Kids & Family

$17K in Spencer+Colton Grants Awarded Saturday to NVUSD Teachers

29 grants to be awarded at Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, Yountville prior to a Napa Valley Symphony education-themed concert.



Some 29 grants totalling $17,000 will be awarded to Napa Valley teachers at a Symphony Napa Valley pre-concert reception Saturday afternoon, Nov. 16, at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, Yountville.

The Napa Valley Education Foundation announced the second annual Spencer+Colton Grants open to teachers of all grade levels and all subject areas at Napa Valley Unified School District schools.

The purpose of the $500-per-teacher grants is to provide teachers the means to inspire their students through creative, innovative projects and activities in and out of the classroom.

This year, $17,000 is available for these grants thanks to the generosity of Barbara & Ray Brogliatti and other NVEF donors. 

The Spencer+Colton Grants were created to honor two terrific teachers, Barbara’s father Robert Spencer and Ray & Barbara’s dear friend Herb Colton of Yountville (both Spencer and Colton passed away in the last two years).

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“NVEF is committed to using its resources to support the priorities and initiatives of the NVUSD in its journey to transform how students are educated, using project-based and technology-infused learning to implement the new Common Core standards and impart 21st Century skills,” said Laura Hewitt, NVEF’s Board President. 

“And, we are most proud of carrying on the long tradition of NVEF supporting teachers in a myriad of ways, including having given out more than $1 millions in grants over the last 30 years.”

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On Saturday, grantees and selected students will be guests of the Performing Arts Center for the education-oriented concert, "Who Messed Up My Orchestra?" 

It isn’t a mere coincidence that the Performing Arts Center will play host to the grantees and their students -- Barbara Brogliatti is President of the Board at the Center and Herb Colton’s grandson is Executive Director Michael Madden.

Last year, 22 grants were given out for a wide-variety of creative uses.

Those included: art videos, pigs for dissection, Ballet Folklorico costumes, memoirs of women and minorities in WWII, owl pellets (plus larvae and crickets), a music-assisted learning program for children with autism, plants and tiles for a spirit totem pole garden, fees for students to participate in an online international relations simulation, participation in World Savvy Challenge at San Francisco State University, and for visits to the Academy of Science and Connolly Ranch.

For more information email foundation@nvusd.k12.ca.us, call (707) 253-3563 or go to www.nvef.com

 




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