2025 Staff Grants
Our staff grant program provides direct funding to school staff for projects that enhance learning, spark curiosity, and remove barriers to opportunity. By putting resources directly into the hands of the people who support students every day, we help ensure that support reaches students where it matters most, in their daily learning environment.
Read the testimonials below to see the real impact these grants are making.
We are enjoying for sure!
Mrs. Cusse
Thank you for your generous donation that made it possible for our students to participate in a sheep heart dissection. Because of your support, our class had the opportunity to experience a hands-on science activity that brought our study of the circulatory system to life.
Students were able to closely examine the different structures of the heart, including the chambers, valves, and major vessels, and connect what they have been learning in class to a real-world example. The excitement and curiosity in the room were incredible as students worked together, asked thoughtful questions, and gained a deeper understanding of how the human heart functions.
Experiences like this make a lasting impact on students and help spark a deeper interest in science and learning. We are truly grateful for your continued support of our classroom and for helping provide meaningful educational opportunities for our students.
With appreciation,
Mr. Ives
Friends of Hampden! We are incredibly grateful for the generous grant that has made such a meaningful difference in our classroom. Thanks to this support, we were able to purchase a classroom speaker that has helped create a more engaging and inclusive learning environment. The ability to play sound clearly throughout the room has encouraged participation from students who are often too quiet to engage, helping them feel more comfortable and involved. The grant also allowed us to provide headphones, which have made testing smoother and more focused for everyone. They have been especially helpful for students who concentrate best while listening to music, giving them the tools they need to succeed. We are truly thankful for your support and gift.
Ms Danielle
Attached are some images from how the funds from the teacher grant assisted with my music room this year. A lot of the funds were used for more "flex seating" options with students, especially benefitting our middle school students. I was able to get all new seat cushions, new fun bounce chairs that are used as an incentive for students, new accessories and items for another flex seat by my desk, new headphones and supplies for the keyboard lab, and new stickers for our incentive parties.
Thanks!
Ms. Owens
Thank you so much for your generous $500 grant to support the physical education program here at Hampden EMS. Your contribution helped me make needed repairs and replacements to some P.E equipment. I am still processing how to safely mount some storage increasing items. I have been able to repair some of the balance beams and climbing euipment, in addition to patching and replacing old parachutes. I also purchased additional grips for the rock climbing wall.
Because of your support, we can keep our equipment safe allowing me to provide a more fun, active, and engaging environment for all of our students. I am truly grateful for your investment.
Thank you all,
Mr. Moo
Attached are some pictures from our Noetic Math Competition. Thank you so much for the teacher's grant. The students really enjoyed preparing and participating in the challenge!
Mrs. Everett
Here are some photos of what I got for the library with my Teacher Grant. The first 2 photos show screen shots from our Novel Effect Subscription. I purchased the subscription for this school year as well as a new speaker. This app creates an engaging read-aloud environment as it supplies sound effects that go along with our stories. The students love it and always cheer when our book has sound effects.
The majority of the grant was used to purchase books. I purchased 2-3 copies of each book for this year's Battle of the Books teams. I also purchased lots of frequently requested books for our library for all students. These are checked out every day and have long hold lists. The students were very excited to see the titles finally in stock. The photo shows the "New Books" shelf which is a mixture of books purchased with the Grant and books provided by the school.
Thank you so much! Our students love our new books!
Alexandra Schenker
Here are other pictures of the items that were purchased and put up around the kitchen and cafeteria. The students and even the staff loved and enjoyed the setup. I cant wait to do it again next school year as I continue to add on 😊
Thank you,
Andrea Rich
Students in grades 6-8 participated in National History day, as part of their Honors Social Studies curriculum. Mr. Drexel's and Mrs. Kroger's FOH grants were huge in helping all students have the supplies that they needed to be successful! Mr. Drexel purchased a color printer to give all students the ability to print colorful, high-quality pictures. Mrs. Kroger purchased tri-fold boards, display board headers, bulletin board letters, and other items to enhance their displays. Our goal with both of these grants was to make sure that all students had the materials to create a successful and attractive presentation board. We are in the process of sending HEMS students to represent our school at the district level and we know that appearance is one of the categories that is judged, so this gave all students an equal chance of making it to the next level!
Thanks so much!
Mrs. Kroger & Mr. Drexel
The headphones have been wonderful to have in class. They are very durable and easy to plug into the USB port. The best part is if a student’s headphone jack is broken, these headphones still work because they use the USB. Students also enjoy the microphone that flips down, it makes them feel important. So adorable!
Thank you,
Jill Cardarella
Kindergarten Teacher
The MS Life Skills team is grateful for the generous Hampden Teacher Grant we received. Our students have greatly benefited from the organization and practicality of the items. The students have a chance to choose the sensory item that works best for them, which helps with the reduction of germs, self-regulation, and the reduction of sensory overload.
Your investment in the Middle School Life Skills department means so much.
With gratitude,
La Keysha Brown
The Middle School Life Skills Team
Because of your generosity, our students officially received their analog watches today! These aren't just accessories; they are vital tools that allow our students to practice telling time at home, at school, and everywhere in between.
In third grade, students reach a critical milestone in their math curriculum: mastering the analog clock. This is a skill they have been building since first grade, and having a personal watch makes the learning process tangible and exciting.
This project wouldn't have been possible without the support of Friends of Hampden!
Thank you again for investing in our students' learning and helping them master this essential life skill.
Andrew Gorby
I just wanted to give a huge THANK YOU! We have a mobile karaoke setup! This can travel anywhere in or outside of the school for any school related activities. The students and staff are excited about our upcoming Karaoke events. Here’s a few photos of me putting the equipment together!
Ms. Powell
I wanted to pass along my thanks and some photos from the recent grant I received. I supplemented and gave a boost to some “STEM” bins I’d initially put together for my classroom 3 years ago.
Students have an opportunity to build with the materials to begin the day, during free time between subjects, and sometimes to show creativity relating to what we are learning. Today, the day before Thanksgiving Break, many students built Thanksgiving themed creation, from a Thanksgiving table to a scarecrow to colorful little turkeys.
Thanks for all that you do!
Lisa Breathnach
I first want to send a big thank you for funding such amazing things for our students here at Hampden. I am so happy to report that I was able to get the items and install them in time for Literacy Night. The students were able to enjoy an inviting space on the stage in the cafeteria to sit and read books. The curtains give the stage such a clean and renewed look. The lights make the stage look so bright and inviting. It will now be a space for kids to be able to show off their talents, and we now have an amazing space to use for different events such as the Dinner/ Auction that the PTO holds yearly. The kids really are enjoying just looking at the lights on the stage. The excitement on their faces just lights up a room. Without the help of FOH this would not have been possible, so I send my gratitude. Thank you so much.
Lisa Hartman
Thank you for you dedication to our students, and funding our grants this year to bring music enrichment to Pre-K. Attached is a photo of the students enjoying Ms. Anne.
Claire Bellows
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
I cannot express how appreciative I am of your support of my school. I am finding myself at a loss of words. And... done. I found some words.
I'm not sure if you all know that I made the transition back in the classroom after more than a decade in a support/ administrative role. Part of the challenge of doing so meant starting from scratch and rebuilding my classroom tools one by one. Last year, you all granted me supplies to enhance my room with seating options and fidgets for my students to use to ease transitions during the school day. They worked beautifully and are still in use.
I am so thankful that you trust us to make the right decisions for what we as teachers and professionals purchase in our classrooms. I bought a BrainPop subscription that became active that same day. I already have one student that uses it daily to research about his most recent interest. I have been pleasantly bombarded with facts over the last week. Today, I received my shipment of classroom games. They are better than I could have dreamed. They are engaging, bright, and seem like they will stand the test of time. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!!
Ms. Hunter