CAPE ELIZABETH — The Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation awarded  more than $23,300 in grants for professional development, technology, composting and recycling, and art and literature programs.

Claire Depke, CEEF board member and grants chairwoman, shared information about the awards with the School Board at its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

She said there were 12 applications for the 2010 fall grant cycle, CEEF’s 16th.

At Pond Cove Elementary School, CEEF awarded $9,600 for a Learning Communities at Work grant. This grant will allow a consultant team to help teachers integrate classroom instruction with special education and reading specialist interventions. The goal is to increase the effectiveness of Pond Cove’s kindergarten-through-grade 5 reading program.

At Cape Elizabeth Middle School, a $5,950 grant will help purchase technology for classrooms lacking in state-of-the-art technology. Rooms will be equipped with LCD projectors and “smart” technology tools.

“Subject to all the teachers getting the training they need, that will be up and running very quickly,” Depke said.

The middle school will also have a $700 professional development grant to learn about making books. One goal is for students to create their own portfolios and encourage them to bring home artwork.

The high school will receive $3,390 in grants to benefit arts, an outdoor club and recycling and composting efforts.

High school adviser Christopher Drake will be able to create an Outing Club with a $1,650 grant, and science and environmental club adviser Sue Guerette will establish two composting and recycling stations for the high school with a $1,000 grant.

The Social Studies Department will receive $300 for a one-man show about the labor movement in the United States. “Jimmy Higgins: A Life in the Social Movement,” will be presented in December. Residents of Village Crossing will be invited to the performance and be encouraged to discuss their own experiences. A $400 grant will bring a professional storyteller to the high school to perform “The Odyssey.”

Finally a $3,045 grant for a Pyramid Response to Intervention Workshop is a joint grant for the middle school and high school. This grant provides professional development for 10 educators to attend a two-day conference.

Retiring Superintendent of Schools Alan Hawkins thanked CEEF for its dedication to the schools and students. 

“I think we’ve each learned from each other,” he said. “I’d like to publicly say how much I have appreciated the work CEEF has done over the last 5 1/2 years for the students of Cape Elizabeth.”

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net