Though we were thwarted by a global pandemic and our fundraising efforts were paused, our efforts to support CPS were, perhaps, the greatest they have ever been.

The CEF saw the pandemic as a “silver lining” opportunity to move forward with a long-planned project to construct a music/performing arts practice facility within the school. The William Wolfgang Shaw Performing Arts room was completed during the summer of 2020 and into the fall of 2020 before students could attend school in person.  That space served a special purpose before it was to be used for music; it started its new life as a fourth grade classroom – providing the school with the space necessary to allow for the social distancing required to bring kids back in person.  

The pandemic created other needs beyond spacial ones.  When it was clear that we needed to hold classes remotely, Carlisle was one of the first districts to be off and running with a plan.  The CEF purchased the zoom licenses the school needed within 72 hours of the shut-down.  During the two years following lock-down, the CEF continued to support our teachers and students by supplying wireless microphones for the performing arts, funding nearly $10,000 worth of robotics kits, and supporting content based professional development for nearly half of the middle school educators.  Additionally, we funded professional development for elementary educators to improve technology integration for special education.

NCTE 2022: Anti-Bias in Curriculum for Grades 5-8; requested by the Middle School Language Arts Team-Dana Meyer, Liz Gray, Cheryl Hay, and Marcella Pixley, who was also selected as a presenter at the conference.  2022/23

CPM National Conference 2023- “Building thinking classrooms” for the Middle School Math Team- Anne Spiegel, Kailtyn Olmstead, Grade 7 Math, Rachel Cloutier, Grade 8 Math. 2022/23

“Amplifying Middle School Voices” grant request, submitted by Marcella Pixley, Valerie Thomforde, and Maya Bery for a set of 16 VocoPro UHF Wireless Headsets to be used in multiple performing arts spaces. 2021/22

Logitech crayons and iPads for the Chinese Language and Culture program and Elementary Art, requested by Chiao Bin Huang and Rachel Levy,21/22

15 updated Lego robotics kits, requested by Mr. Greenwood. 21/22

“Techy Teachers Assistive Technology Workshop” professional development grant, submitted by Jan Liebman, to fund a workshop for elementary special educators, therapists, and general educators to build the capacity of our educators to use assistive devices in the classroom. 2012/22

Hummingbird robotic kits and associated engineering equipment, requested by Mr. Cranston and Mr. Greenwood 2021/22

Zoom for the school in 2020