PPEF

"Broadway" benefit show at PHS on Feb. 7

broadway5_header.jpg

The Dr. Robert A. Davidson Charitable Fund presents

Broadway From Then 'Til Now 5

A Concert of Broadway Showtunes, old and new

All Proceeds to Benefit the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation, Looking Upwards, and other local causes.

Saturday February 7, 2015
7:00 PM
Portsmouth High School Auditorium
120 Education Lane
Portsmouth, RI

Tickets $20 Adults, $10 Children Under 10
Online Tickets/Donations at Broadway5.eventbrite.com or Call 401-683-2824

Tags: 
02871, Localblogging, PPEF

Join PPEF at the Newport Athletic Club for Family Fun Night, Feb 19

PPEF Family Fun Night
PPEF Family Fun Night! Click to embiggen.

Looking for an activity with the kids on the upcoming February break? Join the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) at the Newport Athletic Club for Family Fun Night on Sunday, Feb. 19! For just $25 for the whole family ($20 with a WinterFest button), you can play basketball, racquetball, use the pool and cardio, and other fun activities. A fun and healthy evening for the kids, and a fundraiser for PPEF's support for the schools. This is fundraiser for the PPEF, the nonprofit supporting our schools here in Portsmouth.

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of the PPEF.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF

Volunteer meeting Jan 23 for Portsmouth Education Foundation Hidden Kitchen Tour

Hidden Kitchens logoThe Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) is beginning to plan this year's "Hidden Kitchens of Portsmouth" tour, and could use your help. There will be a meeting for volunteers on Monday, Jan. 23 at 5:45pm at the Portsmouth Public Library.

If you've ever been on the tour — which is the major fundraiser for PPEF — you know how much fun it is to see a half-dozen of Portsmouth's unique kitchens while sampling some of the best snacks and drinks from local wineries, markets, caterers, and restaurants. As you can imagine, there's quite a bit of behind the scenes work to make the tour happen.

We can use your help, and we will find something you're comfortable doing, whether it's spending an hour stuffing envelopes at home, driving around to pick up supplies, or serving as one of the official house greeters on the day of the tour. We appreciate every minute you can give — and it will help the nonprofit PPEF raise money that goes right into grants that benefit our Portsmouth schools.

Can't make the meeting but still want to help out? Please drop an e-mail to PPEF.

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of PPEF.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF, Hidden Kitchens

Portsmouth Education Foundation 10th anniversary and teacher showcase this Thursday, Nov 3

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The Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) celebrates ten years of making a difference in the quality of education in our community with a Fall Showcase and Social on Thursday, November 3 at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth. More info on the festivities at the PPEF web site.

Everyone is welcome to stop by between 6-8pm to enjoy appetizers and a cash bar while you view exhibits by last year's grant recipient teachers, who come from all of Portsmouth's schools.

This year's event will be in one of Portsmouth's gems, the Glen Manor House at 3 Frank Coelho Drive. Many local businesses have generously offered their support to public education by donating exciting offerings for our Silent Auction. Offerings include 6 day free dockage at Brewers Marinas, Golf packages from Green Valley, Newport National and Montaup Country Clubs, Season tickets to the Gulls plus a week of baseball camp, Theatre tickets, Museum tickets, Portsmouth Holly Ball tickets and much more.

Advance tickets may be purchased for $15 per person or $25 per couple by contacting Marilyn Brockway at 683-3021 or mlbrockway@cox.net or Eileen LaCazette at ejtl@verizon.net. The night of the event, tickets will be $20/$35 per couple.

Over the past ten years, PPEF has awarded 149 grants totaling nearly $84,000 which have directly impacted thousands of Portsmouth public school students, parents and community members. If you can't make it to this event, I hope you'll consider making a donation.

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of PPEF.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF

Portsmouth Education Foundation 10-year anniversary and teacher showcase Nov 3

10may18_tac.jpg

The Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) celebrates ten years of making a difference in the quality of education in our community with a Fall Showcase and Social on Thursday, November 3 at Glen Manor House in Portsmouth. You can get your tickets at the PPEF web site.

Everyone is welcome to stop by between 6-8pm to enjoy appetizers and a cash bar while you view exhibits by last year's grant recipient teachers, who come from all of Portsmouth's schools. And if you get your tickets online before October 24, there's a special early-bird discount.

This year's event will be in one of Portsmouth's gems, the Glen Manor House at 3 Frank Coelho Drive. Many local businesses have generously offered their support to public education by donating exciting offerings for our Silent Auction. Offerings include 6 day free dockage at Brewers Marinas, Golf packages from Green Valley, Newport National and Montaup Country Clubs, Season tickets to the Gulls plus a week of baseball camp, Theatre tickets, Museum tickets, Portsmouth Holly Ball tickets and much more.

Why not get your tickets now? Advance tickets (if you don't use the web site) may also be purchased for $15 per person or $25 per couple by contacting Marilyn Brockway at 683-3021 or mlbrockway@cox.net or Eileen LaCazette at ejtl@verizon.net. The night of the event, tickets will be $20/$35 per couple.

Over the past ten years, PPEF has awarded 149 grants totaling nearly $84,000 which have directly impacted thousands of Portsmouth public school students, parents and community members. If you can't make it to this event, I hope you'll consider making a donation.

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of PPEF.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Schools, PPEF

Portsmouth Education Foundation awards $15K in teacher grants

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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.

Tags: 
Localblogging, Schools, PPEF, 02981

RI Educational foundations meet in Portsmouth

Foundation meeting
Guest speaker Maryellen Butke addresses foundation members as RI Commissioner Gist looks on.

More than 50 board members of local educational foundations from across Rhode Island convened at the Roger Williams conference center in Portsmouth last night in their first-ever face-to-face meeting.

The event was organized and hosted by Kara Milner, chair of the Bristol-Warren Education Foundation, who arranged for two high-profile speakers for the inaugural event, RI Commissioner of Education Deborah Gist, and Maryellen Butke, director of RI Campaign for Achievement Now (RI-CAN).

"My affection for education foundations is really, really deep," said Gist, thanking the attendees for their constant work supporting schools. Gist spoke briefly about RIDE's stragegic plan and five priorities. Butke provided an overview of RI-CAN's work on policy and education advocacy.

The bulk of the evening was devoted to a free-form discussion among participants on education issues, and since I was attending as a member of an education foundation, I'm going to report on the conversation under Chatham House rules, which any long-time reader of my blog will know is my approach when dealing with not-fully-public meetings.

There were some policy questions that the group kicked around — both at the state and local level. There was also discussion of the appropriate role for local foundations in supporting things like professional development and curricula. A couple of major themes that surfaced were innovation, continuous improvement, and "raising all boats," and the role foundations could play in community support (and fundraising) for such efforts.

The group talked for an hour and a half, and could have gone on longer. Milner thanked everyone who attended, and Roger Williams University, which donated the space.

As next steps, the group plans to build an e-mail list to keep local foundations in the loop on activities, and potentially have additional in-person sessions on a periodic basis.

Full disclosure: Obviously, I was attending as a member of the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation board; and while I hope you'll support our local foundation (and like us on Facebook!) the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Editorial note: In one of my favorite films, "The Man Who Fell to Earth," David Bowie's alien tries to reassure scientist Rip Torn who's working on his rocket project. "Don't be suspicious, Dr. Bryce." That's always good advice, especially for public officials who jump to conclusions. Sho jo mu hen sei gan do.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF, education foundation

Last week to nominate for the PPEF Portsmouth Teacher of the Year!

Do you know a teacher who has greatly impacted a child’s education? Someone who truly excels at his/her profession? The Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF), sponsored by NewportFed, is accepting nominations for the 2010/2011 Portsmouth Public School Teacher of the Year until May 31. Any member of the community is invited to submit a nomination form supporting why their chosen teacher has earned this distinction.

Nomination forms were be distributed to all students in Portsmouth Public Schools to bring home the first week of May (check the bottom of the backpack; it's probably in there somewhere...), and hard-copy forms are available for the community to pick up at NewportFed’s new Portsmouth Branch at 1430 East Main Road.

Or you can pop over to the PPEF web site and download a PDF. You can fill it out onscreen and print, but you need to submit a paper copy.

Nominations will be accepted through May 31. Completed nomination forms can be dropped off at NewportFed's Portsmouth Branch, 1430 East Main Road, during normal business hours; or mailed directly to the PPEF, P.O. Box 58, Portsmouth, RI 02871; or the tech-savvy can email to info@portsmoutheducationfoundation.org. The winning teacher will be awarded at the PPEF Annual Fall Social in November.

Full disclosure: I serve on the PPEF board, and I like teachers.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Schools, PPEF

Hidden Kitchens of Portsmouth TODAY!



Today, tour seven amazing kitchens, enjoy samples of fine local food and drink, and support our schools at the same time — at the fifth annual Hidden Kitchens of Portsmouth Tour sponsored by the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation. Tickets are available today from 11-5 at Clements Market.

For just $25, you'll be able to visit seven of our town's most beautiful and well-designed kitchens, while enjoying snacks and beverages from more than a dozen local restaurants and shops. You can pick up your tickets and a map for this self-guided tour, then drop in anytime between 11am and 7pm.

If you've done the Kitchen Tour in the past, rest assured, you'll see -- and taste -- some new surprises. And if you're a first-timer, this is a really fun opportunity to see some of Portsmouth's most beautiful hearths and homes (and maybe pick up a few design ideas!)

And ticket sales benefit the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation, (PPEF), which each year gives out over $10,000 in competitive grants to teachers in our public schools for innovative classroom projects. If you can't make the Kitchen Tour, please consider a donation. You can find out more about the PPEF at the web site or Facebook page.

Full disclosure: I serve on the PPEF board.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF

Reminder: Benefit concert at Portsmouth high school tonight!

Tonight at 7pm in the Portsmouth high school auditorium, the Robert A. Davidson Charitable Fund presents "Broadway from Then 'Til Now 2," a concert of Broadway show tunes to benefit the Portsmouth Public Education Foundation (PPEF) and other local causes.

I've heard that some tickets are still available, and that you can get them at the door, ($20 Adults, $10 kids Under 10). You can call 401-683-2824 or email BroadwayConcert@aol.com for more info, or check out the Facebook event page.

Full disclosure: I serve on the board of the Portsmouth nonprofit, PPEF, one of the beneficiaries of this event.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, PPEF