2024-25 GRANTS AWARDED
Thanks to the financial and volunteer support we received from the community during 2023-2024, the MTEF is awarding grants totaling $200,000 for the 2024-2025 school year.
CURRICULUM ($72,250)
ES DECODABLE BOOKS ($30,000)
This grant provides our elementary schools with decodable texts that are a vital component of early literacy instruction.
Decodable text allows students to practice and apply phonics skills taught in the classroom so that they become proficient at decoding and encoding words and develop strong reading foundational skills. These texts also allow students to practice and apply letter-sound relationships while reading. Decodable text balances classroom leveled libraries and can be incorporated into instruction regardless of the curricular resource that is being used. In addition, decodable text allows teachers to encourage children to sound out words using phonics strategies rather than guessing using picture clues or context clues.
ES ARTS DEPARTMENT ($8,500)
As a part of the facilities referendum, additional music rooms were added to each of our elementary buildings. With this
grant, each of these new classrooms received a high-quality digital piano to ensure consistent instruments across buildings. Teachers and orchestra directors will use the digital piano to lead music classes and orchestra rehearsals on a daily basis. The addition of a digital piano benefits students by helping them develop into stronger musicians. Digital pianos are always in tune, have adjustable volume, and provide high-quality recording capabilities.
MS ARTS DEPARTMENT ($6,750)
This grant funds two high-quality pianos for choral classes; one for each of our middle schools. These pianos are essential
to continuing MTSD’s commitment to the arts. With the addition of these new instruments, teachers are able to lead
performance-quality choral lessons during each class period. This grant was made possible by memorials dedicated to
MTSD parent, longtime volunteer, and friend of the Foundation, Brenda Quick (see Memorials page).
HHS PERFORMING ARTS EQUIPMENT ($12,000)
Funds from this grant outfitted the Homestead band room with a new sound system and equipment capable of recording
ensembles for immediate playback. This is essential for the development of students' instrument and performance skills. This grant is an example of a need for which funding would not be possible without MTEF due to district budget constraints.
HHS WRITING LAB ($15,000)
This grant supports the Sydney Lauren Tabakin Writing Lab at Homestead High School. With this grant, HHS English
teachers are able to help students with an array of writing assignments—from outlines and creative writing to research
reports and college essays. With the support of the English department faculty, our students get a critical eye on their work and receive invaluable feedback to help them become stronger writers.
TECHNOLOGY ($95,250)
ES 4K IPADS ($11,250)
Supporting our youngest learners is critically important. This grant provided 18 iPads for 4K students across our elementary schools. The MTEF funded the original grant for 4K iPads nine years ago with the inception of the district-wide 4K program. These devices were in great need of replacement. 4K utilizes the iPads across curricular areas and allows teachers to enrich students’ experience with the ability to show their work in a multitude of ways and through a variety of applications. Additionally, the iPads allow 4K teachers to diferentiate instruction for small groups of students.
MS NEWLINE PANELS ($36,000)
In an effort to transition all MTSD classrooms from outdated projector and Smartboard technology to Newline panels,
which provide higher resolution and increased usability compared to previous technology, the MTEF once again supported
this initiative of retrofitting as many learning spaces as possible with Newline panels. This interactive technology tool
provides additional opportunities for student collaboration, creativity, and increased ability for teachers to use technology
in their daily instruction. With this grant, both middle schools have been completely retrofitted with Newline panels
updating all classrooms in these buildings with uniform technology.
HS COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB TECHNOLOGY ($32,000)
As a part of MTEF’s commitment to serving as many students as possible, this grant outfits all of Homestead’s Computer
Science Labs with new computers. Contemporary Computing is a required course for graduation. This upgraded technology will help improve the teaching and learning experience for everyone at Homestead. This grant provides 48 devices in total.
HS MULTIMEDIA LAB TECHNOLOGY ($16,000)
This grant supports our Multimedia Lab which is a part of the Computer Science Department at Homestead. Funds provide ten high-powered computers that are optimized for multimedia performance and provide advanced graphics, digital sound, and additional storage. Homestead’s Multimedia classes are extremely popular and provide students with a very high-level technology experience.
PERSONNEL ($32,500)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ($32,500)
Our teachers and staff are the MTSD’s most valuable resource. This grant supports individual building-level professional
development opportunities for our staff in all six schools. The funds dedicated to professional development opportunities
aid our schools in carrying out action plans to accomplish their school growth plans and provide our students with the
best learning opportunities possible.
CURRICULUM ($72,250)
ES DECODABLE BOOKS ($30,000)
This grant provides our elementary schools with decodable texts that are a vital component of early literacy instruction.
Decodable text allows students to practice and apply phonics skills taught in the classroom so that they become proficient at decoding and encoding words and develop strong reading foundational skills. These texts also allow students to practice and apply letter-sound relationships while reading. Decodable text balances classroom leveled libraries and can be incorporated into instruction regardless of the curricular resource that is being used. In addition, decodable text allows teachers to encourage children to sound out words using phonics strategies rather than guessing using picture clues or context clues.
ES ARTS DEPARTMENT ($8,500)
As a part of the facilities referendum, additional music rooms were added to each of our elementary buildings. With this
grant, each of these new classrooms received a high-quality digital piano to ensure consistent instruments across buildings. Teachers and orchestra directors will use the digital piano to lead music classes and orchestra rehearsals on a daily basis. The addition of a digital piano benefits students by helping them develop into stronger musicians. Digital pianos are always in tune, have adjustable volume, and provide high-quality recording capabilities.
MS ARTS DEPARTMENT ($6,750)
This grant funds two high-quality pianos for choral classes; one for each of our middle schools. These pianos are essential
to continuing MTSD’s commitment to the arts. With the addition of these new instruments, teachers are able to lead
performance-quality choral lessons during each class period. This grant was made possible by memorials dedicated to
MTSD parent, longtime volunteer, and friend of the Foundation, Brenda Quick (see Memorials page).
HHS PERFORMING ARTS EQUIPMENT ($12,000)
Funds from this grant outfitted the Homestead band room with a new sound system and equipment capable of recording
ensembles for immediate playback. This is essential for the development of students' instrument and performance skills. This grant is an example of a need for which funding would not be possible without MTEF due to district budget constraints.
HHS WRITING LAB ($15,000)
This grant supports the Sydney Lauren Tabakin Writing Lab at Homestead High School. With this grant, HHS English
teachers are able to help students with an array of writing assignments—from outlines and creative writing to research
reports and college essays. With the support of the English department faculty, our students get a critical eye on their work and receive invaluable feedback to help them become stronger writers.
TECHNOLOGY ($95,250)
ES 4K IPADS ($11,250)
Supporting our youngest learners is critically important. This grant provided 18 iPads for 4K students across our elementary schools. The MTEF funded the original grant for 4K iPads nine years ago with the inception of the district-wide 4K program. These devices were in great need of replacement. 4K utilizes the iPads across curricular areas and allows teachers to enrich students’ experience with the ability to show their work in a multitude of ways and through a variety of applications. Additionally, the iPads allow 4K teachers to diferentiate instruction for small groups of students.
MS NEWLINE PANELS ($36,000)
In an effort to transition all MTSD classrooms from outdated projector and Smartboard technology to Newline panels,
which provide higher resolution and increased usability compared to previous technology, the MTEF once again supported
this initiative of retrofitting as many learning spaces as possible with Newline panels. This interactive technology tool
provides additional opportunities for student collaboration, creativity, and increased ability for teachers to use technology
in their daily instruction. With this grant, both middle schools have been completely retrofitted with Newline panels
updating all classrooms in these buildings with uniform technology.
HS COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB TECHNOLOGY ($32,000)
As a part of MTEF’s commitment to serving as many students as possible, this grant outfits all of Homestead’s Computer
Science Labs with new computers. Contemporary Computing is a required course for graduation. This upgraded technology will help improve the teaching and learning experience for everyone at Homestead. This grant provides 48 devices in total.
HS MULTIMEDIA LAB TECHNOLOGY ($16,000)
This grant supports our Multimedia Lab which is a part of the Computer Science Department at Homestead. Funds provide ten high-powered computers that are optimized for multimedia performance and provide advanced graphics, digital sound, and additional storage. Homestead’s Multimedia classes are extremely popular and provide students with a very high-level technology experience.
PERSONNEL ($32,500)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ($32,500)
Our teachers and staff are the MTSD’s most valuable resource. This grant supports individual building-level professional
development opportunities for our staff in all six schools. The funds dedicated to professional development opportunities
aid our schools in carrying out action plans to accomplish their school growth plans and provide our students with the
best learning opportunities possible.
