$13,500 in Grant Projects Approved So Far This Year!
"Our team had the thrill of a lifetime thanks to the Foundation’s grant of Smart Boards. …This technology will enhance our program and aid in meeting the district/school goal of integrating technology into our science program. We look forward to utilizing the board in our rooms, enhancing the curriculum with innovative technology.”

-The Second Grade Team: Patricia Bender, Pat Dale, Terri Mitchell, Anthony Ricca

 "The generous grants which were extended to us have, and will continue to benefit every band and chorus student again this year. … Please know that the Music Parents appreciate your work and are thankful for all you do for our children.”

-Colleen LeBoeuf
Polyphonic Parents Organization 
Fall 2009 - Spring 2010  -  $13,500 in grants so far!
Irene Kelly - Author Visit for Read Across America Day 3/2/2010 How does an idea become a book?  Through two assemblies (K + 1st, and 2nd + 3rd), the author leads students through the process of creating a book by using original sketches, illustrations, artwork and storyboards.  Also explored are character development, plot, editing and rewriting.
iPods for LDW Library The purpose of this grant is the enrichment of Library resources, encouraging reading and introduction of students to new media.  The LDW library did not previously have a listening center.  By providing an iPod listening center, students will be able to listen to, view, and experience eBooks with illustrations and animations in a way that traditional cassette-based systems cannot provide.  The variety of children's media available in iTunes is far richer than is available in traditional audio programs.  Downloaded eBooks can be shared and used again and again without wear, reducing the cost of acquiring library media.
1/2 Pipe Rock Crawl Equipment A fun rock climb/tunnel climbing unit for the LDW playground that will be enjoyed by the entire school population for years to come.  Provides a realistic mini rock climbing challenge with a crawl-space tunnel underneath.
An Apple for the Band Students will have the opportunity to write, play, and print music notation that will develop their skills and meet the Core Curricular Standards, such as composing, creating, recording, arranging, and sequencing. Students can have the opportunity to record themselves and critique their performance. The Apple will actively engage students in the learning process.
Alexandria Gets Cooking A fund raising project for the AMS Media Center/Library:  An Alexandria Community Cookbook.  Students, parents, and and community members will contribute original recipes to the book at no cost.  These recipes will be compiled in printed cookbooks that will be sold back to the community.  Funds raised will be used to support the development of the library's print collection, which is outdated.
Laptops for Loan This grant provides five netbook laptops to AMS to be available as loaner PCs for student use.  This program will enhance computer accessibility for all students as homework becomes more and more reliant on computers.  There are times when a student may not have access to a PC at home on a short-term basis.  After receiving permission from their parent/guardian, a student may borrow a laptop to complete their school assignments.  Laptop use and functionality will be restricted to completion of school assignments only.  The program will be administered by the AMS technology administrator.

Fall 2008 - Spring 2009  -  $19,000 in grants!
Digital Overhead Still/Video Camera The ELMO TT02-S is a document imaging camera and video capture device that allows projection of still images onto Smart Boards or any computer projector.  The rotating mount also allows real-time video capture of lessons and presentations for later play-back.  Art techniques can be demonstrated, projected on a large screen or Smart Board, and be clearly viewed in real-time by all students in the class at once.  Still images and video can be captured and saved for future reference.  Virtually anything that can fit under the camera mount can be projected for a whole-class viewing experience.
LDW Tile Mosaic Back by popular demand, this creative art project creates a lasting legacy while beautifying LDW's hallways.  In Art class the children will learn about the ancient tradition of mosaics.  They will create their own mosaic tile using the indirect method.  The art concepts taught are patterns, repetition and motif.  The actual mosaic tile created by each student will be theirs to keep.  The Lasting Legacy portion of the grant will finance a large tile mosaic display at LDW.
Get a Fix on Fitness New fitness equipment for AMS includes pull-up bars, medicine ball set, stability ball set, resistance chute, shuttle runner, abdominal wheel, and sit and reach tester. Programs utilizing the equipment will encourage and promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle. All students grade 4 through 8 will benefit.
Chick Hatching - Live in the Classroom A farmer will visit the pre-school class with a hen, a rooster, adnd 12 pre-fertilized eggs.  The children will get to hold and visit with the animals and learn about caring for newborn chicks.  Eggs will hatch in an incubator supplied by the farmer in the classroom.
A New Mr. Bones LDW's old friend Mr. Bones was getting a bit creaky in the, uh, bones, and it was time to replace him before he literally fell apart.  The Skeleton model is used for numerous educational and fun activities throughout the school year.  Children get to see and feel how hard their bones are and how they work.  Mr. Bones is used for writing assignments, a visual aid in science, art, physical education lessons.  Mr. Bones also dresses up to teach back pack safety, proper sneezing and coughing etiquette, fishing safety, poison prevention, jump for heart, and sun safety.
Portable Smart Boards This grant provides two mobile smart boards to the Math and Science departments in 5th grade, and will also be available for use by other classrooms and teachers due to their mobile nature.  All the equipment needed was funded to get this equipment up and running in the shortest time possible.  The effect on student engagement in learning will be long-lasting.
Music Reversible White Board A useful and simple tool - a reversible, portable white board customized for music instruction.
Cooking in Preschool Funding provided for four to eight cooking projects per month which will be tied to the specific curriculum being taught at the time.  These cooking projects will enhance self-esteem promote independence, and provide nutritious experiences for the children.
8th Grade Guitar Experience This project will provide a dozen classical guitars and instruction books to be used by all 8th grade students, providing a hand-on musical experience through guitar performance.  Students will learn basic guitar techniques that include strumming, picking, melody and harmony, and an understanding of basic music theory concepts.  Popular music (rock and folk) is a part of the 8th grade curriculum.
Delaware River Water Studies Provides for a two-day canoe trip for 8th-graders where students will learn about the natural ecosystems as well as the man-made water-processing systems in and around the Delaware River.
National Circus Project Funding for NCP to come to the school for a one day seminar given to all students, plus five additional 40-minute seminars given to all students.  This program will enhance and expand the Dr. Seuss Day Parade for Read Across America Day.  
Liberty Science Center Traveling Science Programs This grant, for the entire 2nd grade class, funded two in-school scientific programs centered around the concepts of magnets and the weather.  The programs are delivered by staff from the Liberty Science Center.
Colonial America Funded again for 2008, this program is popular with the 3rd-grade students and teachers.  It provides for activities for the study of colonial life in America.  These include a "Traveling Trunk" show from the Historic Bethlehem Partnership, and a Colonial Day celebration.

Spring 2008  -  Nearly $5,600 in Grants!
Tile Mosaic In Art class the children will learn about the ancient tradition of mosaics.  They will create their own mosaic tile using the indirect method.  The art concepts taught are patterns, repetition and motif.  The actual mosaic tile created by each student will be theirs to keep.  The Lasting Legacy portion of the grant will finance a large tile mosaic display at LDW.
Trexler-Lehigh Game Preserve Class trip to the Trexler-Lehigh Game Preserve for the preschool disabled and multiply-disabled classes.  The students will extend and reinforce their understanding of the animals by experiencing the sight, touch and smell of the animals in an in-person experience.  This is also an opportunity to practice social skills in a public place.  
Hand Washing / Infection Control Program Features multiple lessons to teach students what they need to do to stay healthy.  The Agar plate lesson will allow the students to see the colonization of bacteria that live on objects that they come in contact with every day in the environment.  
LDW Wildlife! Using remote cameras and video, students will be able to track wildlife patterns outside LDW school.  Animal activities will be captured to the camera memory, studied in class at later dates, and shared with the entire LDW student population.  
Colonial America Provides for activities for the study of colonial life in America.  These include a "Traveling Trunk" show from the Historic Bethlehem Partnership, and a Colonial Day Celebration.
Digital Storytelling Completing the Spring Grant with the approval for a color printer for the Art room.  
Delaware River Water Studies Provides for a two-day canoe trip for 8th-graders where students will learn about the natural ecosystems as well as the man-made water-processing systems in and around the Delaware River.
Watch It Grow (Greenhouse) Provides funds for a greenhouse where studies of plant life and growth can take place in a year-round setting.  Provides room for various plantings without occupying valuable classroom floor space.  
Project Photograph Provides a digital camera for use in the special needs preschool, for various projects using photos of the students and their activities as an educational tool.  

FALL 2007  -  Over $29,000 in Grants!  Wow!
Second Grade Smart Boards This large grant outfits the four second grade classrooms with interactive Smart Board technology for use throughout the curriculum. This form of technology engages students and keeps them actively involved in learning. Students experience enhanced learning through hands-on exploration of websites, videos, research, computer graphics, and projects. The students can create their own projects and share them with their schoolmates on the "big screen".
Jazz Workshop and Concert The Eric Mintel Quartet will present morning workshops for the AMS Band and Chorus students, grades 5-8. The workshops will focus on elements of jazz and will include style, history, rhythm, interpretation, improvisation, and ensemble balance in a performance. The ensemble will also perform an afternoon concert with the AMS Chorus and Band.  
LDW School Store The LDW School Store will have students from 2nd and 3rd grades selling school supplies to LDW students. The store will be a way to teach students the basic concepts of running a business, and offer a unique way for the school community to work on an activity that is both valuable and fun. The grant funds start up costs for supplies.  
Music In the Parks A musically enriching experience where students in AMS Band and Chorus perform for a panel of nationally recognized adjudicators in the Lehigh Valley area and compete with schools from the east coast. The music festival provides performance experiences as well as meeting all of the guidelines for the New Jersey State Core Curriculum Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts.  
Hands on History A complete hands-on history experience for 6th and 8th grade AMS students presented by Lawrence Kenny.

8th Grade: A Civil War experience using period costumes, artifacts, and canon firing (no projectiles) as part of a battle reenactment.

6th Grade: An Ancient Rome experience dealing with building arches, aqueducts and the roman military.
Digital Storytelling A digital camera will be used in the LDW Art classroom to produce digital stories by both students and teacher, as well as to photograph works of art for later use in class. The digital stories will focus on time-order words and sequencing.