1. PEF Career Day 2012

    April 16, 2012 by SMS

    The sixth annual Peabody Education Foundation Career Day on April 13 gave Peabody Veterans Memorial High School sophomores an opportunity to visit with 45 local businesses to learn about potential careers.  Students are required to complete a worksheet reflecting their interactions.

    A sign of the event’s continued success is the high percentage of  presenters who are PVMHS alumni, now returned to share with current students.

    More than half of the presenters attended the city’s high schools.  Bob Haefner, a  1996 PVMHS Vocational student, spoke with interested sophomores about his job with Analogic Corporation as an electrical design engineer involved with hardware and software designs for MRIs. Other alumni represented careers in public service, insurance, publishing, small assorted small businesses, engineering, banking, retail and consulting; they are:

    Attorney – Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne (1976)
    Eastern Bank – Ashley Leveroni (2005)
    Embroider Me – Sarkis Sarkaisian (2006)
    City of Peabody Health Department – Debbie Compiano
    Gravoc Associates – Cathy Gravel (1975)
    Gravoc Associates – Connie Leaver (1972)
    HCPro – Katrina Gravel (2006)
    Mary Kay – Nancy Martins (1988)
    Northshore Mall – Laura Magarian (2003)
    Peabody Fire Department – Joe DiFranco (1979)
    Peabody Fire Department – Tom Desmond (1979)
    Peabody Fire Department – Chris Dowling (1990)
    Peabody Police – Jim Thibosean (1975)
    Peabody Police – Diane Sawyer (1977)
    Peabody Police – Sheila McDaid (1982)
    People’s United Bank – Vanessa Boga Bettencourt (2004)
    Peabody YMCA – Greg Griffin 1979
    Phil Richard Insurance – Kathryn Coggeshall  (2006)
    Phil Richard Insurance – Christina Tully (2007)
    Tupperware – Jodie Malatzky (1978)
    Weston & Sampson – Jaime Lennon Stelmat (1996)

    Career Day also featured the following businesses:
    Analogic Corporation – Sam Jonathan
    Atlantic Ambulance Service – Bob Dionne
    Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan – Carolyn Delossantos
    Burtons Grill – Ryan Dion
    City of Peabody/Building Inspector Kevin Goggin
    City of Peabody/Health Dept.
    Peabody High Cosmetology, Electronics, and Culinary
    Eastern Bank-Ann D’Anjou
    Eastern Bank-Ashley Leveroni
    Eastern Bank-Ed Lomasney
    EmbroidMe North Shore & Sarkisian
    Sporting Goods – Sarkis N. Sarkisian
    Evans Flowers-Dennis Feld
    Fire Department-Chris Dowling
    Gainsboro Studio-Carl Sweetser
    Healthy Peabody Collaborative-Sandi Drover
    Lahey Clinic Northshore -Pam Picariello
    Metro Credit Union – Vanessa Silveira
    New York Life – Dan Collins & Steve Shea
    Nurse Practioner – Lorrainne Murphy
    Ocean States Investigative Group, LLC – Ed Spicer
    Peabody Patch – John Castelluccio
    Peabody Access Telecommunications, Inc. – Don Murphy
    Peabody Access Telecommunications, Inc. – Jim Palmer
    Peabody Council on Aging – Carolyn Wynn
    Peabody District Court – Michael O’Shea & Rich Deangelis
    Peabody Marriott Hotel – Karim Perez
    Peabody Public Schools – Jessica DiGianfelice/chem teacher
    Peabody Public Schools Athletic Trainer
    People’s United Bank – Peggy Pedro
    Police Department – Vinny Patermo
    PVMHS – Jodi Hernandez
    TD Bank – David Bonilla
    TD Bank – Donna Hastings
    TD Bank – Jugmi Rao
    TD Bank – Megan Shea
    Tupperware – Joanne Malatzky
    US Army National Guard – Sgt. Toohey
    Weston & Sampson – Jaime Stelmat
    Whenever Wigs – Polly Vitagliano
    Torigian Y
    Northshore Mall
    Gravoc Associates
    Johnny C’s Barbershop


  2. PEF Spring Programs Underway

    April 11, 2012 by admin

    It’s hard to believe but April is already here and the Peabody Education Foundation’s spring programs are in full swing. On Friday, April 13, students at the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School will have a chance to meet with representatives from 45 different businesses during Career Day. The event, which is a collaborative effort between the PEF and the Peabody Chamber of Commerce, gives students perspective on a wide array of professions and allows students to learn about the education and training necessary for those career paths.

    Career Mentoring is another PEF program that introduces students to various occupations. High school juniors are paired with mentors from local businesses and get hands-on experience in careers that interest them. Students and their mentors meet throughout the spring so that students can observe the daily operations and gain a greater understanding of careers they might be considering.

    Guest Readers have been visiting Peabody’s elementary school classrooms since January. Each week, volunteers from the community spend 20-30 minutes reading to students and sharing the pleasures of reading with the kids.

    The PEF awarded 47 Best Bet grants in November, many of which went towards funding spring field trips and programs in Peabody’s schools. So far, some Peabody students have travelled to the Peabody Essex Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, while others have had visits from mathematician Greg Tang and author Yoko Kawashima Watkins. Best Bet programs will continue through the end of the school year.

    For more information on these programs, be sure to check out the “What We Do” section of our website!


  3. Fun for All at Second Annual Spelling Bee

    February 22, 2012 by admin

    The Peabody Education Foundation hosted its second annual Spelling Bee at the Northshore Mall on February 16. Thirty Higgins Middle School students from grades six, seven, and eight competed against one another for the title of top speller. Unlike last year’s competition, spellers were not separated by grade level but rather competed across all grades.

    First place in the Spelling Bee went to Ashley Royer, a member of the Grade 7 Bears cluster. She received a $2,000 scholarship to Sylvan Learning Center, a watch from Precision Time and a $50 Simon gift card.

    The second and third place finishers went one-on-one for four rounds before Grade 8 Aquarian Claudia Lanes, placed second and Spencer May, a seventh grader from the Broncos cluster, took third. Each contestant received a $50 Simon gift card and a watch from Precision Time.

    After more than two hours of competition there were eight contestants remaining. “Tie Breaker” words, such as epistrophe, opsimath, autochthonous, and linguipotence, were used to narrow the field.

    Thirty pieces of student art were auctioned off to benefit the Peabody Education Foundation. The frames for the artwork were provided by GraVoc Associates. The three artists whose work brought in the highest bids were also recognized with a $50 Simon gift card from Mark Whiting. The artists are: Camryn Caruso, Bernard Perisie and Nicole Malvarose.

    Attendees took part in the silent auction and raffle to benefit the Peabody Education Foundation’s Partners in Education program. Items for the auction were donated by PEF members, community residents, and local businesses.

    The Peabody Education Foundation would like to thank the following businesses who made the event a success through donations of resources and raffle prizes: Northshore Mall, Regina’s Pizzeria, Treadwell’s Ice Cream, Burton’s Grill, Build-A-Bear, Jamba Juice, Sephora, The Body Shop, Precision Time, Chick-Fil-A, and Village Silversmith. Thank you to those individuals who donated their time and efforts to ensure that the event ran smoothly, and special thanks to Sudi Smoller for coordinating all efforts and training the top spellers at the Higgins!


  4. Spelling Bee Potluck a Success

    February 1, 2012 by KJG

    The Higgins Middle School’s top 30 spellers celebrated with their families and friends at a potluck dinner on January 26th. The event, held in the Higgins Library, served as an additional practice for the spellers, who will compete at the second annual Spelling Bee at the Northshore Mall. Also attending the potluck dinner was guest “Beemaster” Tom Gould of Treadwell’s Ice Cream, who is also a member of the Peabody City Council and a member of the Peabody Education Foundation.

    The students gained their top 30 speller status by proving themselves the best spellers among their respective clusters; there are 10 students from each grade represented. The spellers have just over two weeks to study and prepare for the main event. The Spelling Bee will start at 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 16, and will feature a raffle and a silent auction in addition to the competition itself. Included among the auction prizes are 30 framed art pieces created by Higgins students. Funds raised from the raffle and silen auction will benefit the Peabody Education Foundation, particularly its Partners in Education program.

    We hope to see you at the Northshore Mall on February 16th for an evening of spelling!

  5. Best Bet Grant Winners Announced

    November 30, 2011 by KJG

    The Peabody Education Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of Best Bet Awards for 2011-2012.  The Best Bet Committee received 89 applications totaling nearly $67,000 in requested funding; upon reviewing the grants, the Committee was ultimately able to award 47 grants for a total of $24,593. Each of the city’s ten public schools received grant money, and the proposed programs will impact students from grades K-12.

    Some of Peabody’s students will be traveling to new and exciting places thanks to Best Bet funding: approved grants included trips to the Peabody Essex Museum, the Lowell National Historical Park, the Museum of Science Planetarium, the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Arts of the Americas Wing of the Museum of Fine Arts. Other students will experience in-school presentations such as Holocaust Legacy Partners, author Yoko Kawashima Watkins, and Indonesian Gamelan & Puppet Theater. Best Bet grants will also provide learning materials that will complement the existing resources in Peabody’s classrooms, including News-2-You weekly news publications, Kids Discover Magazines, and Literature Circles. The diversity and originality of this year’s Best Bet applications made it very difficult for the Committee to decide which programs to fund, but it’s clear that each of the programs chosen will have a positive impact on students.

    Teachers have been notified of their grants, with programs anticipated to start as early as December and continue through the remainder of the school year. The winner of the Peter A. Torigian Best Bet Award, given to the most innovative program each year, will be announced in May 2012. For a complete list of funded 2011-2012 Best Bet programs, please click here. Congratulations to all the teachers who received a Best Bet grant!


  6. Smart Carts Unveiled at Higgins Middle School

    November 18, 2011 by KJG

    The Peabody Education Foundation unveiled and donated seven Smart Carts this week to the Higgins Middle School.  The presentation of the carts was made to an audience of students, faculty, Peabody Education Foundation members, and Smart Cart donors. A Smart Cart is a fully mobile audio-visual unit equipped with a laptop, projector, digital document camera, and wireless tablet. The carts also have speakers, a docking station for media players such as iPods, and a built-in power outlet for all devices. The unveiling event, which took place in the Higgins library, offered the individuals who donated funds towards purchasing the carts a chance to see their contributions in action. Warren Waugh of Lyon-Waugh Auto Group and Arthur Holden of the Northeast Massachusetts Economic Development Corporation were present; representatives from Su Chang’s Restaurant and Analogic Corporation were unable to attend but were recognized for their gifts to the PEF.

    Sudi Smoller, a PEF member and the Higgins Librarian/Media Specialist, gave a brief overview of the carts before introducing Mike Bowler,  a 6th grade math teacher for the Penguins cluster. Mr. Bowler demonstrated how he uses the technology on the carts – such as the document camera and the laptop – in his lessons. Students from one of his math classes assisted with the presentation by projecting their work via the Elmo brand document camera. Mr. Bowler also showed how an iPad can be connected to the cart’s projector to display its applications and programs to an entire class. Following Mr. Bowler’s demonstration, Mrs. Smoller further illustrated the uses of the document camera and PEF member Katrina Gravel showed off the wireless tablet, which can be used to control the computer and “write” on the screen from anywhere within the computer’s range. Interim Superintendent Dr. Herbert Levine, Higgins principal Todd Bucey, and City Councilor/PEF Chairperson Dave Gravel addressed the audience as well, thanking both the PEF and the Smart Cart donors for making a positive and valuable contribution to the school.

    The Peabody Education Foundation would like to thank Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, Northeast Massachusetts Development Corporation, Su-Chang’s Restaurant, and Analogic Corporation for making the purchase of these Smart Carts possible. The PEF truly appreciates the efforts of these business leaders to improve the schools and provide Peabody’s students with technology to help them succeed.


  7. Due 11/2: 2011 Best Bet Applications

    November 1, 2011 by KJG

    Anyone applying for a 2011 Best Bet grant should submit an application prior to tomorrow’s deadline of November 2nd. The application can be found on our website’s homepage, or by clicking here. Applications should be mailed to 24 Main St. Suite 28, Peabody MA 01960. Any questions can be directed to Katrina: 978-538-9055 x120.

    The Best Bet Committee will meet in the coming weeks to review all applications and make decisions awarding grants. All applicants will be notified by the end of the month whether or not their application will be funded.


  8. 140 Slides, 15 minutes: Educational Tech Commandments

    October 26, 2011 by SMS

    Interesting take on educational technology needs and priorities from Adam Bellows Educational Tech Commandments.


  9. PEF delivers first “Smart Cart” to Higgins

    October 12, 2011 by SMS

    PEF Members Todd Bucey and Katrina Gravel explain how the Smart Cart works
    Teachers at Higgins Middle School were awed by the “Smart Cart” technology  donated by the Peabody Education Foundation (PEF) and delivered to the school on October 6 during the school’s monthly Faculty Meeting.   PEF members Katrina Gravel and Dave Gravel presented the cart and demonstrated the many presentation options included on the cart.  The specialized and lockable cart includes speakers and features: a laptop computer, LCD projector, ipod docking station and an Elmo document camera.  The first cart has been assigned to the Cullen Library; six more carts will be delivered soon to the school.  The technology was used during the meeting to share information on the school’s upcoming 2nd Annual Spelling Bee which is a PEF fundraiser.

    “Smart Carts” are made possible through the PEF’s Partners in Education program that raises funds to provide technology for Peabody schools.


  10. Best Bet 2011 Applications Now Available

    September 12, 2011 by KJG

    As the new school year kicks into high gear, the Peabody Education Foundation once again encourages Peabody’s teachers to apply for Best Bet grants, which fund resources, materials, and programs that the school budget cannot accommodate. Applications and instructions are located on our website: http://www.peabodyedfoundation.org/programs/best-bet. The deadline for applications is November 2, 2011, and grant recipients will be announced in late November. Any questions can be directed to Katrina Gravel: 978-538-9055 x120.

    The Best Bet program is open to all teachers in the Peabody public school system. Past grants have funded programs such as a trip to the library, Holocaust Legacy Partners Visit the Higgins, Plimoth Plantation trips, and Bullying Prevention through Puppetry, and have provided educational materials such as Discovery Education Streaming, Kindergarten Thematic Learning Centers, and Mastering Multiplication in 10 and 10. The Peabody Education Foundation and the Best Bet Committee encourage teachers to think outside the box and support creative application concepts; the committee awards the Peter A. Torigian Best Bet award to the most innovative grant each year.

    Good luck to all those applying for a Best Bet grant this year, and thank you for your support!