Golden Bell Education Foundation

The Boca Chamber’s Education Foundation, known as Golden Bell, is a 501c3 non-profit corporation that was created for the sole purpose of supporting the Boca Raton Public School System . This past year with COVID-19, schools have had to greatly adjust to continue educating students in the best way possible . During our virtual school visits, we are learning that schools are navigating these challenging times in very innovative ways .

Here are four schools that are shining examples of how they are keeping education moving forward with grants given to them by Golden Bell:

Coral Sunset Elementary

Principal: Dianne Rivelli-Schreiber Teacher: Teresa Girolmetti, Grantee

As a Title One school, Coral Sunset is proud to have a high percentage of students return to the classroom . A highlight for them has been the number of behavior challenges that have drastically dropped because the students are happy to be back on campus . With their grant for Scholastic Storyworks, they use the magazine subscription to keep students encouraged and engaged through all the social and economic challenges .

Don Estridge High Tech Middle School

Principal: Rachel Capitano Teacher: Annette Levine, Grantee

With their grant from Golden Bell, Don Estridge purchased a classroom set of “The Book Thief” to teach their Cambridge and gifted students about the Holocaust which is part of the mandatory cultural education in Florida . Whether in class or virtually, students were able to have a copy of the book to read and learn this valuable piece of history . As students create artwork and writings to accompany what is learned, students are also taught a life lesson that bad times will not last forever . Sandpiper Shores Elementary

Principal: Stephanie Colletto Teacher: Traci Rice, Grantee

Sandpiper Shores is an ASD cluster site that has focused programming to help students on the autism spectrum . With one of their grants, they have been using MindPlay Virtual Reading program that has helped students stay on course with their literacy skills even during quarantine . Students who use the program never missed a beat in their much-needed literacy education because the program was always accessible anywhere online . Even during the summer months when the academic slide is a big concern, MindPlay is available to help keep students on track .

Olympic Heights Community High School

Principal: Kelly Mills Burke Teachers: Heidi Mansa and Sharon Neubauer, Grantees

Olympic Heights has had to continue with their Little Lions preschool program that engages high school students from their Early Childhood Education Academy . Without missing a beat, but with proper Covid-19 restrictions, high school students in the academy are still able to work towards their college credits as they help with preschoolers . The grant provided curriculum for this newly