The Piscataway Education Foundation recently donated more than $18,000 to Piscataway Township Schools to fund a wide variety of innovative ideas and strategies as part of its ongoing mission to support the district and its students.

 

The funds are being awarded to eight individual schools based on applications submitted at the start of the school year to fund programs from literacy, to gardening, to hallway makeovers, to table tennis. The initiatives and applications were crafted by each school’s principal and staff to fit their particular needs.

 

The Piscataway Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation committed to supporting Piscataway Township School and its students, as well as maintaining positive relationships between the school district, and the business, residential, and academic communities of Piscataway Township.

 

The Foundation donates scholarships to graduating seniors each year based on academic merit and community service, most recently giving out five $1,000 scholarships to the Class of 2025.

 

The school-based grants had been distributed in the past but were paused during the COVID pandemic. Through hard work and robust fund-raising efforts by the Foundation’s members, they were able to bring back the popular funding source.

 

“We are so proud of how hard our members have worked over the past few years to restore this vital support system for our schools,” said Piscataway Education Foundation President Krystal Whitehead. “We are proud to be a source of financial support dedicated to strengthening and enriching the public education curriculum of Piscataway Township Schools.”

 

The Foundation raises funds through a variety of spirit wear sales, donations, raffles, and public events. The biggest fundraiser of the year is the annual Designer Bag Bingo & Tricky Tray, which is coming up on Friday, Feb. 27. Tickets are available through the Community Pass link on the district’s piscatawayschools.org website. Last year’s event raised nearly $20,000.

 

Here is a detailed breakdown of the innovative grants that are being awarded to support Piscataway Township Schools:

 

Children’s Corner Preschool: Read, Learn and Grow Together, $4,482.38

The "Read, Learn, and Grow Together" Learning Resource Center will provide preschool students, families, and teachers with access to picture books, bilingual literature, themed learning materials, and take-home kits designed to foster literacy, family engagement, and school-home learning connections.

 

Knollwood Elementary: Outdoor Classroom, $2,980.80

Knollwood Elementary School plans to update and expand its existing outdoor classroom area through the addition of two new picnic tables. This project will bring new life to a valuable space that has gone underutilized in recent years. All classes have access to this space, where students will be able to explore a variety of topics across all content areas, including science, literacy, math, and the related arts.

 

M.L. King Intermediate: Planting Penguins Initiative, $2,964.52

M.L. King intermediate School plans to purchase raised garden beds and essential materials to support hands-on, outdoor learning experiences under a new “Planting Penguins” initiative. The purpose of this project is to increase MLK’s offering of outdoor learning experiences for students. This initiative will supply each classroom across the school with a raised garden bed, planting supplies, soil and seeds, and an opportunity to customize their garden beds. The initiative will begin with a special kickoff event centered around Earth Day.

 

Randolphville Elementary: Play for All Initiative, $2,524.29

Randolphville Elementary School plans to enhance the school’s playground by adding new equipment that promotes active play, social interaction, and physical well-being among students. The grant funds will be used to purchase and install age-appropriate playground structures and safety surfacing, ensuring the space supports both physical activity and community connection, allowing children to develop coordination, strength, and cooperation skills through play.

 

Grandview Elementary: Grandview Legacy Hallway, $2,437.02

The “Legacy Hallway” project will create a dedicated space within Grandview Elementary School where each year's third-grade students will design and contribute a mural, message, or individually decorated tile that symbolizes their growth and memories. Grandview wants to provide students with a meaningful way to reflect on their journey and leave behind a message that inspires younger students.

 

Arbor Intermediate: Arbor Garden, $1,600.00

The Arbor Intermediate School garden project will educate students on the importance of taking care, and maintaining, our environment. Students will also learn planting, the process of maintaining a garden, and the importance of pollinators. The garden is to be maintained by different classes, enjoyed by all students, and inspire others to create their own garden for years to come. The money will go toward fixing up over-grown flower beds and purchasing new materials such as flowers, seeds, and soil.

 

Conackamack Middle: Table Tennis in Phys Ed, $800.32

Conackamack Middle School will purchase equipment and materials to establish a table tennis unit within its physical education curriculum. The school’s current PE program lacks activities that accommodate students who may not participate in traditional team or high-impact sports. Table tennis is a low-cost, space-efficient, and inclusive sport suitable for all ages, skill levels, and physical abilities.

 

Eisenhower Elementary: Sensory Hallway, $483.21

Eisenhower Elementary School will create a “sensory hallway” to help support all learners, including general education and autistic classrooms, move successfully throughout the school building. It will transform a school corridor into an interactive, movement-based activity zone using floor decals and wall graphics, designed to help students release energy, improve focus, and regulate emotions through guided physical activities like hopping, jumping, and balancing.