52 | Summer 2017 with best practices in college counseling and the college admissions process. This conference will bring new assessment and instructional strategies that will aid in evaluating student skills and attributes to colleges. Carey Jackson-Adams, Upper School Art will attend the John Campbell Folk School workshop: Beeswax and Bindings. Mrs. Jackson-Adams will develop techniques to teach students how to use creative and new substances in art. She will learn to make art journals and bind them into The Parents’ Association is pleased to announce that 12 GDS faculty and staff members will benefit from the Teacher Enrichment Endowment Fund (TEEF) this summer. The goal of TEEF is to provide funding for teachers to participate in unique, enriching learning experiences. Applications are submitted every year to a committee consisting of the Parents’ Association (PA) President, the President – Elect, the Board Treasurer, the Fundraising Treasurer, the Secretary, Past Fund-raising Chair(s) the Assistant Head of School and one or more recipients of grants from the preceding year. This year the PA awarded more than $16,000 to these 12 recipients participating in 11 different projects, all of which will take place this summer. The recipients and projects are: Suzanne Billips, Lower School Reading Specialist and Christine Brennan, 4th grade will attend the Teachers College at Columbia University to participate in the Reading and Writing Project by Lucy Calkins. The goal of the conference is for teachers to learn more about helping young people become avid and skilled readers, writers and inquirers. Stephanie Sutter-Shoaf, 5th grade English will attend the Center for Teaching and Learning Internship in Edgecomb, Maine. She will gain new knowledge to design an invigorating reading course for the new 5th graders to improve their comparison and contrast in literature themes. Mrs. Sutter- Shoaf will also be able to mentor faculty members to implement a Reading and Writing Project curriculum. Susan Ferguson, 3rd grade will travel with other faculty to South Africa, to expand the third grade unit of South Africa. This will heighten current knowledge and develop higher knowledge of apartheid and developing countries. She will learn about the culture and everyday practices to enhance a student’s grasp of South Africa as a study unit. Tammy Alt, Upper School Dean of Student Life and College Counseling will attend the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions. This 5-day workshop is filled Parents’ Association Awards $16,000 for Teacher Professional Development books for students. Dana Lowell, Upper School Theatre Technical Director will travel to New York City to attend the Broadway Teachers Workshop. This workshop is geared towards Middle and High School directors and demonstrates fresh ideas to teaching students. Mr. Lowell will learn about new techniques and best practices for technical directors. Karen Lawyer, Physical Education will attend Achieving Fitness: An Adventure Approach in Beverly, Massachusetts. She will study self-efficacy techniques for young students and its role in helping children. Mrs. Lawyer will integrate student Achieving Fitness activity guides and journaling into the Physical Education curriculum. Tiana Walden, Kindergarten Assistant will earn a certification as a Signing Time Instructor. With this certification, American Sign Language classes can be offered to students. There is a need in our GDS community to learn sign language and is a helpful way for younger children to communicate. Mara Montana, Upper School English will attend SACAC’s Summer Seminar for College Counselors at Furman University. Mrs. Montana wants to expand knowledge to help more junior students who are preparing for college and will learn about ethics, counseling, letter writing and the college admission process. Bridget Gwinnett, Upper School Counselor will attend Grab the Torch in Boston, Massachusetts. She will learn from nationally-known experts on Upper School students social and emotional competence. She will bring back practical ideas and leading edge strategies specifically geared towards Upper School students. Clarissa Marshall, Middle School Science will explore the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, and participate in a dinosaur dig. She will learn from onsite paleontologists how to perform, collect and identify fossils that may be unearthed. This dinosaur dig will expand the current History of Life program that is part of the Middle School science learning. Brennan Billips Low ell A lt Ferguson Sutter-Shoaf W alden Law yer Jackson-Adam s M ontana M arshall G w innett