Awarded Grants

The Duxbury Education Foundation is inspired and thankful for the staff and students who submit their creative and innovative ideas to be considered for a DEF Grant. Since 1989, we are proud to have funded over $2,100,000 in educational, professional and student-led grants to enhance the educational experience for Duxbury students, staff and the community. 

Thank you for your support and donations to help us fund innovative and educational programs in Duxbury! 

Awarded Grants Since 2014

Arts

• Pottery Wheels - DHS (2014)
• Shakespeare Now Theater Company Professional Actor Instruction - DHS (2015)
• Drama and Poetry Materials for DMS (2018)
• The Friendly Loom for Chandler School (2019)
• Canoe Building Kit for DHS (2019)
• Artist in Resident for DHS (2019)
• Art iPad Integration in Art Classrooms Across District (2023)

Author Visits and Educational/Motivational Speakers 

• Just the Facts: DMS Students Work with Notable Non-Fiction Authors funds day-long DMS school visits by narrative non-fiction authors: Sibert Award Winner Steve Sheinkin (8th graders) and Newbery Honor Winner Deborah Hopkinson (7th graders). (2016)
• Character Strong Leadership Assembly and Curriculum for DHS (2019)
• Motivational Speaker for DHS Field Day. World-renowned Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Adolph Brown, presented “Portrait of a Graduate: Your Most Important ‘Selfie”.  Dr. Brown encourages students to take responsibility and strive for excellence — through building a positive school culture and giving back to the community.
  (2023)
• Stand Up for Greatness Speaker for DMS/DHS. Ed Gerety, an inspirational speaker, shared specific strategies, principles, and techniques to be resilient, embrace change and achieve goals during a school-wide student assembly (2024)

Community

• Outdoor Learning Center (2014)
• Duxbury Student Union Online Volunteer Database - Funded the creation of a real-time database of DSU volunteer opportunities accessible to Duxbury youth and their families. (2016)
• Duxbury FACTS - Social Norming Campaign funds targeted messaging materials to educate students and adults about teen health and wellness through a social norming campaign to understand perceptions vs. reality on a range of topics. (2016)
• Community Garden (2018)
• Enhancing Visual Communication in Duxbury Schools (2019)
• Outdoor Classroom Revitalization (2022)
• Rachel Carson Self-Guided Nature Walk Fence Posts (2023)

Health, Fitness and Outdoors 

• Chandler School Gymnastic Equipment (2014)
• Yoga for Chandler - 12-week yoga class for students who are identified by teachers as benefiting from the program which will assist students for optimal cognitive, physical and emotional states for learning. (2016)
• Technology Equipment to Improve Student Education PE/Wellness (2017)
• Horizontal Climbing Wall for Alden school (2018)
• Sway Fun Glider Chandler Playground (2023)
• Five Stationary Bikes (2022)
• GaGa Ball Pit for DMS (2023)
• Fishing Club Equipment Student Led Grant (2023)

Language

• Senor Wooly 5th Grade Pilot (2023)
• STAMP Seal of Biliteracy Funding for ASL III Honors Class DHS (2023)
• Virtual Reality Headsets and Language Lab (2024)

Music

• Accompanist for DHS Choir (2014)
• DMS/DHS 10 Steel Drums (2015)
• Music Technology - Purchases advanced music technology equipment for the music department for advanced instruction and to broader range of student. (2016)
• New Equipment for DHS Music Department (2016)

• New sets of ukuleles and xylophones for all Chandler School students to explore diverse cultures and refine their musical skills with quality instruments from around the world. 

  (2024)
• Carnegie Hall Commission and World Premiere (2024)

Professional Development

• Responsive Classroom Training for Alden School Teachers (2014)
• Preschool Workshop Instructional Materials (2014)
• Inspiration for Robotics: Workshop for Chandler School Teachers (2015)
• Intervention and Technology Professional Development Program for Alden School (2015)
• Duxbury Dragon Flyer- Journalism Conference at Columbia University (2015)
• Graduate Level Math Course for Alden Staff (2015)
• Apple Core Team Technology Professional Program (2015) (District)
• Math Courses for Elementary Teachers - Professional development for Alden and Chandler School teachers to enhance math instruction and learn how to differentiate during small group guided math instruction. (2016)
• 21st Century World Language Professional Development - DMS/DHS (2016)
• English Championing the Teaching of Literature for DHS Staff (2016)
• Yoga 4 Classrooms: Professional Development for two Alden School teachers (2016)
• For the Love of Literacy Annual Conference - Chandler School (2017) 
• Dyslexia Conference Chandler/Alden/ SPED (2017)
• Science Elevate Professional Development for Chandler Staff (2018)
• Massachusetts Reading Association Conference for Chandler Staff (2018)
• Virtual Reality Teaching Tool (2018)
• World Language Teacher Workshop Professional Development - All Schools (2018)
• Special Education Speaker All Schools (2018)
• Breathe for Change Professional Development (2018)
• Innovative Instructions Professional Development for Elementary Level Teachers (2019)
• Foundations of Teaching Reading Course Elementary Level Teachers (2019)
• Raising the Bar in Social Studies Professional Development for DMS (2019)
• Music Educators Association Conference (2019) All Music
• Orton-Gillingham Conference All Schools Professional Development (2021)
• Math Coaching Professional Development (2022)
• Massachusetts Reading Association Conference (2023)
• Orton-Gillingham Conference All Schools Prof. Dev (2023)
• DBT Training Secondary Level School Psychologist for DHS (2023)

Reading

• Guided Reading Library at Chandler School (2018)
• Alden School Read Aloud Books (2018)
• Chandler School Library Books (2019)
• "One Book One School" Summer Initiative for DMS (2021)
• Three Series Beginning Reader Books for Chandler School (2022)
• Poetry Book Mentor Texts for Grade 5 (2023)
• Diversity Audit of the Chandler School Library (2024)
• Decodable Buddy Reading Books for Chandler School (2024)

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

• Grade One Math Games (2014)
• Lego Robotics Kits and Training for DHS/DMS (2014)
• Pond Life Through the Seasons - Funds the design and installation of a pond environment in the courtyard at Chandler School that contains amphibians, fish and natural plant life to support each grade's science curriculum. (2016)
• Dedicated Maker Space Room and Materials for Alden School (2017)
• Time and Tides Summer Course for DHS Students (2017)
• Keyboarding Program for Alden School (2018)
• STEAM Materials for Chandler School (2019)
• Forest Ecology Module for Alden School (2019)
• Bacterial CRISPR Kits Biology DHS AP Students (2019)
• STEM Tubs for 1st Grade (2022)
• Marine Science Field Trip 3rd Grade (2022)
• Lego Spike Prime Robotics for DMS (2022)
• Virtual Science Field Trip for DMS (2022)
• MIT/DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis Manipulative for DHS (2022)
• Funding for Robotics Team (2023)
• CRISPR and Genotyping Lab Kits. Student Led Grant (2023)
• Funding for Math Team Bus for Competition (2024)
• Compound Microscopes. Fourteen Walter LTM Series Compound Microscopes to be used by biology and anatomy DHS classrooms benefiting students interested in high level science research. Student Led Grant (2024)

Social and Emotional

• Social Thinking Curriculum for Chandler School (2014)
• Active Seating 3rd Grade Classroom (2016)
• Alternative Seating for Students to Facilitate and Enhance Learning for Alden (2016)
• Alternate Seating/Standing Desks for DMS (2017)
• Calm Classroom for Chandler School (2018)
• After School Study Skill Program for DHS (2018)
• Indoor Sensory Paths Chandler/Alden (2019)
• Social Emotional Learning Library Chandler, Magic Dragon Integrated (2019)
• Social Emotional Learning Materials for Chandler School (2019)
• Outdoor Sensory Circuits and Wait Stations for Chandler School (2019)
• Flexible Seating for Chandler School (2019)
• Social Emotional Learning Resources for Alden School (2019)
• Growth Mindset Book Set for Alden School (2021)
• Alden Respect/SEL Books (2022)
• Soft Starts at Alden School (2023)
• Managing Emotion through Motion Walking Pads for DHS (2024)
• Frontloading Fine Motor Skills for Chandler School (2024)
• Simple Seed Journals for Third Grade Classrooms (2024)

Social Studies

• DMS/DHS Social Studies Interactive Maps (2014)
• Online Social Studies Game Grade 8 (2014) 

Special Education

• Sensory Materials for Chandler School (2014)
• Smartboard Project for Chandler SPED Classroom (2018)

Student Experiences

• North American Invitational Model United Nations Club Conference. Duxbury’s Model UN Club will heighten their comprehension of the international system through participation in a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies. This grant provides the registration fees for the club members to attend the Model UN Conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Student Led Grant (2024)
• Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) - Resources to support the new, up-and-coming DECA Club at Duxbury High School. DECA prepares students in entrepreneurship, leadership and 21st century skills. Student Led Grant (2024)
• French Club Cultural Cooking Experience. Cooking class at Mix It Up Kitchen in Duxbury for the Duxbury High School French Club to learn how to make French desserts and pastries. Student Led Grant (2024)
• Coffee Cart Start Up. A new program for DMS/DHS Transition Program students to practice planning, budgeting, baking, presentation, sales, banking skills, time management and social skills by serving the DHS/DMS staff. (2024)

 Technology and Supplies

• Fifty laptops and online learning platform subscriptions for Alden School (2014)
• ESL Chrome Books Alden/DMS/DHS (2018)
• Personal Food Computers for DHS (2018)
• Headset with Microphones for Alden School (2021)
• Ultimaker S5 3D Printer for DHS (2021)
• Teleprompter for DHS/PAC. Student Led Grant (2023)
• Virtual Reality Headsets for World Language Department and Language Lab (2024)
• Framery O Sound Proof Study Pods for the DMS/DHS Library. Two soundproof study pods to provide a quiet and distraction-free learning environment for middle school and high school students. Student-Led Grant (2024)
• School Supplies Cart - Starting inventory for a Duxbury Middle School Student Council supplies cart for students and teachers to purchase school supplies. Student Led Grant (2024)