District receives $2500
grant from Jordan Fundamentals
October 2003 (back)
The Monticello Central School District's teacher Brenda Sywalski has recently won a $2,500 grant from Jordan Fundamentals
(association with Nike). The grant is awarded to teachers to
purchase resource materials, supplies, software, equipment, field
trips, and other items required for instruction.
This money will be used to purchase a digital camera and a
scanner.
The Jordan Fundamentals grant was founded in 1999 between Nike
and Michael Jordan. Currently, 1,600 grants of $2500 each have
been awarded to teachers across the United States.
The digital camera and scanner will be a valuable addition to
the already state-of-the-art computers in Sywalski's
classroom. "This is an incredible impact on our design
curriculum and the curriculum as a whole," said Sywalski.
Sywalski refers to the Mac computer lab in the advanced
classroom, which are currently being used in the Graphic Design
course. With the lab, students are no longer hand drawing designs
but using computer technology. This has made the Monticello
program keep pace with the graphic design industry.
"Ideas and concepts are still developed on paper,"
said Sywalski, "but the final copies and more creativity are
created in the computer."
With this professional approach, Monticello is able to make
connections in the community. For example, the Village of
Monticello will be having a bicentennial celebration in the
spring. Monticello students were asked to design a logo for the
celebration. The logo project will be given as an assignment in
class; however, one design will be selected for use. Therefore,
soon one student will have his or her design all over town...on
banners and brochures!
Another community project includes creating a logo for C.A.T.S.,
an adolescent outreach program in association with Catskill
Regional Medical Center. They will be needing the logo for t-shirts,
bags, hats, etc. This contest is open to the county.
"I have lots of confidence in our students though!" said
teacher Brenda Sywalski.
The Michael Jordan Fundamentals grant project will be using
this technology to create a series of murals for the Pre-K program
at the St. John Street learning center.
For more information about the Jordan Fundamentals grant, visit
www.nike.com/nikebiz.
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