bins to be used both as fertilizer and compost as we beautify our school. Students also engaged in the process of composting and how it will save money by reducing, reusing and recycling.

INTEGRATION OF CURRENT EVENTS - $552.00 HIGH SCHOOL LIFE SKILLS (2010)

Program integrated current events into the life skills classes at the high school. Technology was used to motive students to engage in discussions and global and currents event reading topics were accessible to high school students working on an elementary reading level.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE - $300.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

Allowed alternative education students in the high school to go outside the school doors and involved them in on the job experiences that relate to personal areas of interest. Students also planned a service project or random act of kindness for the rest of their class.

IT'S A PARENT THING - $425.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2010)

Leola Elementary already participates in the program It's a Girl Thing which focuses on bully prevention and character education. It's A Parent Thing offers parents the opportunity to participate in class meetings with their child. Teachers volunteered to come after school/work hours to conduct parent-student class meetings.

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Math
VEX ROBOTS – $8,447 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2020)

VEX is a STEM learning system designed to develop critical problem-solving and computational thinking. Especially during the pandemic, where this system can be manipulated from home, students enhance their math and thinking skills in a fun, hands-on application.

MATH MAGIC – $289 FRITZ (2019)

This grant funds a magician who uses an in-class program to teach mental math-related tricks. All Fritz fourth grade students were lucky enough to get their own deck of cards in order to practice mental math and problem-solving skills in a fun way.

iPADS AND LITERATURE FOR STEM ON WHEELS – $5,500 DISTRICTWIDE (2017)

Teachers from all four elementary schools benefit from mobile units equipped with iPads as well as STEM resources and materials to use with students right in their own classrooms. In addition, a 2018 grant for a two-day summer staff development "STEM Camp" ($10,134) helps teachers use these mobile units to implement exciting classroom STEM learning activities.

BRAIN POP ACCESS/SUBSCRIPTION - $469.00 (2010)

A program that is used on a Promethean Board that allows this 3rd grade teacher to access flipcharts and animated clips to launch a new concept in a variety of subjects as math, science and social studies - a creative way to explain difficult concepts to young children.

MATH ENRICHMENT - $500.00- VIDEO STORY PROBLEM PROJECT FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2011)

Problem solving and critical thinking abilities are essential skills that many of our students find difficult to grasp. Many students lack these skills because they simply believe that story problems are hard to understand and not enjoyable. This Video Story Problem Project would line valuable critical thinking skills to real world problem solving while integrating technology into the lesson. Students would develop a real world math situation where they would need to use mathematical problem solving. This math situation, or story problem, would then be scripted and recorded for playback and solutions from the remainder of the class.

HANDS ON MATH WITH VERSA TILES - $908.00 SMOKETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2006)

The use of Versa Tiles will allow us to concentrate on the current Standards as well as using all sensory modes. Versa Tiles will be used to enrich our learning center activities and promote independent learning and self evaluation.

100% STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH SCHOOL MATH CLASSES WITH IMMEDIATE ACTIONABLE DATA- $11,250 HIGH SCHOOL (2012)

ActivEngage is a virtual learner response system that enables students to contribute in the classroom by responding to questions from laptops, tablets or mobiles handheld devices. This integrated application gives teachers real-time insight into student comprehension and learning progression. ActivEngage works on both Windows and Mac systems. This is an EITC grant.

DANCE OF THE TRAPEZOIDS - $500.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2009)

The goal is to construct spandex bands, with the aid of a professional seamstress, for use by students in discovering geometry through fine and gross motor skills and movement. The students will utilize the spandex bands with arms and legs and feet to maneuver them into the plane and 3-D shapes of 4th grade geometry. The conclusion will be to combine students into a movement piece with music to perform their mastery of the shapes and their names.

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Writing
GRADES K-4 ASSEMBLY: "I-STATEMENTS" – $1,100 FRITZ (2018)

Students in multiple grades learn from a live assembly how to write better I-Statements in working through everyday problems with other students. Through this process, self-reliant students can be more successful at dealing with common age-appropriate dilemmas.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND PROGRAM – $3,375 FRITZ (2018)

Students in grades 3 to 6 get to be involved in team competitions through Odyssey of the Mind, an international problem-solving program for all grade levels and college. Among other skill boosts, students get to hone their writing talents in creating skits that address a common problem presented to the teams. Grant funds cover registration fees for state and international competitions.

SMOKETOWN ON AIR – $711 SMOKETOWN (2017)

Smoketown students create a radio show/podcast that involves interviews and answers to frequently asked questions. Students must apply their writing skills to create interesting scripts and interviews that drive the regular episodes as part of the production process.

ACTION-BASED LEARNING - $253.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2010)

An ABC Pathway Mat where kindergarten students can literally walk their letter formations. In engages both sides of the brain to make both physical and cognitive connections to enhance learning. The Mat has only 2 shapes and a figure 8 that form all the letters of the alphabet.

CLASSICS CAFE - $1,600.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2009)

In an effort to provide enrichment activities for all students, the 5th and 6th grade students will be blended together into six specialized groups base of their reading levels for an additional 45 minutes of daily instruction and each will choose a character from one of their favorite classics and prepare a presentation about that character. The presentation can take a variety of forms - monologue, mini-biography, and visual presentation, instrumental or vocal or other medium. At the "Classics Café'" students will share their presentation with the remaining groups.

MOTIVATED TO WRITE! STUDENTS PUBLISH WORKS ONLINE - $1,192.00 SMOKETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2011)

Students would be able to access one to four classroom netbooks to publish their classroom writing, utilizing a variety of online formats including, but not limited to, their own Google accounts, web 2.0 tools such a blabberize, glogster and wiki spaces, as well as posting their work on the classroom website. This is an EITC grant.

JOURNAL BUDDIES - $250.00 SMOKETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL (2008)

This project will involve high school creative writing students' journaling back and forth with third grade language arts students. Journals will be passed back and forth between a third graders and a high school student each week. As a whole, we hope to meet for a face-to-face lunch party near the end of the year.

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Writing
Music
VISIBLE THINKING WITH SMARTMUSIC, SOUNDTRAP, AND NOTEFLIGHT – $7,368 DISTRICTWIDE (2020)

These funds access online subscriptions that allow students to personalize their learning through performance, composition, arranging, and technique-building activities. Valuable tools for virtual learning during the pandemic, these programs are available to elementary and high school students.

MAN-CHOIR – $2,615 HIGH SCHOOL (2019)

Students from all over Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 participate in a one-day music making event for school-aged male singers to encourage participation in choral organizations. A facilitator from Temple University leads the activities that day, which culminates in a free public concert.

SINGING AND SIGNING: AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE - $588 HIGH SCHOOL (2018)

Students learn American Sign Language for a school performance, but they also learn about the challenges related to this means of communication. With lighted gloves, they help accentuate songs performed in American Sign Language at a public concert.

UNITED IN SONG: MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE – $1,200 DISTRICTWIDE (2018)

Students in grades 5 to 12 learn in workshops from a regional facilitator in a hands-on manner about various genres of music that serve the purpose of uniting people, including gospel music and other world music. The experience culminates in a public concert.

WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLES' EARS - $737.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2010)

This multidisciplinary fourth grade project addresses music, literature, social studies, dance and drama (via puppetry) through the exploration of the African Folk Tale of the same name. The end product will be a combination of African culture and African student-inspired creations.

EXTRAORDINARY! $2000.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY (2013)

Extraordinary! Is a song that a Leola 5th grade teacher work and developed in the spring of 2013 that reinforces the idea that students can be extraordinary as they make good choices through the school day. He taught the song to the entire student body, professionally recorded the song and played and sang it at Leola Proud assemblies.

SING OUT, CV! - $400.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2012)

This is an interactive choral commission project. Singer, composer and arranger, Avi Amon (featured on NBC's Sing Off) will commission a six-part pop song arrangement for the high school choral ensembles. The students will also Skype with Mr. Amon to discuss the process of arranging pieces, the legal issues of arranging copyrighted material and the skills needed for a career in music composition and arrangement.

UKULELES FOR SONG WRITING - $2,060.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2014)

The purpose of this grant is to introduce ukulele playing to sixth grade students in the music classroom. Introducing ukuleles in the music classroom allows students to begin to understand basic harmonization while applying musicianship skills they have already learned. They will also transfer a writing piece completed in the regular classroom into a musical composition.

WE ARE BULLY BUSTERS - ANTI-BULLING SONG ALBUM - $2,101.00 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2014)

Original songs written by teachers at Fritz Elementary, recorded on a CD and presented at a school-wide assembly. Every student took a CD home with them. They use the songs at assemblies, during morning announcements, in our class meetings and for general class use.

PERIPHERALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC LAB - $11,313.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2007)

Enables the music department to make use of their new technology lab in classes other than Electronic Music and Music Theory by providing various modules to allow for instrumental ensembles, introduction to fine arts and beginning guitar. This is an EITC grant.

A SMARTER START FOR BEGINNING BAND STUDENTS: SMARTMUSIC FOR ALL - $1680.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2013)

I am requesting funding for a program to pilot the use of interactive music software called Smartmusic with a class of beginning band students. My plan is to replace the traditional lesson book with this software which allows for student to practice assignments that I can make electronically, to receive feedback from the software about their practice and then to submit those performances electronically throughout the week for my review. This is an EITC grant.

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Music
Physical Education
MINDFUL EATING AND NUTRITION INTERVENTION – $3,000 FRITZ (2018)

Fritz partners with a certified dietician/nutritionist to teach about healthy eating. Small group sessions are made available at no cost to both parents (three sessions) and students (five sessions) to learn dietary facts and strategies to maintain healthy body weight. The intervention focuses on mindful eating, body awareness, and exposure to new foods and tastes.

iPADS FOR MS PHYSICAL EDUCATION – $2,952 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2018)

Technology assists in learning in Physical Education classes at the middle level. At various learning stations, students access UTube videos through QR codes to learn proper and safe techniques in physical training and exercise. iPads also allow students to network with other online curricular resources and materials.

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK YOGA – $210 HIGH SCHOOL (2017)

Tenth grade students experience a new, innovative form of physical activity in a fun format. Although yoga has been around for centuries, Glow-In-The-Dark Yoga, or Glowga, as a new fitness craze allows students to learn about another lifetime option for exercise in an interesting and playful manner.

ADVENTURE EDUCATION CHALLENGE COURSE - $5,880.00 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2007)

This grant funded the purchase and installation of four additional outdoor low adventure ropes course elements (the initial three were also funded by the CVEF). By purchasing these, the entire low outdoor ropes course was completed.

FUN FRIDAY FITNESS: ZUMBA WITH RAE - $360.00 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2014)

Every Friday afternoon, fourth graders have the opportunity to earn a "Fun Friday," which has generally become an extra 25-minute outdoor recess. Our idea is to add a spark to our Fun Fridays once per month by bringing in an independent licensed Zumba instructor to lead interested students in Zumba © Kids for an extended Fun Friday.

GETTING FIT KIDS - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY PROGRAM $1,500.00 ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (2010)

The Getting Fit Kids assemblies are 45 minutes of interactive fun, entertainment and a positive message on fitness. Kids in the audience are encouraged to adopt an active lifestyle in order to live more productive, healthier lives. The Bonomo Brothers use wrestling techniques, student participation and humor to reinforce the importance of fitness.

BUCKSKIN WALL OF FAME - $600.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2011)

I am collaborating with the Tech Ed Department and some of their advanced CADD student to design and build a metal Buckskin Wall of Fame sign that will have on the large wall outside of the health classroom in the Rill Gym. This area will be dedicated to promoting fitness test scores within the Health and Physical Education Department. The area will give students who reach the target fitness levels kudos and provide a venue for student to have their achievements publically acknowledged.

CHANGING THE STORY: STEP BY STEP - $500.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2012)

Everyone has a life story. For many of the students in the Alternative Learning Program, that life story includes events (often related to the family) that have wounded them socially and emotionally. We would like to get the students in the ALP outside the school doors to participate in physically challenging activities that encourage them to go beyond what they've experiences in their lives.

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Physical Education
Literacy
THE UNDEFEATED LIBRARY COLLECTION – $3,733 DISTRICTWIDE (2020)

In budgeting for the first full school year impacted by the pandemic, elementary libraries are able to maintain their annual allotment of new books with CVEF support. The focus of these new books centers on works that address multiple literacies as well as diverse perspectives and cultures.

LIBRARY MAKERSPACE – $39,512 DISTRICTWIDE (2018)

All elementary libraries receive the resources and equipment necessary to establish a MakerSpace learning experience to deepen and extend their literacy and research units. Students have an opportunity to explore their own interests and learn to use the tools, technology, and equipment, both physical and virtual, to develop creative projects.

THE MARTIAN COLONIZATION PROJECT – $4,328 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2018)

This interdisciplinary learning experience is based on reading a common novel, The Martian by Andy Weir, which is about one astronaut's odyssey to Mars and his ingenuity to survive there alone. Through the interdisciplinary format, students engage in various STEM problem-based learning activities as they experience their reading of the common novel.

STEAM MAKERSPACE IN THE HS LIBRARY – $14,472 HIGH SCHOOL (2017)

MakerSpace kits transform the HS library from a literacy and research hub into an interdisciplinary center for hands-on learning activities and resources. With portable kits, training, and technology equipment available, the HS library now provides opportunities for interdisciplinary, student-driven, independent learning experiences and explorations.

NEIGHBORHOOD BRIDGES:BUILDING CRITICAL LITERACY - $2,000.00 (2013)

Teaching artists from the Fulton Theater engage students to transform classrooms into communities where student think independently and work collectively. Students engage in weekly 1-hour sessions over a 16 week period that includes creative writing, storytelling, puppetry, theater games and student created scenes with group discussions that inspire critical thinking.

WHOLE SCHOOL READ ALOUD PROGRAM - $7,800. ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (2013)

This oral language literacy project will involve students, parents, teachers and staff. The goal is to motivate all CVSD elementary students to read and share literature among a community of readers, writers, listeners and speakers, beginning in the home. This idea is unique in that it engages and encourages parent involvement in the CV education community through a librarian-created blog.

SHIFT READING INTO OVERDRIVE - $7,000.00 MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL (2012)

OverDrive is an online hosting site for e-books. An OverDrive collection is purchased and maintained by a specific library or library system. The e0books purchased through OverDrive show up in a library's online card catalog and allow students to easily and securely download the library's e-books onto their personal e-reader, tablet, or computer. They can borrow and download the library's e-books anywhere anytime.

ACTION-BASED LEARNING LAB - $702.00 SMOKETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2009)

Exercise drives attention which in turn will drive learning. In is our intention to improve learning by having stations that promote physical activities to develop skills needed in the classroom in order to be a successful learner and classmate. Examples would be games that stimulate inner ear motions would help with listening and learning, dames that target eye muscles would help with tracking print and reading.

HOOKING TECH SAVVY KIDS ON BOOKS - $1,890.00 LEOLA ELEMENTARY (2007)

Using the technology of the Apple iPod to expose students to the world or literature by using audio books to give students enthusiasm for reading. This is an EITC grant.

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Science
THE BEVERLY H. BRENISER MEMORIAL LABS – $100,000 DISTRICTWIDE (2021)

With the support of community partners like the High Companies, Orrstown Bank, BB&T, Lancaster County Community Foundation, and Clark Associates, CVEF sponsors four primary learning labs, one in each of our elementary schools. These labs focus on STEM or MakerSpace learning activities for our primary students. The four labs are all named in memory of retired Leola/Penn Johns principal and former CVEF executive director Bev Breniser.

MAYFLY DATA LOGGER – $4,163 HIGH SCHOOL (2019)

In collaboration with watershed groups, land trusts, universities, and schools, and with support from the William Penn Foundation, Stroud Water Research Center has deployed over 70 continuous stream sensor stations across the Delaware River Basin (DRB). This grant allows students in multiple CVHS science class to join this network of "Citizen Scientists" for collecting longitudinal data on the health of the two streams being studied. This project is also funded in part by a grant from PPL.

DINOSAUR DONATION – $2,070 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2018)

With the recent donation of the fossilized remains of a triceratops dinosaur by a CVHS Distinguished Alumnus, CVEF covers the cost to transport and install that donation at the new middle school facility. This museum quality display is mounted on concrete slabs intended for vertical installation. The triceratops display ranges in size from 8 feet tall by 26 feet long. CVSD continues to be a very unique place in many ways with this one-of-a-kind display in a public middle school!

PRE-PHYSICS MEETS 3-D – $3,000 BROWNSTOWN (2017)

This project trains a core group of Brownstown students in Physics principles to build and take apart Jelly Box 3-D printers. As the team leaders, these students train other students to take apart and reassemble the Jelly Box 3-D printers, which also builds on their leadership skills. All students enhance their Physics knowledge, a districtwide science goal.

AMUSEMENT PARK PHYSICS - $3,470.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

The 9th grade science curriculum includes a unit on motion, force, machines, energy, sound, light, electricity and magnetism. The teacher has developed two projects with theme park entertainment - an animated notion picture and a roller coaster design project. This grant provides the resources to implement these projects.

ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION - $10,500.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2009)

The advanced scientific instruments proposed in the grant will greatly enhance both the complex and regular education science classes. In light of the STEM initiatives, it is clear that this equipment will greatly impact and promote the success of students involved in regular education courses and well as science fair and independent research.

NATIONAL PARK GEOLOGY: A BROWNSTOWN-HIGH SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE ENDEAVOR - $707.00 HIGH SCHOOL & BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2010)

6th and 9th grade students share geology academic standards. They will collaborate through blogging, Podcasting and/or Skyping between schools. There will also be a hands-on exploration day when the 6th graders will visit the high school and circulate among geology stations prepared by 9th graders and designated as world-renowned national parks.

SIMPLE MACHINE DAY - $2,450.00 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2013)

The 4th grade teachers plan to partner with Lancaster Bible College to create hand-on workshops for each of the simple machines that will be presented to all 95 fourth grade students. The innovative project will culminate with a full-day event that will present students with seven different workshops, each focused on a simple machine.

PROJECT GREEN - $1,590.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

Project Green is a multi-faceted plan that will bring the importance of sustainability and preservation to all of the students in the high school. A plot of land on the high school campus will be turned into an organic garden while the agricultural aspects. A second part of the grant would include starting a Green Club, whose purpose it would be to help the school and eventually, the entire district be more environmentally friendly.

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Social Studies
HOPE INTERNATIONAL POVERTY SIMULATION – $2,190 HIGH SCHOOL (2020)

An interdisciplinary team of teachers uses this simulation as a special learning and social awareness experience for many HS students. Students learn about the causes and real impact of poverty in society and their own community. With the impact of the pandemic, grant implementation occurs in the 2021-22 school year.

FIELD TRIP ZOOM ZONE – $500 FRITZ (2018)

Fritz students benefit from a pilot subscription providing hundreds of live streaming events organized around the academic areas, including Social Studies and much more. All Fritz teachers can access real-world content in virtual form to enhance learning activities in their classrooms while providing savings for local budgets.

AMERICANA: SHAPE NOTES, HAMBONE, AND LONELY SONGS – $1,000 MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOLS (2017)

Middle and high school students participate in interactive workshops led by an internationally-recognized performer and composer, Moira Smiley. Students learn about the roots and history of American music, culminating in a concert performance with Ms. Smiley.

WHERE ON THE TRAIL IS MISS ALICE? - $450.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2011)

Alice Eisenhooth, our Brownstown custodian and friend, has chosen to fulfill a lifetime dream - Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. In support of her endeavors and by using the "SPOT: Satellite GPS Messenger, the students and teachers at Brownstown will be able to incorporate and learn several curricular concepts in the areas of social studies, physical education and character education as they track her progress from start to finish on the trail. This is an EITC grant.

AMULTICULTURAL TIMELINE OF WRITTEN HISTORY - $750.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2007)

A four-foot high, 136 foot long mural of world history, painted by a muralist and Brownstown parent was mounted around the top of the library walls. The mural begins with the cave paintings to the present day. A five color line illustrates inventions and events of five continents at a scale of 100 years per foot.

EARLY AMERICAN DAY - GRADES 4 AND 5 - $350.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2007)

This grant provided hands-on activities and projects that illustrate what daily life may have been like for the early American colonists and Native Americans.

IMMERSION IN WORLD CULTURES THROUGH SOUL - SINGERS OF UNITED LANDS - $550.00 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2008)

Singers of United Lands (SOUL) is a four member singing group comprised of individuals from four different countries - each a professional young adult singer and often a trained educator from a non-American culture. Their goal is to share native songs and cultures with schools and communities throughout the US.

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Technology
CLASSROOM SPEAKER/WEBCAM SYSTEM – $84,600 DISTRICTWIDE (2020)

As a partnership with the school district during the pandemic, CVEF provides funding for every CVSD classroom to have a microphone and webcam system installed. This critical funding assists with quality virtual education programming for all students during a challenging time.

CLASSROOM WIRELESS PROJECTION – $26,659 DISTRICTWIDE (2020)

This grant enables teachers in Kindergarten and grades 5 to 8 to project their instruction wirelessly within their own classrooms. Apple TVs are also part of this grant, which allows teachers to wirelessly project Zoom sessions and other instructional content. This project is another aspect of the partnership with the district during the pandemic to enhance quality virtual education programming for all students.

INKJET PRINTER WITH INTEGRATED CONTOUR CUTTING – $19,963 HIGH SCHOOL (2019)

With the integrated printing and cutting technology of a Roland TrueVIS inkjet printer, students in HS Tech Ed classes can print and automatically contour cut dynamic decals, signs and vehicle graphics, brilliant banners, plus amazing apparel and more. This grant allows our Graphics Department to grow its community impact by servicing the schools in our district as well as local nonprofit organizations.

eSPORTS GAMING COMPUTER DEVICES – $13,877 HIGH SCHOOL (2018)

As a surging new STEM opportunity, eSports provides a viable extracurricular activity through competitive video game play for students who often feel disenfranchised from school and/or students who are pursuing careers in the realm of technology. Growing as a sport at the high school and college levels, CVHS is one of the first schools in the county to field a team in this emerging area of competition.

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WALLS – $11,359 DISTRICTWIDE (2018)

Virtual reality headsets help students step into places, roles, and experiences that were previously impossible or inaccessible. No additional mobile device is needed; the headset delivers a fully immersive VR experience while being wirelessly managed and controlled. In addition to real-life learning experiences and lessons, this system provides the ability to replicate experiences like field trips and museums that would otherwise be impossible. Each elementary school in the district has a set.

TV STUDIO UPGRADE – $9,050 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2018)

This upgrade, the first for this studio in its 20-year history, involves an integrated system for more inputs, enhanced graphics, new digital cameras, and more. The revamped studio permits easy integration into Tech Ed classes as well as weekly student productions of news packages or school promotional videos to be broadcast schoolwide. This project is also funded in part by a grant from PPL.

REMOTE PILOT: SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS – $5,475 HIGH SCHOOL (2017)

This grant provides seed funding to start a course on drones in the HS Tech Ed Department. With the classroom instruction, bench time for repairs and maintenance, and experience flying the unmanned aircraft, students are prepared to take (if they so choose) the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) aeronautical knowledge exam. A 2018 grant ($2,140) adds an advanced drone unit to enhance the course curriculum.

COMPUTERIZED EMBROIDERY - $13,130.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2014)

The implementation of digitized embroidery allows for our technology education programs to implement technology that is cutting edge in the graphics industry. This is an EITC grant.

ONE BUTTON STUDIO - $5,000.00 SMOKETOWN ( Leola also has one) (2014)

Transforms the current TV studio into a multi-purpose facility that could be used both as a TV production studio and also as a studio that would allow staff and students to easily create video productions that would support and enhance our instruction and community capabilities. This is an EITC grant.

DRONE ON! - $1,145.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2015)

Students in the high school will construct a drone to be used in various applications. This is an EITC grant.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 3-D PRINTING - $22,970.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2012)

Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology is an innovative procedure used for many applications. 3-D printing technology offers the ability to go from an idea of concept, to design, to part in a very short amount of time. The 3D printer will give the opportunity for students to experience hands on learning with an advanced technological device. This is an EITC grant.

DIGITAL TEXTILE PRINTER - $22,200.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2007)

An automatic textile unit that allows students the opportunity to experience the newest and current technology used by the printer industry to print clothing. This is an EITC grant.

ROBOBUCKS - $3,920.00 HIGH SCHOOL GIFTED (2014)

Students who are gifted require a level of significant challenge and many have expressed interest in the area of computer programming, as it is an important skillset for the global economy. The first goal of our project is to utilize and increase students' 21st century digital citizenship, the second is to form a team of CV students to compete in tasked robotics team challenges against other local districts. This is an EITC grant.

CMC PLASMA CUTTER - $12,950.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

Plasma CAM Technology is a relatively new technology that is used for a variety of applications. The Plasma CAM will provide the students the experience of hands-on learning with advanced technology, utilizing multiples disciplines (Science, Mathematics and Technology). During the unit, students will have to learn the fundamentals of Computer Numeric Control (CNC) technology in order to fully comprehend Computer Aid Machining (CAM) technology. This is an EITC grant.

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Technology
Miscellaneous
21ST CENTURY ESL CLASSROOM – $2,200 HIGH SCHOOL (2020)

As an additional element in the partnership with the district during the pandemic, this grant provides customizable online resources to assist with in-person instruction. These funds help to bring ESL instruction into the 21ST Century using the technologies available to enhance instruction on face-to-face or virtual platforms.

CREATING A CALMER CORNER – $1,545 FRITZ (2020)

The Calming Corner at Fritz is a former small office area retrofitted for use by students who need to deescalate or calm down during the school day. This dedicated space also houses "calm and focus" supplies and manipulatives for students purchased from a previous grant to support this initiative. Similar grants are implemented in other elementary and secondary schools in the district.

FLEXIBLE SEATING IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM – $1,787 LEOLA (2019)

This grant provides flexible seating options for primary students who often display overly energetic behaviors. Not only do flexible seating options help to control excess energy, but they enable students to engage in new learning strategies, including innovation and collaboration. Having a variety of seating options also breaks up the classroom setting to encourage team planning and group work. Multiple grants of this kind are in place across the district.

BUCKSKIN BACKYARD OUTDOOR CLASSROOM – $12,671 HIGH SCHOOL (2019)

From an unused, enclosed courtyard that was difficult to maintain, this grant creates an outdoor educational facility that can be developed into a natural study area for multiple content areas. Through a committed partnership among the Conestoga Valley High School baseball team, gifted education program, and the BUCKS life skills program, the installation of this outdoor learning area allows students and staff access, seating, and shade.

YOGA THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS – $275 SMOKETOWN (2018)

This grant is another example of a small amount of money going a long way! Yoga sessions are provided by a certified school psychologist and certified yoga instructor to students in life skills and emotional support classrooms. These sessions increase and improve self-regulation skills, speech and language development, social skills, sensory awareness, self-confidence, and physical skills. This project serves as a pilot for similar grants at other schools in the district.

KEEPING STUDENTS ON THE BALL - $1,027.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2009)

Students will sit on exercise balls in lieu of regular student chairs. This provides much needed "wiggle" room, encourages good posture and attentions, strengthens core muscles and improves behavior. Research suggests active sitting improves blood circulation, the effectiveness of all the organ systems, especially the brain, which is of interest to teachers as we try to improve student learning and progress.

BOUNCING OUR WAY TO LEARNING – Year 2 - $1,814.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2010)

This project is a continuation of a 2009 project where the chairs in a fourth grade classroom were replaced with stability balls. Use of these balls promotes academic growth through focused learning as well as provides a source of healthy choices such movement versus sedentary status. This project has been tremendously successful in one classroom; now an entire grade level will benefit from it.

HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA ADVANCED SOUND INITIATIVE - $3,481.00 HIGH SCHOOL (2010)

This restricted grant provides wireless lavaliere microphones and an advanced speaker system to the high school drama department for productions. Money to fund this project comes from the Jonathan Groff Restricted Grant. This grant was designated from a benefit resulting in the showing at Penn Cinema of Taking Woodstock, a film that starred Jonathan Groff.

iPAD APPLICATIONS AND THEIR USE IN SPEECH/LANGUAGE THERAPY SERVICES - $670.00 BROWNSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and MIDDLE SCHOOL (2011)

There is a great wealth of applications for speech-language pathologists to use the Apple iPad as a tool in their work with students with communication disabilities. This type of technology keeps students motivated and excited to participate in the therapy process.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION - $2,499.00 MIDDLE SCHOOL (2014)

Currently only two out of the six special education classes have smart boards, projectors or other innovative technologies. Our requests for these resources have been repeatedly denied due to a lack of funds. We strongly believe that transforming our classroom into one that is hands-on, innovative, collaborative and can appeal to our visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic learners, we can have a tremendous and positive effect on the education of our special education students.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND - $4,130.00 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2011)

Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative, problem solving program that spans from Kindergarten to college. Students tap in to their creativity and find imaginative paths to problem solving. OM teaches students how to thin divergently by allowing them to solve problems that will require them to "think outside the box."

DRUGS 101 – WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW - $1,000.00(partial funding) HIGH SCHOOL (2008)

"Drugs 101" is a presentation creatively designed by the Susan P. Byrnes Center to alert parents about current drug and alcohol trends. The program seeks to educate parents about the signs, symptoms, and current trends associated with all types of drug and alcohol use among teenagers.

PEACEFUL PLAYGROUNDS - $3,802.00 FRITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (2008)

Peaceful Playgrounds was designed as a preventive positive behavior support program to be implemented school wise. Being able to play cooperatively in the outside, unstructured environment empowers children and teaches them to work cooperatively in the classroom as well. There are over 100 age appropriate games and activities for students in grades K-6, with playground stencils for some of the games.

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