Portsmouth teacher Val Seveney receives grant from PPEF President Marilyn Brockway. Photo courtesy PPEF.

At the teacher orientation session on Wednesday, the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) awarded 18 Educational Excellence grants totaling over $15,000. Newly elected PPEF president Marilyn Brockway and PPEF Treasurer Donna Manning were at hand to present the certificates to the teachers.

Every school in the district was represented, with the following teachers receiving grants for their projects:

Howard W. Hathaway Elementary

• Patricia Fay “Manipulating Math” - William “Jay” Humphrey, Jr. Memorial Grant
• Laura Backman “Food, Farming and Fiber” – Senate Civic Support Grant
• Joan Mouradjian “Hathaway Players” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Karen Anghinetti “Hathaway School Song” - PHS Class of 1981 Grant

Melville Elementary School

• Valerie Seveney “Picture This” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Tricia Doran, Cathy Vieira, Sue Frost and Erica Magilton “Every Disc Tells a Story” – Albert Honnen, Sr. Memorial Grant
• Michelle Polselli “Life in your Watershed”

Portsmouth Middle School

• Heather Baker and Erin Costa “March into Reading” – Senate Civic Support Grant
• Carol Strakosch “Capturing Class” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Susan Janik and Lori Stone “Reading for Research”
• Keri Jardine “Technology on the Move”
• Rebecca Silveira “Worming our Way through Science”

Portsmouth High School

• Kimberly Hancock “Real World Reading” – Senate Civic Support Grant
• Nancy Brandley and Julie Bisbano “Visually Speaking” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Julie Bisbano “Be Grateful for Poetry” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Rose Escobar “Spirit of PHS Calendar” – Dr. Robert A. Davidson Grant
• Kimberly Hancock “Individual Reading Support” – Barton J. Carroll Foundation Grant
• Nancy Brandley and Rose Escobar “Drawing the Line”

PPEF grants are made possible by fundraising efforts, community support, donations and sponsorships. PPEF is grateful for the support of the community in helping its mission of enhancing the educational experience in the Portsmouth School District.

PPEF will also be hosting its Annual Fall Showcase in November to showcase the projects of last year’s grant recipients. This year will be an extra special Fall Showcase, since PPEF will also be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. This showcase will be held on Thursday, November 3 at the Glenn Manor House. As always, the event is open to the public and the community is warmly invited to this special Fall Showcase Event.

PPEF recognizes the Dr. Robert A. Davidson Foundation and the Davidson family for their continuing support. PPEF also thanks the Barton J. Carroll Foundation and the Carroll family who are long time supporters of PPEF. We also thank Mr. Albert Honnen, Sr. family and friends for their generous support this year in memory of Mr. Albert Honnen, Sr. and the office of Sen. Chris Ottiano, Mrs. Katherine Humphrey, and PHS Class of 1981 for their contributions.

PPEF is a not for profit 501(c)3 organization formed in 2001 by dedicated, private citizens interested in investing in education. Its mission is to improve and enhance the quality of the educational experiences for all Portsmouth public school students. In the past 10 years PPEF has awarded 152 grants totaling close to $87,000.00 which has impacted every school in the Portsmouth School district.

PPEF also congratulates newly elected president Marilyn Brockway and new board member, Mr. Michael Daly.

Donations are welcomed through our Friends campaign or through your United Way work contribution. Please visit our website or like us on Facebook.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the PPEF board.