Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel

Stability balls in our elementary schools!

Carol Bousquet — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:28:34 +0000

Stable and studying

Consolidated School rolls out stability balls

By Adam Chabot

Staff Writer, Kennebunk Post

Teachers at Kennebunkport Consolidated School have begun employing fitness stability balls for their students, which will allow them not only stimulate their minds, but promote health and fitness as well. The students, who are in kindergarten through grade five, sit on stability balls instead of classroom chairs. The stability balls, which are 20 to 30 inches in diameter, are like typical fitness balls, but with protruding ridges on one side to keep the balls from rolling.

“They help you concentrate,” said Alex Champagne, a fifth grader at Kennebunkport Consolidated School. “You can’t move in the chair.”

Ann Stockbridge, president of the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel, said stability balls produce better classroom behavior, keep students engaged and build core muscles. “The whole concept is, if kids are allowed to move, it stimulates the brain for learning,” Stockbridge said.

Kennebunkport Consolidated School first graders Robyn Altham and Carter Lanigan, above, said they like using stability balls better than chairs. Left, students at Consolidated School use stability balls instead of chairs to promote exercise and increase memory and focus. (Adam Chabot photos) " width="250" height="102" />

Kennebunkport Consolidated School first graders Robyn Altham and Carter Lanigan, above, said they like using stability balls better than chairs. Above, students at Consolidated School use stability balls instead of chairs to promote exercise and increase memory and focus. (Adam Chabot photos)According to a notice released by the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel, stability balls provide “active sitting,” which promotes brain stimulation, increases blood flow due to increased exercise and boosts memory, increases focus and attention and can create a low stress environment.

Jane Urban, a first-grade teacher at Consolidated School, said the best asset is that it allows students to move. “They need that movement throughout the day,” she said. “The kids have the option to use a chair but most prefer a ball. It allows them to engage their whole body when they’re working.”

Kennebunkport Consolidated School students hold signs reading “On The Ball In Class” showing their support for stability balls. (Adam Chabot photo) " width="250" height="137" />

Kennebunkport Consolidated School students hold signs reading “On The Ball In Class” showing their support for stability balls. (Adam Chabot photo)Two of Urban’s students, first-graders Carter Lanigan and Robyn Altham, said they like being able to use the balls.

“We can move around a little bit,” Lanigan said.

Jennifer Humphrey, who teaches fourth and fifth grades at Consolidated School, is an avid supporter of using the stability balls. She said the stability balls have been used in her classroom to promote exercise and students like the challenge.

Along with the classroom benefits, the stability balls provide “boost stations” or exercise stations, have been placed throughout Consolidated School to complement the stability balls. There are two stations the primary grades and two for grades three to five.

Humphrey said the “boost stations” provide students with opportunities to correctly and safely learn exercises such as planks or tabletops.

Fifth grader Caitlynn Wolff joined Champagne in demonstrating the proper technique of a tabletop exercise. The exercise requires students to lay their upper backs on the stability ball while keeping both feet flat on the ground and maintaining a straight posture.

“We know as adults when you’re being talked to at a conference, sitting and sitting, you might have to take a motor break to get water. Adults do this without realizing,” she said.

The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel added 540 more stability balls district-wide and students in 35 elementary classrooms in Regional School Unit 21 use them. Since 2009, the foundation has invested $15,000 to provide stability balls in the classroom. The investment was complemented by a $1,239 donation by Quest Fitness of Kennebunk.

Quest Fitness raised the donation from a May 2011 Walk-a-Thon that challenged participants to track miles walked over the course of the month. “The community was really engaged in the fundraising,” said Richard Evans, a managing partner at Quest Fitness. “People thought it was a great cause.” Evans said Quest Fitness was happy to help get the use of stability balls in the classroom off the ground and that the project is a great fit. He said they were looking for something wellness oriented that would work for the whole school.

Thank you to all who attended Catch the Wave Friday at The Nonantum in Kennebunkport. We had tremendous turnout and donations, all to support students and teachers in RSU21! Click here for more!

Carol Bousquet — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:13:35 +0000

We will soon have numbers of final turnout and money raised for the Education Foundation, and pictures too. Thanks, again, to everyone who made a contribution or attended.

Financial Planning for Kennebunk High School Seniors Starts Now

Carol Bousquet — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:30:03 +0000

Kennebunk High School Senior Kyle Merchant dreams of going to UMass Amherst next year. He’s applied for dozens of scholarships, plans to work two jobs this summer and save as much money as he can to help pay for his tuition.

“The most important thing is really conserving the money that I have,” said Merchant.

According to the Finance Authority of Maine, Merchant is right on track, looking at what college will cost him and planning on how to reduce his student loan debt before it gets out of control.

Student loans, budgeting, and credit lines were just a few of the topics the Kennebunk High Senior Class was introduced to at the Financial Literacy Day held at UNE March 22^. The guidance department at the high school arranged the first ever event to inform students about how to manage their finances and lifestyle choices once they graduate and go on to college or hold jobs.

Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel founder Ted Damon said students need to become financially literate and he supported funding the $2,550 program without hesitation.

“We are pleased to support any program that deepens their knowledge of finances before they go further in life,” said Damon.

F.A.M.E. reports that Maine college students of 2010 graduated with an average debt of $29,983. Mary Dyer of F.A.M.E. went on to explain what that means for a graduate in terms of monthly payments and the necessary salary to make those payments.

“You need to think about your indebtedness,” said Dyer. Every dollar you save now is a dollar you don’t have to borrow.”

Changing lifestyle habits and using budgets to save money were other concepts presented to students. F.A.M.E. presenter Mila Tappan said curbing your spending on little things, like coffee or pizza, adds up to big cash in a matter of months.

“If I could have every student sit down and do a budget as they become responsible for their money, that would be terrific,” Tappan said.

KHS senior Helen Holway might be convinced to do just that. “It was eye opening,” she said. “You could imagine doing it in your future.”

About 100 students attended the Financial Literacy Day. Kennebunk Savings Bank and F.A.M.E. provided presenters and materials for the event. RSU21 provided the bussing.

MSK 6th-graders went to Exchange City last week to learn how to run businesses, pay loans, and hold government jobs! Details to come!

Carol Bousquet — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:37:49 +0000

KHS seniors attended a Financial Literacy Day at UNE last week to learn about loans, credit, and a host of other financial concepts! See our Facebook page for more financial planning tips!

Carol Bousquet — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:37:23 +0000

KHS Financial Literacy

Carol Bousquet — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:31:55 +0000

Program: KHS Financial Literacy Program

Date: Spring 2012

Amount: $2550

KHS senior class will attend Financial Literacy Day at UNE March 22. The guidance department worked on the program with Kennebunk Savings Bank and Finance Authority of Maine to provide students with sessions on borrowing and loans, understanding credit,… Read the rest

KES Brain Ware Safari Software

Carol Bousquet — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:26:04 +0000

Program: Brain Ware Safari Software

Date: Spring 2012

Amount: $2158

Brain Ware Safari Software is a video game format program that develops 41 cognitive skills with students ages 6 and up. The program will be piloted with 50 students at KES, grades 1-3. Teacher Suzanne Healey learned of Brain… Read the rest

The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will be June 25, 2012 at Webhannet Golf Club. Click here for more information and to register.

Carol Bousquet — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:43:35 +0000

Please join us and support the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel in its mission to provide innovative educational programs for students and teachers of RSU21. We will have a great day of golf at the beautiful Webhannet Golf Club in Kennebunk, Maine. The event will include a 4-person scramble, dinner, and an awards reception. Consider a sponsorship, invite your friends and play as a team, or join another team. Register now. Thank you.

EFKA funds River Tree Arts experience for Middle School of the Kennebunks 6th Graders!

Carol Bousquet — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:35:28 +0000

By Samantha Stephens

yccs@seacoastonline.com

February 23, 2012 2:00 AM

MSK Photo by Isabella Kudas

KENNEBUNK — Although the hallway was quiet, several classrooms were alive with creativity at the Middle School of the Kennebunks on Thursday, Feb. 16, when River Tree Arts visited sixth-grade students.

The first-time event, featuring several teachers at River Tree Arts, allowed sixth-graders the opportunity to sign up for an artistic learning experience ranging from fashion design and improvisational skills to printmaking and guitar lessons.

Traci Gere, executive director at River Tree Arts, said the experience was unique because students had the opportunity to interact and be hands-on with unique types of artistic expressions.

“It’s important to encourage kids to develop their creativity,” Gere said. “We want to expose them to the arts but also reinforce that creativity is such an important part of life.”

Gere said the sixth-grade students were chosen due to a more flexible schedule than some of the other grades and “they’re at a great age to latch onto something.”

In a room filled with approximately 20 girls, all drawing sketches of clothing from their imagination and magazine clippings, River Tree Arts sewing and fashion teacher Vida Urbaite said she was excited to help students look at fashion in new ways.

“I hope the children look into fashion as art and less commercial,” Urbaite said. “It’s not about how much you have, fashion is about making good of any sort of material.”

Within the group, one student said she has taken up fashion design in her spare time.

“I like fashion design,” said Anna Howarth. “I’m designing my own Barbie clothes at home.”

Down the hallway in the music room, Ahmad Muhammed was teaching students improvisational and keyboarding skills.

Angelina Acedo, chosen as the first volunteer for an improvisational piano duet with Muhammed, said the experience was challenging and fun.

“I was listening to him half the time but I let my fingers do what they wanted,” Acedo said.

Karen Mathews, chorale and music teacher, said the opportunity was an exciting concept and exposing children to arts is an important cornerstone for a “well-rounded life.”

“In the age of technology, it’s important to be involved with something creative,” Mathews said. “The arts level the playing field for everyone and they can experience it together. The students are very excited.”

Unleashing their inner-monster in “I’ve Created a Monster,” led by new River Tree Arts teacher Abbeth Russell, students played an interactive drawing game that allowed them to collaborate in turn to create drawings of monsters and mythical creatures.

Jack Reetz, seated at a table with two friends, said he chose the course because “it sounded most fun.”

“You can draw anything you want,” Reetz said. “I’m becoming more colorful.”

But regardless of the classroom, whether the students were playing Hot Cross Buns on the violin for the first time like Kate Moore in “Violinist, Rocker, Jazz Cat,” or using metals and found materials to create art like Olivia Aiken in “Bike Part Art,” there was one sentiment shared by every student.

“I wish we could do this every day,” Aiken said.

Stephanie Brady

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:18:25 +0000

Stephanie Brady is Development Officer with RSU 21. Prior to her position in the district, she worked in a variety of fundraising roles at the Harvard School of Public Health, the Kennedy School of Government, and Saint Joseph’s College. She has held event coordination and marketing roles in the corporate sector as well. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Virginia Wesleyan College and a master’s in gender and cultural studies from Simmons College. A native Mainer, Stephanie resides in Scarborough with her husband and their two children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, gardening, and travelling with her family.