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About Us
The 5th and 6th Grade teachers at Dawes
Avenue School
were one of 8 groups of teacher in the entire state of New Jersey and
152 in the country to receive the HP Technology for Teaching Grant
Initiative. The goals of the grant are to incorporate mobile technology
in the classroom and increase students understanding and use of
technology.
The students in the 5th and 6th grades identified the Bluff at Kennedy Park,
one of only two coastal bluffs in the state of New Jersey, as a serious
environmental concern. Students researched the land and the native
plants to the area. Thanks to many local organizations they were able
to identify that the bluff is slowly eroding, and the city has done
some things to slow down the process. However, after their first trip
to the park, the students realized that more could be done. They
measured plots of land on the bluff and identified many invasive
non-native species living there. The goal, with the communities support,
is to go back to the bluff, remove these plants, and replace them with
native plants. These plants help protect the vulnerable soil, and hold
it in place. In doing so, we can protect the bluff, and keep this
special place around.
Our efforts have won us entry into HP’s second round of
grants, the Leadership Grant.
With this grant the school has received over $55,000 in
technology. We are continuing
the Save the Bluff project for the 2006-2007 school year. Students will continue to visit the
bluff to clean and plant plants, and raise funds for informational
signage.
Bumper Stickers are being sold to help raise money to support this
project. The Somers Point, Save the Bluff stickers are $2.00 and all
proceeds go to the Bluff Project. If you are interested in purchasing a
sticker, or making a donation.
Look for us to be out on the bluff this spring replanting the bluff
and cleaning it up.
Also towards then end of the school year, we will be having another
movie night at the bluff. We will unveil the Documentary that the
teachers and students have been working very hard on, as well as show a
classical favorite. Stay posted for more information as the date nears.
The entire project could not have been done without the technology
given to the teachers through HP Technology for Teaching Initiative
Grant. Teachers and students have used this technology in every step of
the process.
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