Strafford News

Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on November 4.

DOVER – Seacoast Educational Endowment for Dover (“SEED”), a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting academic excellence in Dover, New Hampshire public schools, recently awarded just more than $14,000 for tools, professional development and curriculum for Dover public schools not otherwise available through traditional school budgets.

District elementary teachers, Sara LaPierre, Erin Murphy, and Roseanna Drysdale were given $6,400 to purchase 75 Ukulele Makala set classroom kits for students across the district to build their musical skills in melody, harmony, rhythm and ensemble (teamwork). Along with the instruments, SEED will provide funding for teacher training, instructional books, and wall hooks and care for the instruments.

At Dover High School, SEED funded $7,000 to outfit 14 science classrooms with Vernier probes, Geiger counters and other data collection tools to allow students to plan and carry out their own small group investigations, wrestle with the analysis of big data sets, and create models to make future predictions. The grant was a combined application from science teachers Amy Poirier and Peter Seekamp. 

At the Bellamy Academy at Dover High School, Brian Beck was awarded $800 to purchase inventory for its school store and create a modern banking system with data tracking capabilities at the Bellamy River Café. Part of Bellamy Academy’s Economies/Entrepreneurs course, students participate in lessons that teach the theory and practice of entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and how to foster a culture of ideas that can lead to a successful business. Students gain authentic real-world practice with leadership, management, marketing, finance, business essentials, and business strategies. 

Through grant applications, SEED provides inspired Dover educators with the instruments they need to create new curriculum, access additional resources, and attend educator development training, to create a 21st century learning environment. Since inception, SEED has provided more than $265,000 in tools, training, and equipment to Dover public school students while simultaneously building an endowment fund to perpetuate giving for years to come.

Completely funded by philanthropic giving from businesses and individuals, SEED is underway with its annual appeal to help fund future grants for Dover teachers to provide students with the skills they will need for post high school success. To learn more, volunteer, or donate, please visit www.DoverSEED.org.

Original source can be found here.