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headset microphone and speaker kit, document cameras, iPads, bell kits and bass
xylophone for music, OT and PT support materials and variety of other curriculum
enhancing materials, apps and software.

Approximately $18,000 of PTO spending supported this year’s Curriculum Enrichment
program. Each grade level benefits from one or more of these programs each year. For
example, last year all fifth grade classes were entertained by the Techsploration show
about electricity, which was followed by hands-on electricity experiments in each fifth
grade classroom. The PTO has added Miss Frizzle and Johnny the K programs to Cole
school, in addition to the Audubon, Museum of Science, Drumlin Farms, NE Aquarium
and History of Rockets and Space Flight programs. Many of the enrichment programs
cover aspects of science, including biology and geology related topics.

The PTO also helped to defray the costs of the 2nd and 6th grade activities and
celebrations, and contributed $1,300 to this year’s 6th grade activities committee.
Additionally, the PTO supported teachers by sponsoring the annual teacher appreciation
week and by providing refreshments for monthly meetings. The PTO spends
approximately $1,000 on school beautification throughout the year between Cole and
Spofford Pond Schools.

The PTO recruits parent volunteers to host family events throughout the year. These
include the Talent Shows, Halloween Party, the Fall Fundown, and a student Color Run
to celebrate the end of the school year. Fees charged for these events help defray the cost
of outside food and entertainment. In addition to running annual programs in 2015, the
PTO worked with two local businesses to produce lines of school “Spirit wear” clothing
and items for students and staff in an effort to increase school spirit.

Primary sources of PTO funds are the membership drive and directory sales in the fall, a
fall catalog sale fundraiser, yearbook sales, a spring fundraiser raffle and auction, and
participation in the Tri-Town Sports Sale.

Boxford Elementary Schools Trust: The Boxford Elementary Schools Trust (BEST) is
an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering excellence in our public
schools by raising private funds to supplement long-term elementary school initiatives
and innovative teaching tools, technology and teacher trainings. BEST provides these
funds by reviewing and approving teacher-driven grant proposals. Grant awards have the
broadest possible effect on our community and the best chance of helping teachers bring
innovation to our district. During the 2015-2016 school year, BEST donated
approximately $46,500 to Cole and Spofford Pond Schools by funding grants including:
A state-of-the-art science pilot in grade 5 – Science from Scientists – that brings real
scientists into the classroom to run experiments and provide enhanced instruction every
two weeks throughout the school year
th
A technology pilot for two 6 grade classrooms, one 1:1 iPad classroom and one 1:1
Chromebook classroom
A comprehensive teacher development course called the Power of Our Words,
implemented at both Cole and Spofford Pond Schools that focuses on verbal

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