2020 brought unprecedented challenges for all of us. The District pivoted quickly to distance learning and found creative solutions to support families and staff. HEF stepped up with a special $50,000 grant in the spring to provide support for COVID-related initiatives. We provided hosting and administrative services for a District fund-raising campaign to support maintain critical staff positions. At the same time, HEF responded to many staff grant requests by moving to a rolling grant review and approval cycle to enable us to respond quickly to meet rapidly changing needs. The table below lists the COVID-related grants that we have provided.
Learn more about the range of grants HEF provides across the entire curriculum.
| Title | Year | Description | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathways to a Healthy Future | 2019-2020 | Pathways to a Healthy Future Special Appeal is a comprehensive approach to active student learning. The student who is emotionally calm, well fed, engaged in and excited about learning prospers and succeeds on their own unique pathway to their full potential. Learn more | District-Wide |
| Bigs Tutoring | 2020-2021 | HEF’s Awesome Fund for student clubs has awarded $1,000 to Bigs Tutoring, an inspiring group of Hopkins High School upperclassmen and alumni providing tutoring via video. This grant is the equivalent of 67 hours of tutoring, which will allow Bigs to offer free and reduced-price services to any student who needs it while proving a stipend to tutors. Learn more. | HHS |
| Mobile Sensory Kits | 2020-2021 | Mobile Sensory Kits are loaner kits full of easily-sanitized sensory processing equipment for preschoolers in the environment of COVID-19. Much more than toys, these weighted blankets, fidget tools, noise cancelling headphones (as a few examples) are designed to be soothing and/or stimulating for Hopkins youngest learners. Learn more. | Early Childhood Special Education |
| Home Studios Unlock Creativity | 2020-2021 | This grant purchases home studio equipment for use in rotation by a cohort of social studies staff at NJH. Their goal is to create digital content more engaging than what can be produced on district-issued hardware, and to meet the individual needs of their students. Learn more | NJH |
| COVID-Safe Equipment for Sensory Motor Room | 2020-2021 | This grant purchases sensory motor pieces of equipment that will be easy to clean frequently, and will greatly benefit Links to Learning students. Learn more | Gatewood |
| Micro Home Libraries | 2020-2021 | This grant puts two books by BIPOC authors (black, indigenous, people of color) into each of the hands of Reading Acceleration students whose home libraries are small to nonexistent. The pandemic makes this endeavor all the more important and timely, as these students are experiencing school in isolation at home. Learn more. | NJH |
| Fine Motor Kits for Distance Littles | 2020-2021 | Development of fine motor skills and muscle memory is essential to successful writing, cutting, gluing, and many other tasks. This grant funds 22 Fine Motor Kits to be sent home with students, along with engaging, instructive lessons and games. Learn more | Tanglen |
| Grade 5 Virtual Literacy | 2020-2021 | Currently, fifth graders are acquiring 60-100% of their learning virtually. This grant funds subscriptions to a slate of digital literacy resources to enhance and engage their endeavors during this very unusual year of COVID-19. Learn more | All elementary |
| Reading Groups, Together At Home | 2020-2021 | For the 66 Tanglen second graders enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy, the typical access to multiple books is not available. This grant provides multiple copies of 35 titles, both fiction and non fiction selections, with a diversity of main characters. Students will engage in small reading groups tailored to their needs, along with their teacher, via Googlemeets while staying safe at home.Learn more | Tanglen |
| Literacy in the Music Room | 2020-2021 | This classroom library in the music room at Tanglen will feature multicultural songs, stories, poetry, biographies of musicians and composers, and activities for exploring sound and movement. These resources will be used for lessons for all Tanglen students - and for many years to come – to broaden the scope of music education beyond a European-centered cannon. Learn more | Tanglen |
| Title | Year | Description | Schools |