The STAR Grant

The St. Anne’s Teachers As Researchers – the STAR Grant – is modeled after a nationally recognized curriculum development opportunity which enables teachers to share expertise through intensive collaborative work, to draw on fresh input from outside professionals, to read, research, write and discuss – all in the service of providing the best possible education for students. Our STAR Grant program was established in 2004 by Whitney and Jeanette Evans, grandparents of St. Anne's School students, and has resulted in continual enhancement of the school’s educational programs and processes.

The STAR Grant is funded by contributions from members of our community who recognize and wish to honor the passion, energy and creativity of our faculty and the work they do to develop the students of St. Anne’s School into confident, compassionate and capable adults. To contribute to the STAR Grant or for more information, please contact Director of Development Dutchey Doley at 410.263.8650 ext. 116.

Previous grants included:

Summer 2007 – Life Skills Curriculum
The Life Skills Curriculum was assessed from the perspective of its three major components:

• Physical Health and Development
• Social Curriculum & Behavioral Health and Development
• Service Learning & Social Justice Themes

The focus of the grant was to articulate the curriculum, identify resources for sharing and to implement recommendations for all grade levels, including the creation of a cross-divisional buddy program.

Summer 2006 – Language Arts Curriculum
The Language Arts scope and sequence was evaluated and revised for Third through Eighth Grade. The committee undertook extensive reading, discussion, and evaluation of universal discourse models. They established clear definitions for concepts and vocabulary and revised the scope and sequence using the models of James Moffett and James Kinneavy. The final document produced included a curriculum map for teachers and recommended steps to take during the 2006-2007 school year.

Summer 2005 - Reggio Emilia
Early Childhood and Kindergarten faculty engaged in discourse and exploration of Reggio Emilia inspired instruction. They researched and read current books on Reggio Emilia practices, attended a three day conference of the North America Reggio Emilia Alliance in Minneapolis, MN. In addition, they followed up with a two-day discussion to share information and set up an art studio atelier in the early childhood division. The committee invited presenters from the White Oak School of Illinois for a two-day workshop for all St. Anne’s teachers on Reggio Emilia practices.

Summer 2004 - Writers’ Workshop and Math Workshop
Faculty reviewed St. Anne’s School current Writer’s Workshop format developed by the leading educators in this field including Lucy Calkins at Teacher’s College in New York and Donald Graves at the University of New Hampshire. Their research affirmed St. Anne’s current practices are still in line with recommendations. In addition, they developed a mission and philosophy statement for writer’s workshop throughout the school and created two Power Point productions and notebook of resources for sharing with colleagues and parents.

Faculty reviewed St. Anne’s current math program, looking particularly at the ways in which the curriculum spiral worked: the introduction and revisiting of concepts at each grade level. The mathematics curriculum scope and sequence from kindergarten through eighth grade was examined in context of the current texts used at each grade level as well as national benchmarks for elementary mathematics curricula in general. In addition, the grant recipients called for feedback and evaluation from colleagues to ascertain strengths and areas for growth to continue to strengthen the program. The recipients created and expanded scope and sequence of concepts and skills for teacher use.