Schenectady Schools Educational Foundation

At Howe Elementary, Jennifer Dixon’s after school activities program helped students get moving, get outside, and build healthy habits along the way. From hiking, sledding, and ice skating to healthy snacks and student-led positivity efforts, this grant supported experiences that built confidence and reinforced what it means to be safe, respectful, and responsible.

We’re proud to celebrate a program that supports wellness, connection, and joy beyond the school day. 💙
Schenectady City School District

✏️ Read more: https://loom.ly/iHf5g0k

Fifth graders at Paige Elementary became researchers, writers, and published authors through the Revolutionary War Alphabet Books project. 📚✨

Guided by teacher Brittany DuQuette and supported by this grant, students deepened their understanding of the Revolutionary War as they researched, wrote, revised, and ultimately published their own class books. The project boosted student engagement and confidence, giving each child the experience of becoming a true author with a hardcover copy to celebrate their achievement.

Schenectady City School District
Read more: https://loom.ly/4mdhaOE

Pleasant Valley School students discovered a serious love for reading through the March Madness Book Bracket! 📚

Educators Jennifer Corrigan and Christine Marino brought this exciting reading contest to life thanks to an SCSDEF grant! The results were truly inspiring. Students rushed to finish the winning books and eagerly discussed their favorite characters in the hallways.

The excitement was so high that many kids headed straight to the school librarian to find other titles in the series. Even the books that did not win the bracket received attention, with teachers reading them aloud to captivated classrooms. We loved seeing this kind of enthusiasm for literacy!

If you'd like to be part of funding something similar, visit our website at www.scsdef.org to learn more✏️💙

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! 👂💬🦻📱

Communication takes many beautiful forms. Whether we speak, sign, or use assistive devices, connecting with others is a fundamental part of the human experience. 👭

This month, we celebrate the incredible speech-language pathologists and audiologists who help individuals of all ages find their voice and engage with the world around them. Your dedication breaks down barriers and makes a life-changing difference every single day.

Help us celebrate these amazing professionals! 🎉

Happy International Museum Day! 🌌✨ Today, we’re celebrating the wonders of exploration and discovery at the MiSci Planetarium. Thanks to incredible field trips like these, our students get to reach for the stars—literally! 🚀 Museums bring learning to life, sparking curiosity and inspiring the next generation of dreamers and doers. 💙

Visit www.scsdef.org to find out how you can support our next great adventure! 🌟💙

Happy Speech-Language Pathologist Day! 🗣️✨ Today, we honor the incredible SLPs who help students find their voices and build confidence. Your dedication to communication and connection transforms lives every day. Thank you for empowering our students to express themselves and succeed! 💙🌟

Change starts with action, and at SCSDEF, we’re proud to take the lead in bringing our community and schools together. 🏘️💙

Through grants and initiatives, we’re creating opportunities that make a real difference for students and families in Schenectady. From funding innovative programs to supporting essential resources, we’re building a stronger, more connected community—one step at a time. 🌟

Join us in making change happen! Together, we can create a brighter future for everyone.

Hamilton Elementary’s Husky Hello Cafe is officially open! ☕ Thanks to some amazing SLP's, teachers, and some grant funds, students are serving up smiles.

With three coffee carts rolling through the halls, students team up with school staff to deliver coffee to teachers. This special job lets them practice social greetings and use alternative communication tools in real situations.

By using helpful visual aids, the students are making incredible progress. Staff members have already started stepping back so the students can confidently take the lead. Watching their independence and communication skills grow each week is truly inspiring!

The school community absolutely loves chatting with the students when the cart comes by. The kids feel so proud wearing their official aprons while doing this important work. The coffee cart has also been featured on the Hamilton Howl morning show (another amazing grant funded project), which increases everyone's awareness of the Husky Hello Cafe!

Want to learn more about our mission and how you can support student opportunities like this? Visit scsdef.org to get involved! 💙

Together, we can make mental health a priority. 💙 Take a moment to breathe, reflect, and connect. Small steps can make a big difference. At SCSDEF, we’re proud to support grants that help students build connections—with peers, trusted adults, and their community. From social-emotional learning tools to inclusive programs, we’re making a difference.