Montclair Fund For Educational Excellence Inc

SUPPORT MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NAVEGADORES ESCOLARES - THIS PROGRAM MATCHES FAMILIES WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS(STUDENTS) AND THEIR FAMILIES, WITH NAVEGADORES (NAVIGATORS) VOLUNTEER FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES GIVE SUPPORT WITH SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, REGISTRATIONS, ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT. WE HAVE CURRENTLY MATCHED 65+ NAVEGADORES FAMILIES TO RECEIVE THIS SUPPORT.

MFEE PEEPS (PEER-LED EDUCATION ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM) - MFEE PEEPS IS AN INITATIVE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH LEARNING BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED PEER SUPPORT. YOUTH CONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS IN WAYS THAT THEY OFTEN CANNOT WITH ADULTS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF PEEPS IS TO SPARK RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT. EVERY STUDENT IN PEEPS IS PAIRED WITH A MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL PEEP LEADER, AND TOGETHER THEY WILL FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, TIME MANAGEMENT, FIGURING OUT HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES - AND JUST DEALING WITH THE UPS AND DOWN OF SCHOOL IN GENERAL. PEEP LEADERS ARE SUPPORTED AND ADVISED BY ADULT COORDINATORS.EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE GRANTS - MFEE AWARDS GRANTS TO MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF FOR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM. PROPOSALS ARE EVALUATED ON THE QUALITY OF THE APPLICATION, DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR THE PROJECT, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROJECT PRESENTS A CREATIVE WAY TO ENHANCE GRADE LEVEL CURRICULA AND SUPPORT CURRENT DISTRICT GOALS. PROJECTS FUNDED INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM INNOVATIVE TECH TOOLS TO HYDROPONIC GARDENING TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE WRITING PROJECTS.SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GRANTS AND PROJECTS - SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING GRANTS ARE AWARED TO MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOL FACULTY FOR PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE STUDENTS' SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES, INCLUDING THEIR ABILITY TO MANAGE EMOTIONS, DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT STUDENT SELF-EXPRESSION.GREENWALD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS - GDP GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO MPS FACULTY FOR UNIQUE PD THAT STRENGTHENS THEIR SKILLS TO IMPORVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. IT REPRESENTS A NEW IDEA THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TRIED AT ALL OR IN THIS WAY, AND/OR ADDRESSES A SPECIFIC, COMPELLING NEED. IT CLEARLY ARTICULATES THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT STUDENT LEARNING IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.EXCELLENCE IN EQUITY GRANTS - MFEE IS AWARDING ONE-TIME SIGNIFICANT GRANTS TO EACH OF THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADRESS ISSUES OF RACIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUITY. PROPOSALS ARE EVALUATED ON THE QUALITY OF THE PROJECT, DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR THE PROJECT, AND DEMONSTRATED BUY-IN ACROSS A WIDE SWATH OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. APPLICATIONS MUST BE COLLABORATIVELY-SHAPED BY A DIVERSE GROUP OF SCHOOL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS (WHERE APPLICABLE).TEACHER LEARNING COHORTS - MFEE COLLABORATED WITH MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO LAUNCH TEACHER LEARNING COMMUNITIES (TLCS) IN DECEMBER 2022. TLCS ARE SMALL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES TO BOOST TEACHING. COHORTS OF TEACHERS COME TOGETHER TO LEARN, SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND TO CREATE A LOCAL COMMUNITY OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. THE FIRST TLC WAS FOR EDUCATORS OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS (COMMONLY KNOWN AS "ESL STUDENTS") ELEVEN TEACHERS FROM 4 SCHOOLS MET OVER SIX WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR WORKSHOPS LED BY THE SIFE EQUITY PROJECT. THE HIGHLY-SKILLED COACHES HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TEACHING MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS WITH PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH INTERRUPTED EDUCATION. THEY ARE DESIGNING CURRICULA FOR DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.ARTS OPEN HEARTS - MFEE LAUNCHED THE ARTS OPEN HEARTS CAMPAGIN TO FUND ARTS PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND TEEN MENTAL HEALTH. DONATIONS FUEL BALLROOM DANCE RESIDENCIES, POETRY SLAMS, AND INTERGENERATIONAL STORY SLAMS THAT FOSTER CONNECTIONS, NURTURE SELF-ESTEEM, AND PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR SELF-EXPRESSION.ENTRENADORES AND ORUGUITAS - WITH THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF NAVEGADORES ESCOLARES, MFEE RECOGNIZED THAT MONTCLAIR'S MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL. IN THE PAST YEAR, MFEE LAUNCHED ENTRENADORES ESCOLARES TO SUPPORT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS AND ORUGUITAS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN K-5TH GRADE. BOTH PROGRAMS PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED SOCIAL CONNECTION, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT.ENTRENADORES ESCOLARES PROVIDES AFTER SCHOOL BILINGUAL TUTORING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT TO MULTILINGUAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ENTRENADORES MEANS COACHES, AND THE MHS TEEN MENTORS HELP WITH HOMEWORK, PROVIDE EXTRA TUTORING, AND OVERALL BUILD FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL THE STUDENTS. ENTRENADORES ESCOLARES ALSO PROVIDES ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO THE STUDENTS.ORUGUITAS OFFERS BILINGUAL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR OUR YOUNGEST ELL STUDENTS. THE GOALS ARE NOT JUST TO SUPPORT STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY BUT TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY. USING PLAY BASED ACTIVITES, K-5 STUDENTS WORK WITH INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING COACHES TO BOOST THEIR ENGLISH, MATH, AND SOCIAL SKILLS.UNMUTE - MHS (MONTCLAIR HIGHSCHOOL) TEENS, LIKE THEIR PEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH STRESSORS. MFEE AND JARED'S FUND ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING TOGETHER MHS ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS AND STAFF WITH THE JED FOUNDATION TO BUILD A MORE SUPPORTIVE MHS. THE JED FOUNDATION IS STRATEGICALLY WORKING WITH OUR MHS TEAM AS THEY DEVELOP SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES.NATIONAL EQUITY PROJECT - MFEE FUNDS AND SUPPORTS THE MONTCLAIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL EQUITY PROJECT'S BUILDING EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIORMENTS (BELE) NETWORK. JOINING 16 OTHER DISTRICTS FROM ACROSS THE US, MONTCLAIR ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD THE OVERALL GOAL OF CENTERING THE WELLBEING OF BIPOC YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.SUPERTOAST - EACH SPRING, FAMILIES HOST TOASTS TO HONOR THEIR FAVORITE SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS. THIS YEAR, INSTEAD OF JUST INVITING FAMILIES TO HOST A TOAST, MFEE IS GETTING IN ON THE FUN WITH THIS DISTRICT-WIDE CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISER. ALL FUNDS RAISED FROM THE SUPERTOAST WILL ALLOW MFEE TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STAFF.SABOR MONTCLAIR - SABOR MONTCLAIR IS A FUNDRAISER THAT CELEBRATES THE UNIQUE "SABOR" THAT OUR LATINX COMMUNITY MEMBERS BRING TO MONTCLAIR. OUR FAMILIES HAVE HELPED DESIGN THIS EVENT WHICH FEATURES TASTY TAKE-OUT MEALS THAT HIGHLIGHT THEIR CULTURE AND FAMILY STORIES. TICKETS PURCHASED AND DONATIONS SUPPORT ALL OF MFEE'S PROGRAMMING AND TO HELP FUND NAVEGADORES ESCOLARES.JOHN JOYCE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FUND - THE JOHN J. JOYCE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE JOYCE FAMILY IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN - A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY IN CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. DONATIONS FUND INITIATIVES TO TEACH ASL TO MONTCLAIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.

TOAST TO TEACHERS/ TEACHER TRIBUTES - AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FAMILIES GATHER TO FUNDRAISE AND HONOR SCHOOL STAFF. DONATIONS RAISED FROM THIS EVENT FULLY FUNDS THE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE GRANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC YEAR.

JUDY WESTON AWARDS FOR INSPIRED TEACHING - JOSH AND JUDY WESTON ESTABLISHED THE JUDY WESTON AWARDS FOR INSPIRED TEACHING IN 1991 TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO STAND OUT TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND STUDENTS AS CREATIVE, TALENTED, SUPPORTIVE, AND INSPIRING.