Goals

Since our launch in November 2005, ACE has raised over $120,000—enough funds to support a designated Grants Coordinator for the school department, as well as the second year of a pilot Expeditionary Learning/Outward Bound program at Wood Hill Middle School.

This year, we are ready to build on our initial success. In addition to funding the second year of the Grants Coordinator position, ACE’s major objective is to expand science and engineering programs to all of our schools. Both here in Andover and throughout the state, there is a need to strengthen our students’ aptitude in these critical areas.

To read about Andover’s commitment to raising achievement in math, science, engineering, and technology, click here.

Initiatives that ACE would like to raise funds for during the 2006-07 school year are:

• Expeditionary Learning Program
  The ACE-funded Expeditionary Learning/Outward Bound Program at Wood Hill Middle School provides students with multi-curricular hands-on experiences. This successful pilot program is currently in its third year of existence, and we are hoping it will be brought to both West Middle and Doherty. To read about an Expeditionary Learning project at Wood Hill, click here.
  

• Doherty Middle School Engineering Lab
  West Middle School’s engineering lab was recently recognized as a Promising Practices Program by Mass Insight Research and Education Institute, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising student achievement. ACE’s goal this year is to retrofit the old wood shop at Doherty into a new engineering and science laboratory that will pave the way for another 500 middle school students to enter the engineering curriculum. To read about the West Middle Engineering program, click here.
  

• Engineering is Elementary Curriculum
  This program has been developed through the Museum of Science and would reach over 2700 students in all Andover elementary schools. For more information about this program, click here.
  

• Andover High School Seismology Program
  Funding this initiative would allow Andover High School to join the Boston College Educational Seismology Project, in collaboration with Boston College’s Weston Observatory. To read about the Boston College Educational Seismology Program, click here.
  

• Hands-on Science and Engineering Lab at Andover High School
  This longer term goal for ACE would ensure that a comprehensive science and technology program is in place for all students from grades K-12.