Under current board membership, Lynnfield Educational Trust has funded the following grants:
Mini-Grants 2024-2025
Grant Title: FINN THE THERAPY DOG
School: LMS
Amount: $400
Description: Finn the Therapy Dog attends school at Lynnfield Middle School 3-4 days a week where he interacts with students and staff members for the duration of the day. Research shows that the presence of therapy dogs in a school environment increases school attendance, grows student confidence, strengthens relationships among school stakeholders, and reduces anxiety behaviors (thus promoting learning outcomes). The $400 grant covers the cost for renewal of Finn’s designation as a Therapy Dog as well as the cost for liability insurance… plus a selection of treats for students and staff to give Finn when they’re with him!
Grant Title: CRITICAL THINKING MATH GAMES (2 SEPARATE APPLICATIONS)
1. School: HHS and SSS (2 separate grants)2. Amount: $500 each
3. Description: LET provided funding to principals to purchase a variety of engaging, hands-on math and critical thinking games to enhance students' mathematical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional learning. These games are utilized across multiple educational settings, including Math WIN blocks, indoor recess, and Play Days. Regular use of these games aligns with the vision of the Lynnfield Public Schools (LPS) Elementary Math Committee, which emphasizes the development of confident, problem-solving students. These games support students' mathematical growth and foster collaboration, critical thinking, and positive social interactions, creating a comprehensive and holistic learning environment.
Grant Title: METCO MENTORS PROGRAMSchool: LMS
Amount: $500
Description: This grant, which LET has funded many times, provides funding to Ms. Hazelton to continue a METCO Mentors program at LMS. The program establishes a formal relationship between METCO students and individual mentor teachers, providing for time to do some academic and personal coaching. Given the idea of “Belongingness” highlighted in the District Strategy, it also achieves a goal of promoting METCO students’ sense of connectedness to the school community.
Grant Title: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: MINDFULNESS TRAINING
1. School: LHS2. Amount: $799
3. Description: This grant was provided to Mr. Gordon to attend a highly respected, research-based mindfulness program which, along with a scholarship provided by the program, fully funds the cost for Mr. Gordon to attend. Professional Development that falls outside the categories of coursework funded by reimbursement from LPS can sometimes have HUGE benefits to students, as is the case here. Mr. Gordon utilizes mindfulness teaching and principles in the following ways:
Teaching meditation to LHS students for seven years
Guiding short meditations with the Language-Based Program students at LHS every other school day in order to help them recenter, lower their anxiety, improve their focus, and feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally
Starts each of his own classes with a short mindfulness meditation to help students calm their minds after coming in from the chaos of the hallways so they can focus much more quickly
“Elective” meditation course that students can additionally sign up for
Grant Title: CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL MASCOT LEGO “HERO ART” PROJECT
1. School: HHS2. Amount: $500
3. Description: This Mini Grant was a contribution to HHS’s development of a new school mascot. As part of that project, the school hosted Rob Surette, a distinguished Master Fine Artist for Disney, for a LEGO Artist-in-Residence Workshop focused on the theme “Heroes Among Us.” The workshop aimed to foster creativity, teamwork, and self-confidence among K-4 students through the collaborative creation of a large-scale LEGO mosaic featuring our new school mascot. The goal of the initiative itself was to cultivate a sense of belonging and inclusion among many community stakeholders by securing their participation in the making of the LEGO mosaic depicting the school mascot. The principal, Mrs. King, led the school through a meaningful selection and development process as part of this initiative.
Spring 2025
Grant Title: Chill Zone
School: Huckleberry Hill School
Total Amount: $3427.21
Grant Summary: This grant will help to create a private space for students to regulate their bodies and emotions. This space will be offered to all students at HHS, and will be particularly useful for students needing private sensory breaks, quiet time, a movement break, or a change of scenery to promote learning. This project reflects best practices in place nationwide and - in particular - is similar to a LET-funded “Chill Zone” initiative already successfully in use at Summer Street School.
Grant Title: Counselors Corner Mental Health Lending Library
School: Lynnfield Middle School
Total Amount: $750
Grant Summary: This grant will help create a “lending library” of mental health and other resources at Lynnfield Middle School. This library (comprised of a bookshelf, bulletin board, and a resource library), in a location offering some privacy to students, will include literature on many topics of interest to middle schoolers and those who educate them: mental health and stress management, promoting healthy sleep habits, self-esteem, and healthy friendships, etc. Topics of interest will be publicized monthly around the school in a collaborative effort by staff members in an effort to promote student and staff awareness of resources that are available to them.
Grant Title: Pedals & Pages
School: Summer Street School
Total Amount: $2022.20
Grant Summary: This grant will fund the purchase of two youth-sized exercise bikes with workstations attached to them for use in the Summer Street School Media Center. Students self-report that they are finding it difficult to sit still in order to engage in reading their books during Media Time. Because these bikes are equipped with desks, students will be able to cycle before and during Media in order to gain as much as they can from these weekly learning opportunities. If the bikes are not in use by the Media Center students, other SSS students needing some physical activity or movement breaks will also be welcomed to use these bikes.
Grant Title: LHS Wall Oven
School: LHS
Total Amount: $1500
Grant Summary: This grant will fund the replacement of the wall oven at LHS that is used by students in the Differentiated Learning Program, a program that prepares students for independence as adults. These students use the oven daily in order to utilize the life skills involved with preparing their own meals. In addition to meal preparation, the goal is that DLP students will also be making baked goods to add as a complement to an existing LET-funded grant project: a DLP student-run coffee cart with items for purchase by LHS staff members on Fridays.
Grant Title: Virtual Reality Headsets
School: ALL
Total Amount: $8998
Grant Summary: LET is fondly calling this initiative its first-ever “Mega Grant” - a one-time allocation for an impactful, enriching tool that benefits every student district-wide. Proposed by LPS Digital Learning Coordinator Heather Kolezar, this grant will expand upon the current use of “Virtual Reality” headsets in our district for meaningful, engaging instruction. Through initial funding, LPS purchased 32 VR kits (including headsets and controllers) , enough for one classroom to use at once. These headsets have been utilized for everything from a “visit to King Richard III’s house” to a view of trench construction as it would have looked during World War I. Students at all levels - and their teachers - rave about these instructional tools and how the technology brings them so close to what they’re learning about. This grant will fund the purchase of 16 additional VR kits. This will allow greater access to the kits throughout our district. LET is EXTREMELY excited about being able to fund a grant that benefits every student in the district!
Fall 2024
1. HHS/SSS - Digital Citizenship Classroom Kits
These kits will be used to teach all the elementary students at both schools “responsible digital citizenship” by exploring key developmentally-appropriate concepts at each grade-level. Topics will include online safety, privacy, digital footprint, and bullying prevention, as well as exploring how to have a healthy relationship with technology. Kits will include materials for every K-4 classroom in the district to put to immediate use and will be implemented in partnership with each elementary school’s Library Media Specialist.
Primary Contact: Rochelle Cooper
2. LMS - Finn the Therapy Dog
Finn the Therapy Dog attends school at Lynnfield Middle School 3-4 days a week where he interacts with students and staff members for the duration of the day. Research shows that the presence of therapy dogs in a school environment increases school attendance, grows student confidence, strengthens relationships among school stakeholders, and reduces anxiety behaviors (thus promoting learning outcomes). This grant covers the cost for renewal of Finns’ designation as a Therapy Dog as well as the cost for liability insurance… plus a selection of treats for students and staff to give Finn when they’re with him!
Primary Contact: Marisa Botta
3. LMS - Freedom Trail
Each year, LMS 5th Graders participate in a three-day field trip on Boston’s Freedom Trail. Sites visited include Paul Revere’s House, Granary Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument, the Old and New State Houses, Old North Church, and the USS Constitution. The trip is a favorite of Middle School students and seeks to make local history “come alive” for them. The Grant provided for this field trip is a contribution to speaker costs for various site visits, offsetting overall costs of the event to parents.
Primary Contact: Mark Vermont
4. SSS - Summer Street School “Chill Zone”
The “Chill Zone” is a designated room at Summer Street School in which all students can find a safe and private space where, with the help of a staff member, they are able to regulate their bodies and emotions. The space has already been developed over time and is already in use by an estimated 30% of the SSS population. Among other functions, it provides students with sensory and movement breaks, quiet time, or a change of scenery in order to enter their classroom prepared to learn. The Grant allocation of $3,096.60 will fund engaging, impactful new additions to the Chill Zone including: a Compression Canoe, fiber optic light strands, a black-out tent, gel floor tiles, felt wall tiles, and a sound machine. There has already been a proven positive impact of this space on SSS students, and this grant will provide some truly beneficial additions.
Primary Contact: Jillian Geehan, District Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Spring 2024
1. HHS - Audubon Coastal Habitats Residency
This hands-on school residency gives second graders the opportunity to explore coastal habitats and discuss the factors that organisms that live in rocky shores and tide pool habitats need to survive. Over three sessions, students will be introduced to live intertidal organisms and be given the opportunity to observe their forms, behaviors and the ways in which they adapt to harsh environmental conditions.
Primary contact: Colleen Mehigan
2. LHS - Art in the Hallways
This project is a continuation of “hallway beautification” that was started in 2018. By framing student art, it raises awareness for the art program and draws attention to the amazing talent within LHS. The artwork in the hallways also serves as a “hall of fame” or graduation legacy for those students who have recently matriculated from LHS.
Primary contact: Elizabeth Hayden
3. LHS - Weight Room Update
This project includes the purchase of additional equipment for the weight room in order to utilize space more effectively and allow for greater student use. This equipment will be used during strength training classes as well as summer strength and conditioning programs.
Primary contact: Mia Muzio
4. LMS - Geography Game Show
With Geography Game Show presenter, Neal Nichols Jr., the fifth grade students will engage in an interactive and fun learning experience connected to their Social Studies curriculum. They will participate in the drawing of a map and identify important events and locations in the United States.
Primary contact: Robin Doherty
5. SSS - Achieve 3000 Online Literacy Program (Pending District Technology Department Approval)
Achieve 3000 will be piloted in one grade 3 classroom during the 2024-2025 school year to supplement literacy instruction during WIN block. This supplemental material focuses on building reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills as well as phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.
Primary contact: Janelle Hardee
Fall 2023
1. HHS - Mural Residency with Bren Bataclan
Bren Bataclan’s “pay-it-forward” themed presentation teaches kids the power of kindness. Through his whimsical and happy characters, Bren takes students on a journey around the globe, demonstrating how a smile is universally understood and appreciated. What makes his murals special is that he incorporates students’ ideas and characters in the compositions to make each mural unique and tailored to each school. Bren’s project is about the positive power of art and how the simple gesture of leaving a painting for free can spread joy and laughter. Bren created a beautiful mural at HHS entryway!
Primary Contact: Colleen Mehigan
2. HHS and SSS - Elementary Media Production Studios
These studios will promote a flexible and inclusive learning environment. Visual learners can excel in creating dynamic videos or vlogs, while auditory learners may thrive in podcast production. The green screen wall will allow for creative expression and diverse representation within projects and use of various hardware and software on Chromebooks and iPads.
Primary contact: Rochelle Cooper
3. LMS - Freedom Trail Grade 5
This 3 day field trip to Boston greatly enhances student understanding of the Revolutionary War. It provides hands on learning and engaging activities that allow history to come alive! They visit many sites along the Freedom Trail including: Paul Revere’s House, Tea Party Ship Museum, Granary Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument and Museum, Old State House, Old North Church, and USS Constitution Museum and Ship.
Primary Contact: Mark Vermont
4. LMS - Therapy Dog (mini grant)
Numerous research studies have demonstrated how therapy dogs can help address school-age students’ social and emotional learning needs. This Grant helps maintain Finn’s fees for Liability Insurance and Therapy Dog status. He is a very loved part of LMS.
Primary Contact: Marisa Botta
5. LHS - Music Department Production of Mean Girls
This Grant helps support the enormous efforts that go into the execution of a musical production. Some aspects include auditions, extensive practice, set and costume design, and performing a full scale musical production with a live orchestra!
Primary Contact: Douglas Hodgkins
Spring 2023
1. SSS - A Path to Comprehensive SEL
PATHS is a curriculum resource that provides instruction to students in Social Emotional Learning. This curriculum works to develop strategies for self-control and emotional regulation as well as strengthen problem solving techniques.
Primary Contact: Karen Cronin
2. Preschool at SSS - Center Time for Everyone
This supplementation adds to read aloud and center time by provided books that are rich in illustration, diversity, and meet the news of children that are just learning to come to school. This Grant also allows for hands-on learning opportunities for students to explore and discover at their own level.
Primary Contact: Karen Cronin
3. LMS - Chair Yoga (mini grant)
This technique works to improve social emotional and physical health for staff and students at LMS. It provides students and staff an opportunity to reduce stress and anxiety, increase flexibility, balance and mental focus.
Primary Contacts: Chris Sheils and Elisabeth Jones
4. LHS - Mental Health Space
The creation of a mental health space allows students a spot to go decompress and relax. The space will have comfortable furniture and relaxing tools such as coloring,
fidgets, and books. This space gives students quick escape during a stressful day. Primary Contacts: Mrs. Goguen
5. HHS - Additional Second Step SEL Material
This program gives teachers an easy-to-implement, engaging way to teach social-emotional skills and concepts. Second Step programs are designed to help children thrive and be more successful in school—ultimately setting them up to be thoughtful and productive adults. A single kit per grade was provided through this grant.
Primary contact: Melissa Wyland
Fall 2022
1. HHS - Positive Spin Speaker
This 60 minute performance empowered every student to put a “positive spin” on the frustrating aspects of daily life through the use of fun and easy to remember tips and techniques.
Primary contact: Debra Tracy
2. SSS -Writing Workshop with Marty Kelley
This inspiring program gave students insight on generating ideas for writing, as well as showing different formats of writing including graphic novels and picture books. Writing workshops were provided for each second, third and fourth grade class and the lower grades met with author/illustrator Marty Kelley for a general author presentation.
Primary Contact: Alexandra Caram
3. LMS - Freedom Trail Grade 5
This 3 day field trip to Boston greatly enhanced student understanding of the Revolutionary War. It provided hands on learning and engaging activities that allow history to come alive! They visit many sites along the Freedom Trail including: Paul Revere’s House, Tea Party Ship Museum, Granary Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Monument and Museum, Old State House, Old North Church, and USS Constitution Museum and Ship.
Primary Contact: Mark Vermont
4. LHS - Art In the Hallways
This project allowed for purchasing of the supplies needed to continue student artwork displays framed in the hallways. This raises awareness for the art program and makes hallways more visually beautiful.
Primary Contacts: Laura Johnson and Liz Hayden
5. LHS - Additional Water Filtration Station
High School students are studying the dangers of plastic water bottles and are working to eliminate them from Lynnfield High School. This filtration station created a more sustainable environment and now students and staff have access to estrogen-free, lead- free water in the Science Wing on the bottom level of the school where no water stations yet exist.
Primary Contact: Scott Gordon
6. LHS - Redesign of the LHS Makerspace by The FMG Robotics Foundation
This project focuses on redesigning the current makerspace so that technology would be more seamlessly integrated and allow for greater collaboration. The initial steps in the new set-up will have furniture designed with chargers and outlets built-in.
Primary contact: LHS Makerspace Student Leads
