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3/20/2015            Grants    Scholarships    Cultural Arts    News & Events
Happy Spring from the Morris Educational Foundation!

Dear Friend of the MEF,

Friday was the first day of Spring!  This is the season when many of the 2014-15 MEF grants culminate in exhibitions and assemblies.   Please read below to learn what is happening in classrooms and schools throughout the district with MEF funding.
 
We hope you will join us this year by participating in our Toast to Teachers event in May and June.  We are happy to honor the wonderful teachers in our district with parties hosted by parents.  If you are interested in toasting a favorite teacher or coach, please contact us.  
 
Last, but not least, Morristown's Got Talent was a tremendous success raising over $70,000 for our students and schools.  Thank you to all of the performers, sponsors, judges, playbill advertisers and audience members for making the evening memorable.  We are proud to bring our community together to celebrate the talented people who live, work and go to school here.
 
Thank you for your continued support of our work in the Morris School District.
 
Sincerely,

Molly Servais, Chair


 

WITH LIFE, LIBERTY, AND EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL

MEF Grant for MHS Transition Skills Program Enables Students to Practice Career Skills Needed for Employment

Teacher Christina Archetti works with students on retail skills as part of the Project Discovery program funded by the MEF.

Morristown High School has a Transition Skills Program for students with learning challenges.  This program enrolls students until the age of 21. The primary goal of the program is to equip students with the skills needed to develop a full life outside of the classroom and beyond high school.

 

The program, taught by special education teachers Stephanie Corona and Christina Archetti, received a grant from the MEF to fund the purchase of the Project Discovery curriculum kit, which models a variety of career skills to allow students to gain genuine experience and competency that is transferred into real life employment. The program allows the students to be engaged in their lessons, while also supporting areas of need beyond what one would consider typical job skill training as it allows teachers to teach social skills including but not limited to, social language skills, self-esteem, conflict resolution, and problem solving skills. 

 

Special Education teacher and grant applicant, Stephanie Corona stated the program is highly effective and a huge asset to the Transition Skills program.  Students training in retail skills have been offered positions to work at the new Whole Foods when it opens next month. 

 

"The curriculum has been a critical component in preparing our students for successful transitions into not only post-secondary employment but to further enhance their independence in all aspects of their life once they leave MHS."

-Stephanie Corona, MHS Special Education Teacher

 

So far, during the 2014-15 school year, the Morris Educational Foundation has already awarded over $150,000 in grants to the 10 schools in the Morris School District.  The MEF has awarded over $1.8 million since it's inception 23 years ago.  The Morris Educational Foundation is proud to provide grants throughout the school year.  To learn more about our grants please visit our website.

LAFAYETTE LEARNING CENTER STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON WITH ANIMALS AS PART OF MEF CULTURAL ARTS GRANT
The MEF funds cultural arts programs in all 10 schools in the Morris School District every year.
During a recent visit, Pre-K students at LLC learn the proper way to give a gentle hello to some of the animals from Eyes of the Wild.
Lafayette Learning Center students welcomed the friendly animals from Eyes of the Wild this week to complement their animal themed curriculum. Dr. Karen Andre, LLC principal, explained the animal theme developed because many of the main characters in story books are animals.  

The program was paid for by the cultural arts  funding  the Morris Educational Foundation provides to all schools in the Morris School District.  Andre expressed her gratitude for the funding, as it allowed the Eyes of the Wild presenter to meet with several small groups of children instead of all of them at once. Due to the smaller setting , all students were able to experienced  a true up-close experience. 

 

"Thank you so much to the MEF for supporting this program."
Dr. Karen Andre, Lafayette Learning Center Principal

The Morris Educational Foundation provides cultural arts grants to all 10 school in the Morris School District.  These grants allow the individual schools to determine the specific program the money supports and may include assemblies, artist in residency programs or workshops. 
$32,000  in cultural arts grants have been awarded during the 2014-15 school year, part of the over $150,000 in total grant awards this year.  The Morris Educational Foundation is proud to provide grants throughout the school year.   To learn more about our grants please visit our  website.

2015 MORRISTOWN'S GOT TALENT IS A SUCCESS!
Morris Educational Foundation Raised Record Amount During 8th Annual Fundraiser

Audience members walked the Red Carpet as they entered MPAC. Click the image above to view all of the excitement!


The Morris Educational Foundation is pleased to announce that 2015's annual talent show held at Mayo Performing Arts Center on February 25 spotlighting the best amateur talent form Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township raised over $70,000.

 

Sixteen finalists performed to a sold-out theater and there was much excitement as attendees enjoyed social media and text voting as part of the show!  Everything from a "Best Selfie" contest, to selecting the Audience Choice winner  to many other choices and social media action were all part of the event.   Guests also participated by walking the red carpet this year with Master of Ceremonies Morristown-resident Tara Bernie, senior producer for NBC's Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood LIVE. Click here to see all of the red carpet action by watching the Red Carpet Video.

 

First place in the 19 and over category went to Ally Are, a poet who works in Morristown and  whose original poem, Ideal  left the audience in awe and awarded her $1,,000. Due to many requests, we are pleased to share

 

First place in the 18 and under category went to Fab 3, (the Wawyrzniak siblings Sofia, Arthur and Isabella) for their rousing rendition of "Some Nights" The Audience Choice vote went to SteppingSTONE Band featuring Morris School District teacher Brad Marullo.

 

 

 
It is the mission of the Morris Educational Foundation to generate and distribute financial and other resources to and for the Morris School District for enrichment programs and other projects that enhance the quality of education and educational opportunities for students in the district.
IN THIS ISSUE
With Life, Liberty, And Employment for All
Lafayette Learning Center Students Get Hands-On with Animals as Part of MEF Cultural Arts Grant
2015's Morristown's Got Talent is a Success!

MEF NEWS


TOAST 2 TEACHERS 

Returns this Spring

MAY 26 - JUNE 17, 2015 

Host a Toast!
Registration Deadline is April 15.

Join us as a HOST!  Partner with the MEF by hosting a TOAST in honor of a special teacher, coach, principal or other staff member in the Morris School District. A TOAST can be any type of gathering - pizza party, ice cream social, pool party, round of mini-golf, bagel breakfast, sit-down dinner, backyard BBQ, the list is endless. They can be in your home, in the backyard, at a park, in a restaurant, or anywhere your group can fit! You can also host with a friend. Please see our 
flyer or visit our  website  t o sign up  today! Registration deadline in April 15.

MEF NEWS: 

 

Join Us Now, Double Your Donation

 

If you're considering a gift to the MEF for the first time, there will never be a better moment.

 

Thanks to a generous pledge from a loyal donor, every dollar raised from new donors this spring will be matched, up to $10,000. This is an incredible opportunity to double the impact of your donation, simply by giving now. But please don't delay, as this match is only available for a limited time.
 

Please visit us onlineor call us at 973-683-0767 to make your donation.

 

MEF EVENTS
Join our MHS Students for Nano Days!

The Morris Educational Foundation is proud to support the Nanoscale Science and Engineering students at Morristown High School. Please join them at the Morris Museum as they educate younger students about Nanoscience and Technology through multiple fun and engaging experiments!

  • March 21 - Super Science NanoBots: Mini Robots that Kill Cancer  12-2pm
  • March 28 - Nano Day Family Festival 11am-4pm
Please see the attached flyer  and