Two Hastings Projects Get C9 Mini-Grants

Two projects at Westborough's Hastings Elementary School are among 19 Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce mini-grant recipients, all area Kindergarten to grade 12 educators.

Hastings Title I math specialist Joan Truesdell received a mini-grant for "Taming Time: Helping Young Children to Understand and Manage Time," chamber officials said Friday in a press release.

Hastings reading specialist Sheila Plifka received a mini-grant for "Cooking Up Cultural Connections – The Family Book Club."

The chamber's mini-grants totaled $6,449.92.

The program supports developing "innovative teaching ideas and increase student motivation and enthusiasm by providing funds for instructional experimentation and enrichment activities," chamber officials said.

The latest mini-grants were presented at the chamber's Nov. 27 membership breakfast.

In addition to the Westborough educators, this year's recipients were:

• Marisa Marzilli/Amanda Sharpe, Proctor School, Northborough: "Let the Fun Begin!"
• Dominique LePaul, Melican Middle School, Northborough: "Copying the Masters!"
• Nancy Bedard, Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury: "Research Matters for College and Career Readiness"
• Melissa DeMayo, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough, "Our Neighborhood"
• Gretchen Bean/Jennifer Callaghan, Melican Middle School, Northborough: "Journey to Jo’Burg – A Struggle for Freedom and Dignity"
• Darcy Messineo, Spring Street School, Shrewsbury: "Describing with Details"
• Patricia Rollins, Lincoln Street School, Northborough: "The Quest for Knowledge and Wellness: Geocaching"
• Lori Miller, Proctor School, Northborough: "Score! Kick-Off with Storytelling"
• Kim Spiliakos/Carolyn Swenson, Zeh School, Northborough: "Getting in the Zone: Self-Regulation & Emotional Control for a Productive School Day"
• Mary Anne Jezierski, St. Bernadette School, Northborough: "Caching In on History"
• Christine Hall/Maria Mihalek, Proctor School, Northborough: "Mosaic Memories: Reflections of our School Days"
• Christine Lincoln/Nancy Pojani, Melican Middle School, Northborough: "Enriching the Mathematics Curriculum"
• Teresa Dillenkoffer, St. Bernadette School, Northborough: "Let Your Voice Be Seen"
• Ellen O’Leary/Cara Demoga/Suzanne Margiano, Floral Street Elementary School, Shrewsbury: "Strengthening the School Community through Social Thinking and Self-Regulation"
• Paul Airoldi, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough: "Virtual Auto Fault – Learning How to Diagnose and Repair a Computerized Vehicle with a Computer"
• Lori Gompf, Trottier Middle School, Southborough: "Investigating Topography using GPS and GIS"
• Erin Kendrick, Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury: Findings: Sharing the Work of Student Scientists"