Disc golf is an accessible sport that requires minimal equipment, promotes outdoor movement and offers a non-contact and inclusive alternative for students who may not find enjoyment in traditional team sports. Disc golf equipment will last for multiple years and will be used frequently throughout the school year by all 7th and 8th grade students at the GDRMS.

In order to support Spanish novice language learners at the high school level, this grant will provide the annual teacher license for online access and two sets of classroom Spanish graphic novels from the interactive Senor Wooly online program. This eLearning program adjusts to the needs of all learners, engages through activities and improves student language proficiency. 

The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) class is built on the "learning by doing" philosophy. Students work in collaborative groups to design, build and test solutions for structural challenges. To create their designs, the curriculum needs foundational supplies such as wire, magnets, wooden coffee stir sticks, tacky glue, and popsicle sticks.

The Robotomies is GD's FIRST Robotics team. They seek support from GDEF to help fund robot parts and a portion of the competition entry fee for the FIRST competition. The Robotomies team is doing very well - earning spots in the final rounds of the district and world competitions this past year as well as competing in the MA State Championship games and a post-season competition at WPI.

Sheryl Faye is an actor who portrays influential women from history by bringing their stories to life through multi-media one-woman shows for young learners. Swallow Union 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders will "meet" historical figures such as Helen Keller (grade 2), American Revolution: Abigail Adams (grade 3) and Anne Frank (grade 4) during these immersive experiences.

The MS Science Fair will take place on March 28 for students in grades 5-8. The main goal of the science fair is for participants to have fun while engaging in the scientific process. Students will have the opportunity to learn specifics about a scientific subject through research, perform a scientific experiment, use their creative skills to explain their scientific project, and orally communicate their explanation to judges, peers, and families at the science fair.