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Schools

WEF Holds Annual Grant Awards Ceremony

Dr. Av Green was presented with the eighth annual Barbara M. Friedman Award for Excellence in Educaton on Wednesday.

The Westwood Educational Foundation held its 21st Annual Grant Awards Ceremony on Wednesday night, during which the 2011 grants were announced as well as the eighth annual Barbara Friedman Award for Excellence in Education.

, who is retiring after this year, was presented with the Barbara Friedman award by Kelly Hiller, President Elect of WEF. She called Green the jewel of the Westwood School System, saying that she gives students’ full attention and has brought her expertise to the school.

“Our town is fortunate to have her among Westwood administrators,” said Hiller.

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Green said that she was truly honored to receive the award, especially with Barbara Friedman present for the ceremony. She was humbled by the compliments given to her by Hiller, as well as principal Emily Parks who complimented Green on her work with the professional development program as well as other work within the school system.

“I hope I am the things you said, but it’s a little overwhelming to say the least,” said Green.

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She added, “I can’t tell you how honored I am to receive the Barbara Friedman Award.”

Several presentations were also made by grant recipients, including Composition and Performance: Demystifying Jazz by Michael Reavy; Westwood Winds by James Giurleo; the fourth grade Program presented by Laura Urquijo and Judy Sullivan, as well as Eric Arnold and James Reinhold; and Tools and Techniques to Strengthen Writers by Barbara Lindsay.

Reavy conducted a composed piece that was intended to simulate the sound of flipping through channels on a radio. It was done by with a band made up of fifth graders.

Giureleo’s Westwood Winds comprises 37 current and former Westwood students from ages 14 to 80 years old. This includes 32 amateurs, two semiprofessional musicians and three professionals. The band will be holding a concert on August 8.

The Hale Reservation program supports state standards while making a more fun environment for students to learn. It involves enhancing skills in maps and compasses, while also examining the geography of Hale, as well as geology.

“Students become the teachers and end up teaching the adults how to find their way all around Hale,” said Laura Urquijo. “This is an empowering experience.”

In Tools and Techniques to Strengthen Writers, Lindsay explained that a “master teacher” has come into classrooms and has helped both the students and the teachers.

“Thanks to WEF this grant touched every single teacher in Westwood,” said Lindsay.

Six other grants were given out this year:

  • Adding a New Dimension to Learning in Westwood ()
  • “The Power of One” - A Bullying Proofing Program for Elementary School Children ()
  • Bullying Prevention Theater ( and Westwood High School)
  • Hale Reservation Floating Classroom Program (Westwood High School)
  • Supporting Quality in Early Childhood Education Programs (Westwood Early Childhood Community)

A WEF Multi-Year Grant was also given out to “The Learning Landscape: An Outdoor Classroom at the Sheehan School.”

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