NEF Awards $12,500 in grants for the Northborough Schools

NEF awarded $12,500 in funds to 14 grant recipients in September of 2025.

Fundraisers in 2024-25 included the Applefest Gala, Warm Wishes, the Gala Jr. and Team Trivia Night. Proceeds from these events enabled NEF to fully or partially approve funding for the grants submitted this year. NEF funds two cornerstone grants each year which are the Northborough Children’s Book Awards (NCBA) sponsored by the Cellar Bar & Grille and Read Across Northborough.

This year’s awarded grants are as follows:

Pre-Band Instruments – Marion Zeh Elementary School – Scott Arnold

This grant will bring hands-on music exploration to second and third graders through a new “instrument petting zoo.” Students will have the chance to try beginner versions of instruments from all four families—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—sparking excitement for music and supporting future band and strings programs. Durable instruments will be shared across Northborough’s elementary schools, ensuring that this engaging experience inspires hundreds of students for years to come.

Chess Club – Lincoln Street School – Lisa Arpino and Justin Chambers

This grant will establish a new after-school Chess Club for students in grades 1–5. With both classic and beginner-friendly boards, the club will help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills like patience, sportsmanship, and teamwork. By creating a welcoming space for all skill levels, the Chess Club will provide a lasting opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow.

Enhancing Literacy Through Visuals – Marguerite Peaslee School – Andi Daunais and Erin Keefe

This grant brings the Wit and Wisdom literacy curriculum to life for fifth grade students. The project will provide large, colorful laminated posters displaying key writing supports—such as sentence starters, vocabulary tools, and mnemonic devices for different genres. These visuals will serve as constant reminder to help students strengthen their ideas and apply newly learned techniques in their writing. With this creative and practical approach, “Enhancing Literacy Through Visuals” will transform the way students engage with literacy and empower them as confident writers.

Passport to Learning: Exploring the World Through Books – Lincoln Street School – Jess Halford, Jackie Stone, and Erin Kearney

This grant will enrich the second-grade social studies curriculum by providing a collection of age-appropriate, engaging books about countries around the world. These resources will help students explore cultures, traditions, and geography while building their research, presentation, and cultural awareness skills. The books will become a permanent part of classroom and school libraries, benefiting students for years to come.

Desk for Success – Melican Middle School – Julie Morancy

This grant will provide new triangular desks and tables to complete a flexible, collaborative classroom for the SELF program. These desks allow students to work in clusters while still facing the front, creating a more inclusive and effective learning environment. The upgrade will benefit all 600 Melican students, ensuring every child has an inviting and inspiring space to learn.

Exploring New Technology to Promote Statistical Understanding – ARHS – Karla Reynolds

This grant will provide the classroom with a set of NumWorks calculators to enhance the Statistics CP course. With these intuitive tools, students will be able to explore data visualization, probability, and statistical inference more deeply, while preparing for standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. The project will pilot with this initial CP class and has the potential to expand across the math department.

Preserving Our Digital Resources – ARHS – Brian Calnan

This grant will provide new Blu-Ray players with HDMI connections so teachers can continue using the extensive library of DVDs and digital resources they’ve built over the years. These tools bring history, science, literature, and culture to life for students and ensure that valuable teaching materials remain accessible as classroom technology evolves. Nearly all 1,200 Algonquin students stand to benefit from this project.

From Insight to Impact: Using Data to Elevate Social-Emotional Growth – Melican Middle School – Chatham Flynn

This grant will provide access to a data-driven counseling program called SCUTA. This resource will help counselors and educators to identify student needs, tailor interventions, and align social-emotional support with academic goals. This targeted, responsive approach not only enriches the educational experience but also ensures that every student can fully access and benefit from the curriculum. This new program will serve as an ongoing platform for data collection, program evaluation, and continuous improvement in school counseling.

Improving Diagnostics and Instruction in Language & Literacy for Exceptional Learners – All Elementary and Melican Middle School – Elaine Barba

This grant will provide specialized diagnostic and screening tools to better identify and support high-needs students, including those with disabilities and English learners. By enabling earlier and more accurate assessments, these resources will help educators deliver targeted interventions, close achievement gaps, and improve literacy outcomes across the district. The tools will serve multiple schools and benefit students for years to come.

MMS Large Instrument Shelving – Melican Middle School – Lucas LaVoie

This grant will fund the construction of custom shelving to store large instruments such as trombones and tenor saxophones. By providing proper storage, the project will create a more organized and flexible teaching center, benefitting over 150 band students each year and supporting future expansion of the school’s music program.

Proctor Math Marathon: Games Galore – Fannie Proctor Elementary – Heidi Schwehr

This grant will fund a school-wide “Math Marathon,” where students rotate through engaging math and STEM stations for a day of hands-on learning and fun. With new math games and activities supported by parent and student volunteers, the event will promote problem-solving, teamwork, and excitement for math. The reusable materials will allow the Math Marathon to become an annual tradition for all students.

Melican Library Makerspace Supplies – Melican Middle School – Jill Pirrera

This grant will create a new makerspace in the school library stocked with craft, design, and technology tools. The space will offer monthly themed activities that promote creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning, while also reinforcing concepts from science, math, and engineering. This resource will be available to all Melican students and will allow students to collaborate with others and engage in activities instead of being on their computers.

Northborough Children’s Book Award (NCBA) – Northborough Library & All Elementary Schools – Rachael Hutchins

The NCBA is a collaboration between teachers and librarians aimed at inspiring all 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students to read great literature that develops their literacy skills. In the fall, school and public librarians from Northborough gather to deliberate and vote for at least 12 recently published book titles that serve as the nominees for the award. Multiple paperback copies of these titles are purchased and divided between all the Northborough elementary schools as well as the public library. Students who read at least 3 of the selected titles can vote for their favorite at either the public library or during their library classes in school. In June, votes are tallied, and the winning author is notified.

Read Across Northborough – All Elementary Schools – Clare Kelsey

The month of March is dedicated to celebrating reading around our nation. The National Education Association (NEA) promotes the love of reading across the country with its “Read Across America Through Colorful Pages” initiative. This event involves inviting members of our community (high school students, business owners, educators, etc) to visit our classrooms to share books and engage in meaningful conversations. To make this event a success, the Northborough Elementary school librarians will purchase chapter books and picture books to be read in each classroom that convey positive, inclusive messages. The books will become part of the elementary library collections after the reading event for everyone to enjoy.