The Foundation has developed a special relationship with New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Spring. This school is Pre-K through 2nd Grade, and includes a Head Start program. The majority of the students speak a language other than English at home, and the school strives to involve the whole family in each student’s education. Every year the Board pledges $1000 to help fund their Family Learning Nights, in which the school staff prepares separate lessons for parents and students — to help parents help their children at home. At the end of each session, the children receive a book to bring home.
In the fall of 2008, the Foundation voted to donate additional money toward New Hampshire Estate’s Building Understanding on Saturdays (BUS) program. This program was originally developed using extended-day funds from Title I, funds which are no longer available. The program takes the parent and a student to local sites to explore and discuss curricula topics. The sites are selected to help students develop background knowledge of upcoming topics of study. During the trip, parents are given materials to work with their child that ask students questions, and have them fill out charts and questionnaires. Each trip ends with a free book on the topic for each child to take home. This program costs approximately $1,750 for each trip; the school plans three to four trips per year.
The Foundation continues to support both remarkable, valuable programs.
Click here for a note from the Principal of New Hampshire Estates E.S.