CURRENT GRANTS

Awarded for the 2025-2026 School Year

 

Community-wide:

Managing and Preventing Childhood Anxiety and Depression: Friends funded his three-part grant request proposes bringing renowned psychotherapist and author Lynn Lyons to provide professional development and a district-wide presentation on childhood anxiety and depression. Lyons, known for her work featured on platforms like NPR and The New York Times, would lead two PD sessions for teachers at Glover, Brown, and Village Schools—one in the fall focused on identifying anxiety in young children, and a follow-up in winter addressing questions from the first session. In between, she would host a public talk open to all Marblehead families and students, offering guidance on recognizing and managing anxiety across age groups. Insights from her training will be used by school SEL teams to enhance the existing Wayfinder curriculum, ensuring long-term integration regardless of future program changes.

BROWN SCHOOL

Current Grants, 2025-2026:

  • Creative Play Space: This grant aims to create a permanent creative play space for students who prefer imaginative play over physical activities like sports or climbing. Inspired by students naturally using found objects to build imaginary worlds, the project will be constructed by a local contractor whose team includes students from Marblehead Public Schools. Funding will support both the play area and a locked storage unit for movable materials.

  •  Junior Great Books Program: Friends funded a new Junior Great Books program during the WIN (What I Need) block. The funds would cover training for 8–10 parent and community volunteers and provide $1,800 in books, with sessions held 1–3 times per week over 4–6 weeks. This initiative aims to boost reading skills through enriched instruction, supporting both advanced and struggling readers alike. Once piloted, this program will move to Glover as well.

  • Nets for Success: This grant was written by a few third grade students at The Brown School in hopes to get funding for new soccer nets and equipment for recess. By having real soccer goals, and not cones, more children will get involved at recess and having something to do.  Many of them play soccer in Marblehead and with real goals they can practice their skills, spend time together, practice teamwork, responsibility and sportsmanship.

  • Regulation Stations:  The Brown School is requesting 10 classroom regulation stations with stand-up desks, chair bouncy bands, and Wiggle Wobble Chair feet to support students with dysregulation. These resources are intended to help students manage emotions, improve focus, and reduce distractions, especially since school OT resources focus on fine motor skills rather than sensory needs.

GLOVER SCHOOL

Current Grants, 2025-2026:

  • Enhancing Literacy Through a New Learning Space:  The 2nd grade team at Glover are requesting funding to create an inviting reading space that promotes literacy and a love of reading. The grant would fund diverse, age-appropriate books, comfortable seating, and a rug to support both independent and guided reading. The space will enhance classroom instruction, with progress monitored through student feedback and reading logs.

  • Multi-Sensory Room at Glover: Glover School is requesting funding to support the newly created sensory room suite, designed to help students with self-regulation and sensory processing. The space, made up of four small offices, offers a calm, multi-sensory environment with tools targeting emotional regulation, focus, motor skills, and social development. Its effectiveness will be measured through behavioral observations, checklists, and teacher feedback.

  •  Picture This: Enhancing Education with Digital Cameras: The Glover School art department is seeking funding for digital cameras without screens to encourage students to focus on image composition, teaching them to thoughtfully frame photos without instant feedback. Art teacher Maggie will create photography lessons beginning with 3rd grade, incorporating photography history and art projects like a Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired activity and the "Best Part of Me" project. The grant also includes funding for a high-quality printer, paper, and ink for two years, with future costs expected to be covered by the school budget or Artsonia and parent support.

Village School

current grants, 2025-2026:

  • High-Interest, Low-Level Books in Regular Education for 5th Grade Classrooms:  The requested high-interest, low-level books at Village will be placed in regular education classrooms to ensure students reading below grade level can access books that align with their interests and age group. This initiative aims to normalize the book selection experience, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion for students who may otherwise only have access to such books in special education settings. The books feature grade-level content, but with simplified language to make them accessible for struggling readers.

Veterans School

current grants, 2025-2026:

Marblehead High School

current grants, 2024-2025:

  • Teachers as Scholars - Teachers as Scholars is a professional development program that offers courses designed to inspire and invigorate teachers by providing exposure to the latest work and best thinking in a wide range of fields. Teachers learn new skills and techniques across disciplines and age ranges that are immediately applicable in the classroom. This grant funds 10 teachers and 2 administrators to attend.

  • Classroom Supplies and Project Microphones - AP US Government department  seeking classroom supplies to support interactive learning. They are also requesting 12 lavalier microphones to enable students to conduct hands-free, on-the-go interviews with local officials, aiming to create a more engaging, real-world learning experience.

Marblehead Community Charter Public School

current grants, 2025-2026:

  • Become Your Dreams, History of Hip Hop Dance : Charter School is seeking funding for a performance by the local hip hop group "Become Your Dreams" for all 200 students in grades 4–8. The 45-minute show promotes positive messages like “Think it – do it – become it” and invites students on stage to share their own dance moves, creating an interactive and inspiring experience. While similar in format to other guest performances, this program offers unique content and is known to leave a lasting impression on students throughout the school year.

  • Native American Traditions: The 4th grade teachers at Charter requesting funding for a speaker from the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness to present to both 4th grade classes. The presentation supports the History and Social Science curriculum by helping students understand how Native American tribes have maintained their traditions and continue to live today. This experience aims to deepen historical understanding, challenge stereotypes, and enrich students’ upcoming National Parks project focused on Native American culture.

  •  Sensory Support Spaces: Psychologist at Charter School, is proposing the creation of sensory spaces in 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade classrooms to support students who are dysregulated or overwhelmed. These spaces will help students self-regulate without leaving the classroom, using tools like noise-canceling headphones and visual sensory items, in alignment with the school’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. The initiative, which will benefit around 150 students and includes professional development for teachers.