Elizabeth Baldwin Memorial Award for the Arts
The REAL Stuff - Extending Non-fiction Reading and Writing
Beverly McCloskey, principal at Memorial Elementary, on behalf of all the elementary schools, was awarded the Elizabeth Baldwin Memorial Award for the Arts grant. The purpose of The REAL Stuff, is to enrich the literacy and learning of all students from kindergarten through grade four, by supplementing the curriculum with creative opportunities that will extend the reading and writing experiences in non-fiction and allow students to pursue individual passions, publish personal work and present to peers and parents.

Pondering Poetry
Judy Coleman and Heather Bishop, middle school teachers, were awarded funding to provide exposure to, analysis of and appreciation of classical poetry for all students in Natick Middle Schools. Students will be become familiar with the works of classic poets in order to develop an appreciation for the craft of poetry as well as to develop the higher level thinking skills necessary to interpret poems.

MathWorks Honor Grant
Science of Literature
Kathi Browne, Science Department Chair at Natick High School, was awarded The MathWorks Honor grant to provide selected fiction and non-fiction readers for use in high school science classes. Teachers will be able to draw from these readings to enhance the theoretical concepts introduced in science class. At the same time, these readings will personalize science, allowing students to learn about scientists' failures as well as their successes.

Longfellow Sports Club Grant
Discovering the Past Through Archaeology Kit
Elizabeth Gittens, Grade 5 Social Studies teacher at Kennedy Middle School, was awarded the Longfellow Sports Club grant to purchase an archaeology kit that will engage students in an in-depth study of early America. Students will gain a solid understanding of the fundamental ideas surrounding colonial America.

Cognex Honor Grant
Elementary Weather Stations
Kathi Browne, Science Department Chair at Natick High School, was awarded the Cognex Honor Grant to construct weather stations at each of Natick's elementary schools for use by the first grade classes. Students will reinforce their understanding of measurements and patterns in both numbers and nature by recording measurements of temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and wind throughout the school year.

Wellesley Booksmith Honor Grant
Biography Project
Ken Doyle, World History Teacher at Wilson Middle School, was awarded the Wellesley Booksmith Honor grant to help all students gain a better understanding of the key figures and times of both the Medieval Period and the Age of Enlightenment. The biography project will assign each 8th grade student an individual central to the Medieval Period and another to the Age of Enlightenment. The students will create an assessment (essay, PowerPoint, song, poetry, or other) that reflects the significance of the assigned subjects in the context of his or her time.

Jones Drug Honor Grant
How Does My Garden Grow
Susan Haverstick, Ecology teacher at Natick High School, won the Jones Drug Honor grant to continue to maintain and utilize a courtyard garden as an ongoing outdoor classroom project. Working in the garden challenges and supports each student to acquire and apply new knowledge, skills, creativity, and a sense of personal and social responsibility.