Enhancing Play Through Music: Installing Playground Instruments
Amount Approved: $20,753
Grant Applicant: Kerry Marsala
School/Grade: Taylor Mills School (Grades K–5)
This project introduces durable outdoor musical instruments to the Taylor Mills playground, including harmony flowers, petal drums, and a soprano quartet ensemble. These installations offer inclusive opportunities for creative expression, collaboration, and sensory engagement during outdoor play.
Research consistently shows the connection between music, cognitive development, and emotional expression. By expanding playground access to include musical exploration, this initiative fosters creativity, inclusivity, and joyful learning for students of all abilities.
The Connection Hub: Supporting Student Wellness and Team Building Through Sports
Amount Approved: $4,564.82
Grant Applicant: Michael Fiorillo & Andrew Perez
School/Grade: Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School (Grades 7–8)
This initiative creates two multifunctional spaces designed to support social-emotional learning groups and student team collaboration. Flexible seating, calming furnishings, and positive messaging foster an inclusive environment that encourages connection, regulation, and peer engagement.
About 150 students are expected to benefit weekly from counseling sessions, extracurricular activities, and wellness programs. By investing in spaces that focus on belonging and emotional well-being, this project enhances both student resilience and academic preparedness.
ManalaPANS Instrument Protection and Equipment Replacement
Amount Approved: $2,865
Grant Applicant: David Geltek
School/Grade: Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School
This project ensures the longevity of the ManalaPANS Steel Pan Ensemble by replacing damaged instrument cases, mallet tips, and essential performance equipment. Proper protection and maintenance safeguard professionally crafted instruments that represent a significant investment by the district in the arts.
By maintaining high-quality equipment, the program preserves access to a vibrant performing arts experience for middle school students. Continued support of this ensemble strengthens creativity, teamwork, and cultural appreciation within the school community.
Expanding Learning Through Structured Play
Amount Approved: $2,635
Grant Applicant: Jacqueline Falconetti
School/Grade: Taylor Mills School (Kindergarten)
This grant improves kindergarten classrooms by providing hands-on materials such as blocks, magnetic letters, dramatic play sets, and literacy manipulatives. These tools support early standards in mathematics, phonics, and social studies while promoting exploration, teamwork, and creativity.
Serving about 66 students each year, this investment strengthens essential academic and social-emotional skills. Structured play activities help develop communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills—building confident learners from the beginning of their educational journey.
Multilingual Texts for the Library
Amount Approved: $1,175
Grant Applicant: Catherine Ferreiro
School/Grade: Taylor Mills School (Grades K–5)
This initiative expands the multilingual collection at the Taylor Mills Media Center by adding bilingual Spanish and Russian texts. Increasing access to culturally responsive literature helps ensure that multilingual learners see their identities reflected in the school library while also giving all students chances to explore diverse perspectives.
By enhancing representation and access, this collection encourages literacy growth, language learning, and a stronger sense of belonging. The project directly aligns with the district’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while enriching the learning experience for the entire school community.
