Upcoming Events
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Donate to the Mary Lyon Foundation
Your financial support of the Mary Lyon Foundation is greatly appreciated. Our efforts support local education at seven schools in West County and in the surrounding communities. We provide scholarships, programs, services, mini-grants and many opportunities to support local education.
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Programs
Mini-grant Program
The Mini-grant program provides small amounts of money to faculty and staff for innovative, supplemental programs to students. Mini-grant applications may be downloaded Here. Please note that proposals are accepted from faculty and staff of the Mohawk Trail, Hawlemont and Rowe school districts ONLY.
Catamount Hill
The Mary Lyon Foundation owns the land and monument where the American flag first flew over an American schoolhouse on top of Catamount Hill in Colrain. Information, field trips and an annual hike are in conjunction with the Catamount Hill Association, our partner in preserving this historical tract of land.
Children’s Literature Festival
This annual summer program is traditionally held at the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School in Shelburne Falls and is an opportunity for children grades preschool – 6 to experience art, music, dance, theater, experiential activities and especially great literature during a one-week program in early August. Local cultural councils have generously helped support this educational program.
Tennis Program
This annual summer program for children ages 6 and up provides an opportunity to learn a lifelong skill and practice tennis through a series of morning lessons at the Mohawk Trail Regional School tennis courts during the month of July. It has received support from the National Tennis Association which also helped us provide tennis rackets, balls, nets and instruction for all the schools in the district.
West County Classroom
The Mary Lyon Foundation offers a broad range of educational, culturally stimulating enrichment classes for teachers, parents, students and members of the community. Examples of classes include aerobics, languages, time management, watercolor painting, computer programs and grant writing.
Community Resource Catalog
This comprehensive list of community resource people is a published catalog available to schools, civic organizations and youth groups in the West County area.
Special Education Conference
Since 1991 the MLF has co-sponsored this 2-day conference at Greenfield Community College with our partner, the Western Massachusetts Special Education Directors’ Association.
Psychology Conference
In conjunction with the Western Massachusetts School Psychologists’ Association, we co-sponsor an annual conference for school psychologists, guidance counselors and social workers.
Celebration of American History Conference
In partnership with Historic Deerfield and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the MLF has sponsored conferences highlighting local history for K-12 social studies teachers. The professional development events have primarily been held at Deerfield Academy and in the Old Deerfield area.
School-Business Partnerships
Established in the 90′s by the MLF, these partnerships strengthen the bridge between our schools and the business community.
9 Town Community Partnership
Established by the MLF to help all children achieve academic and social success, this partnership now thrives as an independent committee.
Lyonnaise
This annual event is the main fundraiser for the Mary Lyon Foundation and is a celebration of excellence in local education. Awards are announced at this time. Through the overwhelming generosity of the Warfield House in Charlemont, the event has been held there for the past several years.
Spirit of Adventure Award
This annual award is given to a person who best exemplifies the qualities of Jim Boulger, past board member from Colrain, whose lifelong love of learning, adventurous travels and pursuit of scientific endeavors were generously shared with the local community.
Outstanding Mohawk Trail Regional School Graduate Award
This award honors a Mohawk graduate who has contributed to his or her community in an exemplary way.
George Needham Memorial Business Award
This annual award is bestowed on a local business for its generosity, care and concern for local education. It is named in honor of a local businessman whose generosity to the educational community was legendary.
Colrain Vision of Excellence
This program for the Colrain Central School provides an enrichment component to the regular curriculum.
Susan B. Todd Fund for the Heath Elementary School
This unique fund was established in honor of former principal and longtime school district educator, Susan Todd of Ashfield. It encourages the utilization of local resources integrated with the study of the environment.
Endowment
The Mary Lyon Foundation maintains a small but growing endowment which will someday sustain the management of the organization. Donations are encouraged and greatly appreciated.
Capital Campaigns
The Mary Lyon Foundation in conjunction with many local organizations raised over $677,000 that was matched 3:1 by the State in accordance with the school building renovation and building projects for six of our district schools. The funds were used to install a track at Mohawk, computer labs in the schools, build opening day library collections, furnish classrooms and offices with furniture, provide playground equipment and much more.
Gift Catalog
This annual local publication provides an avenue for the community to assist classroom teachers and school programs with in-kind contributions. Each spring the catalog is published and distributed. It is based on a wish list of needs that are outside of the regular budget in each of our schools. All school employees are encouraged to submit their wish list for inclusion in the catalog. As an example of two generous funding sources for this project, Goodnow’s Chip ‘n Putt has historically sponsors a fundraiser which provides many needed items to the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School and Staples in Greenfield has designated the Mary Lyon Foundation as their recipient of donated school supplies and office equipment.
Back Door Teen Center
This weekend program for local teenagers has flourished over the years thanks to many volunteers. The Mary Lyon Foundation is the financial umbrella for the teen center and in the past has helped provide equipment and furniture through grants and donations. It is independently operated by community volunteers, students and parents.
Student Assistance Fund
Through the generosity of teachers and community members, any child residing in the school district is eligible for financial assistance with medical costs or other basic necessities such as eyeglasses, food and clothing. All referrals are confidential. This was the very first program developed by the Mary Lyon Foundation in 1990; it is based on our philosophy that a child who with health needs cannot easily learn.
Mary Lyon Student Spelling Bee
This annual spring district-wide event brings together some of the best spellers in grades 5 and 6 for some exciting academic competition. Trophies are awarded to the top spellers in each grade and our two local banks provide savings bonds to the winners. The event is led by National Honor Society students, many of whom were once in the competition themselves.
Mary Lyon Community Spelling Bee
The Mary Lyon Foundation has initiated an annual spelling bee for the entire community. First held on November 9, 2006, this annual event brings together participants from all segments of the community. Past teams have included youth groups, teachers, administrators, civic organizations, churches, and senior citizens.