Rectory pg 8 9-30-21
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Presentation: Employees from International Paper’s Putnam facility presented a grant to Rectory School. From left: Maria Carpenter, director of the Rectory Elementary School; Megan Dalena, IP HR Specialist; Meagan Wright, IP HR Regional Generalist; Freddy Nagle, Rectory director of Development; David Schwartz, IP Plant general manager; Bernie Mahon, IP Manufacturing manager; and Rectory Head of School Fred Williams. Courtesy photo.
POMFRET — International Paper’s Putnam mill and International Paper Foundation awarded a $4,000 grant to Rectory School to support the Rectory Reads program, which provides literacy resources and supplies for students with learning differences.
Rectory School serves a diverse body of students, a community which includes many students seeking reading and writing support. Rectory’s elementary school and middle school Individualized Instruction Program offer students the opportunity to work one-on-one with teachers or learning specialists in order to improve their literacy skills.
This grant from the International Paper Foundation will equip Rectory faculty with the tools they need to provide resources to students and to assess current programs to determine necessary improvements. The resources will also help students learn in collaboration with their teachers while developing the independent learning strategies that are critical to future success.
School representatives said the benefits of this support will be felt immediately by the students. Rectory’s Elementary School Director, Maria Carpenter, said: “Our elementary faculty are excited to purchase a range of decodable texts for our elementary classrooms that are content specific to our science and social studies curricula. We know that until children can decode complex texts on their own, spoken language gives them a chance to practice thinking about complex ideas. These decodable texts will allow each student to engage in conversations by reading non-fiction texts at their own pace.”
Head of School Fred Williams added, “We are grateful to International Paper for supporting literacy instruction at Rectory School. There is no greater entry into enlightenment and knowledge than the ability to decode the printed word and the sounds and meaning behind the letters. Our students and our teachers are now gifted with new, impactful resources to encourage this journey.”
Megan Dalena, Human Relations Specialist at International Paper said, “International Paper is always looking for ways to positively impact the lives of the people within our communities. We have been fortunate to be able to support the important work Rectory School does each and every day to make the youth in our community have a brighter future.”
The International Paper Foundation is one of the ways International Paper strives to reach its vision to be among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world. Started in 1952, the foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where its employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to its signature causes: education, hunger, health & wellness, disaster relief, and initiatives that improve the planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.
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