Impact
With generous donations, we are able to help grant funds to teachers so that they may implement new innovative educational programs and enhance student learning.
Fitness
The Health and Physical Education Department sought a grant for IHT heart rate monitors, as they wanted students through their 4 year experience at the High School to have access to technology, which provides meaningful data, personalized learning, and self discovery. In PE class, the staff empowers students to focus more on the intensity of the movement to provide skills that can be used for their lifetime.
The monitors yield several benefits from teaching how heart rate affects one’s everyday life to allowing students to monitor their personal progress through the levels. These levels range from Blue: Resting heart rate, to Yellow: Moderate heart rate, to Red: Vigorous activity level. Mrs. Lawlor, PE and Health teacher at the high school says “IHT monitors are a gamechanger in the Physical Education realm, as it provides an immediate and authentic heart rate for each student during activity.”
Special Ed.
Continuing to assist students in Pine Road’s Special Education Life Skills classes has become an identifiable trait of Lower Moreland Township School District. Through a grant provided by the Foundation for Lower Moreland Schools, students in Ms. Cohen’s classes (K-5) have been given the experience of running a small coffee/tea business through the use of a portable cart and equipment.
Students work on academic skills (math, reading, matching, and colors) along with functional skills (organization, multi-step directions, social skills, and working with others) while operating a staff coffee/tea cart business. The grant has assisted in allowing students the opportunities to develop the skills needed to help them be active, participating members of the school community.
Sciences
As part of Lower Moreland Township School District’s continuing strategic planning efforts related to STEM programs, a $13,000 Foundation grant assisted in the development of a K-5 Innovation Lab at Pine Road Elementary for the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as students face the benefits and challenges of globalization and knowledge-based economies. To succeed in this highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past. The Pine Road Innovation Lab offers all K-5 students opportunities to experience and expand upon their own readiness levels in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Classrooms
Choice, physical health, community, and collaboration are just a few benefits of flexible seating for students. With these benefits comes an increase in student motivation to learn and, in turn, an increase in student progress across all subject areas.
Through the use of a grant provided by the Foundation, Mr. Hamburg’s Pine Road students became more comfortable in the classroom setting through multiple flexible seating options which inevitably increased academic engagement. Students became more empowered through a sense of choice and more comfortable in the learning settings, ultimately leading to better outcomes.
Music
Mr. Glen DeGeorge applied for a grant from the foundation this year for a pilot program with iPads for the music program. The music program at Pine Road was severely lacking of music technology. The plan this year with the iPads was to get students creating music, recording music and composing their own songs using them.
The iPads also can be used as tools for feedback and constructive work through their electronic portfolios and making music videos. Mr. DeGeorge says that “The program allows students to really use these iPads as a tool for making music content, creation and consumption”