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Goals Worth Reaching...

Grants & Scholarship

The Ayer Shirley Education Foundation provides two avenues through which educators and administrators can seek funding for enrichment programs, curriculum, professional development, and technology.

In 2012, the Ayer Shirley Education Foundation began awarding a scholarship in the amount of $1,000.00 to a student graduating from the Ayer Shirley Regional School District.

ASRSD K-12 Grant

Through the K-12 Grant Program, the Ayer Shirley Education Foundation seeks to provide enrichment opportunities for students in the Ayer Shirley Regional School District.  With a funding base of $25,000 the board of directors awards individual grants (up to $2,000) for projects that encourage and support innovation in teaching and learning; encourage creativity and leadership in teachers and administrators; encourage collaboration among teachers, administrators, parents and community groups to benefit the Ayer Shirley Regional Schools; or those projects that will have a lasting benefit to the ASRSD community.

Grant Guidelines and Procedures

Goals
The ASEF looks to award grants for projects which:
  • Encourage and support innovation in teaching and learning
  • Encourage creativity and leadership in teachers and administrators
  • Encourage collaboration among teachers, staff, parents, and community groups
  • Have a lasting benefit to the Ayer Shirley school community
Please note: The ASEF grants are not intended to replace or relieve existing responsibility for public funding or programs for the public school system, nor are they intended to substitute for normal budget growth and maintenance.
Who can apply?
  • Teachers, administrators, and other staff members of Page Hilltop School, Lura A. White School, Ayer Shirley Middle School and Ayer Shirley High School.
  • ASRSD Students - under the supervision of a school staff member
  • Parents and other community members with ideas or a special talent that could benefit the children of the ASRSD in collaboration with an ASRSD staff member.
Guidelines
  • Priority will be placed on projects that directly impact students, present opportunities across the student population, and those that may benefit current and future classrooms.
  • The ASEF will consider each grant request, without regard to precedence, on its own merit.
  • Grant projects supported by the ASEF are intended to supplement, not supplant programs normally covered under the public school budget.
  • The maximum grant amount is $2,000, unless the program benefits multiple schools.
  • The ASEF discourages a dependency on grants for ongoing programs.
  • Grant funds will only be reserved for 6 months from project start date, unless an extension request is made in writing to the board.
  • Upon conclusion of the project, a final report with results, observations, and costs must be submitted to the ASEF. Failure to submit a final report could impact future funding.
Procedures
  • Application forms can be obtained online at www.ayershirleyeducationfoundation.org or contact the ASEF by phone or email to request a copy.
  • Completed grants can be submitted via email to ObscureASEF with a copy also sent to your school principal. Your application will not be considered complete unless you “cc” your school principal on your submitting email.
  • If you are submitting a hard copy, please it is posted by the deadline to be considered for the current grant cycle. Applications can be mailed to our PO Box or placed in the ASEF mailbox located in the Page Hilltop School’s Office.
  • Applications must be completed in full and include all required signatures. (an email cc to your principal fulfills this requirement).
Please Note: The ASEF grant distributions are not lump sum awards to individuals. Successful grant projects will submit invoices for expenses directly to the ASEF for payment.
Ineligible Costs
  • Indirect and/or overhead costs to external organizations
  • Indirect and/or overhead costs to the Ayer Shirley Regional Schools (i.e., building rental fee, substitute teacher pay, etc.)
  • Snacks and parties
  • Items that should be considered part of a school’s infrastructure such as textbooks, computers, printers or furniture. (Peripherals, when requested as an integral and necessary component of a project, may be eligible at the discretion of the ASEF Board of Directors.)
  • Teacher Stipends
Award Distribution
  • Award decisions will be completed within fourteen days of application deadline.
  • Each application is reviewed by the ASEF board of directors. If needed, a member of the board may contact the applicant for additional information. Final award selections are determined by a vote of the full board of ASEF directors.
  • The ASEF will attempt parity among the schools; however, for a variety of reasons, including the number of proposals received and the amount of the funds requested, this goal is not always achievable.
  • The ASEF will provide applicants not receiving a grant with feedback as to why the grant application was not successful during the current granting cycle

Janis Bresnahan Preschool Grant

The former Ayer Education Foundation established The Janis Bresnahan Grant for Early Childhood Education in May of 2006 to honor the memory of Janis Bresnahan and her work with the youngest students in our community.  Janis Bresnahan worked at the Ayer Kiddie Depot all throughout high school, and then went on to dedicate her life and work to the education of children, including teaching at the preschool for many years.  The combined Ayer Shirley Education Foundation continues its support of our community preschool programs through the awarding of $1,500 in grants at the beginning of each calendar year.

Grant Guidelines and Procedures

Goals
  • Encourage and support innovation in teaching and learning for our youngest students
  • Encourage creativity and leadership in teachers and administrators
  • Encourage collaboration among teachers, staff, parents, and community groups
Who can apply?
  • • Teachers/Staff of preschool/prekindergarten programs within Ayer and Shirley.
  • Parents and other community members with ideas or a special talent that could benefit the children of the preschools in collaboration with staff members.
Guidelines
  • Priority will be placed on projects that have direct impact on students, present opportunities for enrichment, and provide lasting impact to current and future students.
  • The ASEF will consider each grant request, without regard to precedence, on its own merit.
  • The amount of funds to be dispersed is $1,500. This is a competitive grant program.
  • The ASEF discourages a dependency on grants for ongoing programs.
  • Grant funds will be reserved for 6 months from project start date and can continue after that if requested in writing.
  • Upon conclusion of the project, a final report with results, observations, and a financial statement must be submitted to the ASEF.
Procedures
  • Application forms can be obtained online at www.ayershirleyeducationfoundation.org or contact the ASEF by phone or email to request a hard copy.
  • Twelve copies of the completed application must be submitted by the posted deadline to be considered for the current grant cycle. Applications can be mailed to the ASEF at our PO Box or dropped off at our ASEF mailbox located in the Page Hilltop School’s Office.
  • Applications must be completed in full and include all required signatures.
Ineligible Costs
  • Indirect and/or overhead costs to external organizations
  • Snacks and parties
  • Transportation
  • Items that should be considered part of a school’s infrastructure such as building
    maintenance, administrative costs, or utilities.
  • Teacher/Staff compensation
Award Distribution
  • Award decisions will be completed within seven days of application deadline.
  • Each application is reviewed by the ASEF board of directors. If needed, a member of the board may contact the applicant for additional information. Final award selections are determined by a vote of the full board of ASEF directors.
  • The ASEF will provide applicants not receiving a grant with feedback as to why the grant application was not successful during the current granting cycle.

Download

For grant applications, check request forms and grant report forms. Click here.

All grant recipients are required to recognize ASEF. Please include our logo on any flyers, posters, tee shirts, etc… You can download our logo here.

Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. Abigail Adams

Scholarship

Students interested in applying must complete an application and submit their transcript to the high school guidance department.  The scholarship committee then narrows the applicants to three and the Board of Directors of the Ayer Shirley Education Foundation selects the recipient.
In making their decision, the Board looks at the following criteria:

  • Is an Ayer or Shirley resident graduating from the Ayer Shirley Regional High School
  • Has demonstrated high academic success
  • Is in financial need
  • Consistently participates in community service within the Ayer and/or Shirley community
  • Is of good moral character

Students of Ayer Shirley Education Foundation members are not eligible to apply.

 

2016 grants

Information about our 2016 grants will be available soon.
Click here to learn more about past grant cycles.

Grants awarded to date

Through the generous support of our communities, the Ayer Education Foundation and the Shirley Educational Foundation were able to fund more than 175 educational and innovative programs within our schools. Now - together with the new region - the combined Ayer Shirley Education Foundation is working hard to support creative learning opportunities. Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters!
“A Midsummer’s Night Dream” Performance
“Activate” Movement and Music Publication
“Arithmetickles” Interactive Math Show *
“Dynamath” Publications
“It’s a Jungle Gym Out There” Staff Training 
“Mad Science” Architecture
“Mad Science” Polymers *
Accelerated Reader – Grade 2
Accelerated Reader – Grade 6
Accelerated Reader – Grade 7
Acton Discovery Museum Visit * 
Assistive Science Technologies
Assistive Technology Lending Library
Audio “Classics” Library
Autism Awareness Library
Ayer Shirley Youth Drama
Back to Basics I (Math Software)
Back to Basics II (Math Software)
Boston Bound Theatre Tickets
Brain Pop! Math Software
British Soldier Performance
Bullying Prevention - 2006
Bullying Prevention - 2008
Camfel Productions
CBC - Student Production System
Celebrate the December Holidays
Ceramics Studio
Children Making Music – Hand Drums
CHOICES Guidance Curriculum software
Chrome Carts (2)
Class Musical
Classroom Jeopardy
Connected Mathematics
Cooperative Games
Creative Problem Solving Problems
CSI – Destination Imagination
Data Collection with pH Sensors
Digital Video Production Equipment
Digital Cameras
District Art Show
Drawbridge Puppet Theater performance
Drumlin Farm Habitat Visit *
Document Cameras & Projectors (multiple grades)
Educational Magazines (various grade levels)
Elementary Biography Books
ELL Games
“Enhancing the Curriculum” (Live performances)
“Enhancing the Curriculum II”
Epson Projectors
ESL Development
Eureka! Stories for Math and Science 
FIRST Robotics
Giles LaRoche - Author/Illustrator Visit
Grade 1 Artistic Enrichment Programs
Grade 5 Novels
Hands-on Geography *
Hands-on Science
Hands Free Computer
High School Life Skills Program
High School Archery
High School Quiz Show
“Hoop Dreams” with Chris Herren
Ionization/Conductivity
iPad technology for SPED
iPad for Art instruction
Jazz Band Music Library
Kid Fit Physical Education *
Kitchen Botany *
Leadership Skills Development
Lego Robotics/Lego League
Lego Robotics – Middle School
Listening/Learning Centers (multiple grades)
Literacy Instruction Materials
Literacy Links
Management of Food Allergies
Math Remediation Workbooks
Math Document Cameras
Math Graphing Software
Math Manipulatives
MCAS Math Boost
Measuring Motion in Mathematics
Middle School Chorus *
Middle School Broadcast
Middle School Library
Middle School Literacy Center
Middle School Science Fair *
Middle School Video/Yearbook
MimeoTeach Technology – Kindergarten
MimeoTeach Technology – Grade 1
MimeoTeach Technology – Grade 3
MimeoTeach Technology – Grade 3-5/SPED
Mindware Math Games
Mobile Math Lab
Mountain Classroom *
Museum of Science Live Performances *
Music Enrichment & Instruments
Music Technology Lab
Nashua Watershed
Nature’s Classroom – 2005
Nature’s Classroom – 2007
Nature’s Classroom – 2008
Nature's Classroom – 2009
Nature’s Classroom – 2010
Nature’s Classroom – 2011
Nature’s Classroom – 2012
Nature’s Classroom – 2013
N.E Aquarium Tide Pool visits *
Non-Fiction Books
NRWA River Classroom
Page Hilltop Press
Page Hilltop Productions
Page Hilltop Science Lab
Page On Stage & Beyond
Paraprofessional Training Academy
P.A.W.S
Pennies for Peace
Performing Arts Instruments
Phonemic Awareness 
Physical Changes of Matter - 2007
Physical Changes of Matter - 2008
Physical Education Pedometers
Physics/Physical Science Magnetics
Poster/Poetry Calendar
Preschool Inside Gym
Printz Award Young Adult Novels
Project Adventure
Project Read
Project Read - Seminar
Promethean ActivBoards Grade 1
Promethean ActivBoard Grade 2
Promethean ActivBoard Grade 3
Promethean ActivBoards Grade 4
Promethean ActivBoard Grade 6
Promethean ActivBoard Grade 7
Read-Along Listening Centers
Reading for Meaning
Renaissance Program
Research Library Resources
Restrung Guitars
River Classroom
Seed Travelers
Shakespeare’s Garden
Shirley History Class *
Shirley Playboard
Situation Critical Reading
SEPAC Computer Lab
Social Studies Enhancement
Spanish Language audio CDs
Special Education Learning Lab
Spelling Bee
Spring Musical
STARLAB Museum of Science Visit *
STEM Design
Story Works
Sum Dog 
Supplementary Chapter Books
Symphony Field Trip
Time for Kids Subscription *
TinkerPlots Data Analysis software
USA Studies Weekly *
Vocabulary Development
Washington DC Class Trip
Weather Education Presentation
Weekly Reader magazines *
Wellness/Physical Fitness
Wing Masters Software
WordWorks
Young Adult Novels
Young Readers Center
*Indicates programs that have returned to our schools over the years through multiple grants.

© 2019 Ayer Shirley Education Foundation, Inc.