2021-22 GRANTS
In partnership with the NCSD and with your direct support, the NEF has funded the following grant requests.
# of Grants:
30
Total Dollars:
$44,690
World Language Classroom Engagement Subscriptions
These educational online subscriptions support hands-on, individualized learning for students in world language courses at the middle school and high school.
Foreign Language Department
Novi High School and Middle School
$1,000
Diverse Classroom Books
Reading experiences are enriched with the addition of new, relatable and engaging books for classroom libraries. Students will become stronger readers and learn about people around the world.
Carly Taub and Emily Lundh
Parkview Elementary
$1,000
Busy Bodies, Curious Minds
Village Oaks takes pride in supporting ALL their students and their diverse learning needs. With this grant, interactive wall murals will act as "Novi4All Regulation Stations," where students can find sensory and regulation support even during transitions in the building.
Amber Zarb
Village Oaks Elementary
$2,815
Village Oaks Playground Communication Board
Village Oaks students and educators are looking forward to a new playground that will be inclusive of all students. This grant will be a part of that, allowing the installation of a augmentative and alternative communication board so students with autism and other exceptionalities can socialize and communicate with their peers.
Chelsea Dixon, Amber Zarb and Kristen Gifford
Village Oaks Elementary
$500
Executive FUNctioning
Special Education students at Novi High School had a Nintendo Switch console -- but no games to play! Educational games like Big Brain Academy can not only motivate students and provide them with a break, but also improve brain functioning while having FUN!
Matthew Dickerman
Novi High School
$110
Heritage Month Read Alouds
Fifth graders have the opportunity to learn about the lives and accomplishments of people from all different backgrounds using books funded by this grant. Ms. Duthie pairs her read alouds with the relevant heritage month, from Hispanic and Latin American Heritage in September to Asian American and Pacific Islanders in April.
Karen Duthie
Novi Meadows
$400
GAGA for School!
This fun game gives students at Village Oaks the opportunity for physical activity as well as FUN and unity!
Justin Haas
Village Oaks Elementary
$500
Authentic Voices Through Literature
The Novi Middle School Media Center has a new selection of diverse books thanks to this grant. 8th grade book clubs centered on student choice of these books allowed for comprehensive literary discussions, critical thinking and relationship building.
Sarah David
Novi Middle School
$2,500
Increasing Access to Algebra Concepts Through Manipulatives
These manipulatives create a visual bridge between concrete problems involving arithmetic and more abstract problems such as polynomial functions. High school students fill in conceptual gaps and increase their confidence when they have hands-on math experiences thanks to this grant.
Garrett Zuk
Novi High School
$260
Learning that POPS!
While fidget toys like POP-ITS have been considered a great way to deal with stress, these innovative educators saw them as a tool for learning! Thanks to this grant, students at Orchard Hills have used these tools for hands-on activities in both literacy and mathematics.
Melissa Israel
Orchard Hills Elementary
$1,500
Yoga and Mat Pilates
Mats will allow high school students to practice yoga and pilates and learn skills to nurture both their physical and mental health.
Leanne Molnar
Novi High School
$1,157
Hatching EGGceptional Thinkers
Incubators for every first grade classroom allowing students to observe the lifecycle of chickens and the opportunity to care for chicks.
Christina Sauchak
Deerfield Elementary
$625
Governing Meadows
Each year, Mr. Grimm's fifth grade students have a real-life experience with governing when they survey their peers, then design, budget and hold an election to choose a project to implement to benefit the whole school. Past projects have included a GAGA pit and a redesigned courtyard. We can't wait to see what this year's students achieve with this grant!
Cary Grimm
Novi Meadows
$1,500
Inclusive Children's Books for Early Education
Inclusive storytelling provides all students with valuable experiences and learning. This grant supports the purchase of books that feature characters with a variety of disabilities such as limb differences, motor disabilities and medical conditions.
Megan Chapin-Dube
Early Childhood Education Center
$700
Relaxation Stations
Stress, anxiety and trauma make learning more difficult. Thanks to this grant, students will have a calming space to de-escalate and reset when they are overwhelmed by sensory input or negative emotions.
Sherry Griesinger, Vanessa Saven, Jill Armstrong, Christine Myint, and Shannon Ager
Deerfield Elementary
$1,050
Screenwise
Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of SCREENWISE and founder of Raising Digital Natives, will bring her expertise to Novi families through a webinar. Parents will learn to support their children and lay foundational digital citizenship skills in an ever-changing digital environment.
Anthony Locricchio
District-wide
$1750
Building Our Math Toolboxes
Kindergarten students grow their math skills thanks to the collection of manipulatives funded by this grant. Hands-on materials allow students to explore and experience geometry, numbers and operations.
Laura Mardigian
Orchard Hills Elementary
$2300
A Soft Start to the Day
This grant provided fourth graders at Parkview with logic puzzle, building blocks and more to warm up their brains and set a positive tone for their day. New friendships, community and communication skills all grew from this simple yet impactful grant.
Karen Mendoza
Parkview Elementary
$673
Creating an Inclusive Classroom Culture
Every student deserves a classroom that supports their learning. This grant provided students with sensory fidgets and books that support social emotional learning, allowing them to focus and take charge of their own learning.
Mia Perelli
Novi Woods Elementary
$400
Stem Bins
These inventive bins allowed first grade students at Novi Woods to engage on hands-on critical thinking to solve real world challenges.
Luma Jarjis
Novi Woods Elementary
$350
What Should I Read Next?
Series books chosen by students enhance student learning by motivating students to read more of what they already love. Passionate readers don't have to wait to get their next book thanks to this grant.
Ashleigh Burry
Novi Meadows
$600
Spanish Literacy Library
Free choice of literature supports language acquisition. A library of Spanish language books allows novice language learners at Novi High School build and sustain literacy skills.
Daniel Fershtman
Novi High School
$400
Environmental Literacy
Informational texts, soil and water testing kits, along with related supplies allow students to design their own research and test soil and water quality in the NEF-Bosch Garden, the Brookfarm Creek, and the expansive school grounds.
Nicholas Weigel-Hubler
Village Oaks Elementary
$750
Inline Skating Program
When Mr. Belanger saw the success of the inline skating program he developed at the elementary level, he knew high school students would also enjoy this fun physical activity! Thanks to this grant, durable inline skates will allow students for years to come to learn or refine their skating skills.
Dave Belanger
Novi High School
Up to $7,000
All About That Bass
Parkview Elementary's new bass xylophone will be enjoyed by music students for years to come! This durable instrument gives students the chance to experience rhythm, movement, ensemble playing, improvisation and more.
Sabrina Sweeney
Parkview Elementary
$1,469
Multiple Manipulations of Magnets
The magnetic bars, balls and tiles purchased through this grant will allow second graders to assemble and explore geometrics shapes while learning about calculating edges, faces and vertices. These simple tools will bring 3-D shapes off of a 2-D page and into the student's own hands!
Renee Gantt, Melissa Cyrus, Carly Musa, Erica Holman, and Julie Alliston
Parkview Elementary
$850
Game On! Take Home Math Game Bags
Take home math games give 4th graders at Novi Woods the opportunity to bring learning home. These fun activities build confidence and positive feelings about math, while strengthening the school to home connection.
Cortney Kidon, Michelle Donberger, Marietta Leon and Tressa Collini
Novi Woods Elementary
$870
Fine Motor Fanatics
Strengthening fine motor skills is a focus of early childhood and prepares our youngest students for necessary tasks like writing and using scissors. Preschool is full of FUN though, so this grant helped provide the supplies for sensory tables, toys and games that enhance fine motor skills.
Stephanie Hawkins
Early Childhood Education Center
$410
LittleMack Communication Buttons
This grant allowed students who are nonverbal or who have disabilities that impact their ability to communicate with new opportunities for independence and communication. Little Mack Communication Buttons are easy to program with phrases and sentences and improve student confidence and emotional health.
Allison Larson
Novi High School
$540
Brain Aligned Regulation Station
Recognizing the trauma and mental health challenges our students were facing, Rob Beltz used his knowledge of applied educational neuroscience to design a custom-built regulation station to help students regulate and recover.
Rob Beltz
Village Oaks Elementary
$500
Reading Around the World
NCSD is proud of its diverse student body and the many native languages spoken in homes throughout our district! This grant helped Novi Woods build a library of books in students' native languages, building self-confidence and self-assurance!
Megan Haapala
Novi Woods Elementary
$1,300
Have HEART Carts
The "Have HEART Carts" at Village Oaks provide students with appropriate problem-solving tools that allow them to develop as leaders, practice self-regulation, and increase feelings of security while at school. These positive attitudes promote student engagement and academic learning.
Jennifer Smith
Village Oaks Elementary
$750
Cultivating Cultural Diversity Through Dramatic Play
Our youngest students loves dramatic play and multicultural clothing and food allow students to explore and respect their own culture as well as the cultures of their diverse classmates.
Stephanie Muncie
Early Childhood Education Center
$400
Dinosaur Garden
An outdoor play space with large plastic dinosaurs, sticks and rocks to encourage imagination, cooperation and interpersonal skills.
Sherry Griesinger
Deerfield Elementary
$105
