DISTRICT GIFTS As part of our continuing mission to enhance educational excellence, the Berkeley Heights Education Foundation donated a record $60,000 in gifts and grants to the Berkeley Heights School district during the 2006/2007 school year.  This unprecedented level of funding was made possible through the generosity of the community, the support of local businesses and the dedication of its trustees. Much of this year’s funding was given in the form of gifts to the district.  Trustees worked with School Administrators to develop three impactful programs designed to benefit a wide range of students.  The first two gifts were targeted to children at each end of the educational spectrum and have been nicknamed the “Bookend” Projects, while the third gift will continue to touch the life of every student in our 3 elementary schools.  Our bookend gift for beginning students was the construction of an outdoor classroom at the Early Chilidhood Center at Hamilton Terrace School.  In partnership with Fettes Brothers Landscaping and Construction, the BHEF funded an amphitheater that will not only enhance the science and nature curriculum, but will also allow teachers to incorporate aspects of outdoor learning into everyday learning techniques. Our other bookend gift for the opposite end of the spectrum was the implementation of a six-week Self Defense Program for every senior graduating Governor Livingston High School in June of 2007.  The BHEF partnered with Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts of Watchung to bring these timely, valuable self defense skills to students, many of whom were leaving home for the first time in the fall.      Our third gift included the purchase of Promethean interactive whiteboards for the district’s three elementary schools.  These Activboards will dramatically transform each classroom as they provide a touch sensitive screen that allows teachers and students to control a computer and the Internet directly by simply touching the board.  The boards include an “Activote” integrated personal response system that allows the entire class to participate in the lesson and voice responses and opinions. Not surprisingly, students and teachers are very excited to use the Activboards for they have the cache of new technology and are proven to greatly enhance visual learning.