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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tina Girdwood 978-475-5253
ACE Completes Funding for New Andover High School
Foreign Language Lab
Andover, MA (January 18, 2010)—Much sooner than expected, the Andover Coalition for Education (ACE) recently announced that the order has been placed for a new High School Foreign Language Lab—the group’s most ambitious funding project to date. It is expected that the new Lab will replace its current, antiquated counterpart during the February school vacation. Once language teachers have been trained, over 1400 students will begin reaping the benefits of this state-of-the-art digital equipment.
ACE was able to fund the Language Lab with the generous support of growing numbers of Andover citizens—both parents of students and numerous residents without children in our schools—who recognize the importance of innovative public school programs. To encourage that support, ACE’s most recent annual appeal featured a matching gift opportunity: every donor’s contribution was doubled. In addition, the project was supported by a donation from the High School PAC and a significant grant from the Horne Family Foundation. ACE plans to host a public Language Lab open house with High School Principal, Jonathan Harris, and the High School PAC sometime in early spring.
“The people of Andover continue to demonstrate that our schools are a priority, that quality education does matter, and that even in bleak economic times, we need to and can find ways to improve curriculum and to help our students prepare for the 21st century,” says ACE President, Tina Girdwood.
According to a recent article in “Education Week” about high-tech language labs (see attached) compatibility with schools’ current software and teacher training on the new equipment are paramount to success. Andover High School students will now have the opportunity to work by themselves, with their teacher, or as a group. With the teacher at a central station, students will have more time to practice speaking the language and even engage in real-time conversations with students from around the world.
For more information about ACE, previously funded programs or to make a donation, log onto www.aceanodver.org or contact Tina Girdwood at 978-475-5253.
www.aceandover.org
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ACE
Academic Cultural Enrichment
In 2002, our organization developed Academic Cultural Enrichment (ACE). ACE is an educational initiative that is overseen by the High Plain Elementary PTO Executive Board and run by two parent volunteer committee chairs. The goal of the ACE initiative is to provide a mechanism for additional learning to enhance the school curriculum. Teacher requests, followed by learning specialist review and principal approval ensure the benefits of each selection. Exciting programs are chosen based their ability to pique the interest of the students, tie into current lessons and encourage an enthusiasm for learning. A draft proposal of the programs for 2008-2009 is shown below.
The PTO’s Academic Cultural Enrichment (ACE) committee meets with teachers to identify and implement programs that will enhance the curriculum. Past programs have included presentations in the areas of science, nature, art, history, meteorology and literature.
Category |
Description |
Grades |
Science |
Tide pool discovery will be presented at the school by the New England Aquarium |
K |
Science |
Penguin exploration will be a field trip to the New England Aquarium. |
2, 5 |
Mathematics |
“Math back-packs” is a new enrichment program designed to help students who may be struggling with math |
ALL |
Science |
Fossils & dinosaurs will be presented as a multi-media event. Specimens will be on display with follow up activities to be conducted in the classroom. |
K, 3 |
Science |
Weather education and observation will be presented on-site by the Blue Hills Meteorological & Science Center |
1 |
Technology |
Magnetic levitation and trains of the future, presented by “Techsploration”, is a hands-on workshop in which students design their own prototype and wind propulsion system |
2, 5 |
Technology |
The Science of Sound, presented by “Techsploration”, is a workshop designed to show the students how sound is generated and how sound travels |
2, 5 |
Technology |
The Science of Speed, presented by “Techsploration”, is a hands-on program that educates students on the science of belt and pulley systems as well as different gear combinations |
2, 5 |
Science |
Exploring the Solar System is presented by a guest speaker and ties into the school year theme, “One Small Step…”, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing in 1969. |
4 |
Science |
Starlab Portable Planetarium is a traveling program that is presented by Boston’s Museum of Science and is designed to teach students to recognize and use constellation patterns. |
1, 2, 3 |
Science |
Observing Electricity and Magnetism is a traveling program that is presented by Boston’s Museum of Science and is a series of demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to teach students the various properties of metals including their electricity and magnetism. |
K, 1, 2 |
Science |
Electromagnetism is a traveling program that is presented by Boston’s Museum of Science that uses high-tech equipment to study voltage, currents, and resistance. |
3, 4 |
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