2006 - Donation Visits

For Immediate Release - 2/6/06

SUPPORTING EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING AT WOOD HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL - ANDOVER, MA

January 31, 2006 - Principal Patrick Bucco, 7th grade students and teachers with Andona members

       At its general meeting on Monday, January 23^rd, the members of the Andona Society voted to donate $5,000 to support the Expeditionary Learning Program currently being implemented at the Wood Hill Middle School .  The Andona Society has a rich history of supporting youth development programs, school programs, and activities that benefit the children of Andover .  This donation was made outside of Andona’s typical funding guidelines.  

        Last year, Andona convened a task force to investigate the possibility of donating money to an innovative program benefiting Andover youth within the school system or community. Andona had just completed funding its pledge of $50,000 to the proposed Youth Center ).  The task force contacted all the school principals and the Superintendent’s office for discussions about programs offered by the various schools.  Wood Hill’s Expeditionary Learning Program implementation stood out from many as a program needing grass roots support from within the community.  The program has enjoyed great success across the country and the Superintendent’s office expressed excitement over the initiative that was being undertaken at Wood Hill. After speaking with Wood Hill Principal Patrick Bucco, the task force and Andona Board decided to support the program after receiving a fund request directly from the school.  This request was presented to the Andona members at their October general meeting.  Principal Bucco attended the meeting to provide information to the general membership and to answer questions.  After Principal Bucco’s presentation, the members discussed the program at length to determine what level of support they could give the program. However, the members decided to table the request until their January meeting so they could research additional questions regarding costs, success rates at other schools and whether the program, if successful, would be implemented at the other Andover middle schools. 

       The Expeditionary Learning Program offers a unique approach to learning that allows students to process and apply the standard competencies learned in traditional subjects to a real life project that the children must explore and solve.  The program offers a unique approach to learning and is being met with great support and excitement from both the students and the teachers at Wood Hill.  Administrators at the other middle schools are currently sitting in on the training at Wood Hill to learn more about the program and to determine if it will be a fit and good model to adopt at all the middle schools in town.

       The members of Andona decided to donate the $5,000 to show support for such an innovative program that focuses on helping all students raise the bar on how they learn and process, and apply the concepts taught in the classroom.  The membership hopes that showing support for such a program will not only help this one program to succeed, but will also show the community how committed its members are to the learning, growth and achievement by the youth of Andover.

        Andona volunteers presented the check to the Principal, seventh grade students and teachers on February 7, 2006 and were invited to view a slide presentation prepared by the students documenting an Expeditionary Learning exploration of the Avis Trails near the school.  The Andona Society typically donates approximately $20,000 per year to school programs as well as many youth clubs and organizations.  In addition, Andona provides $13,000 in funds to allow children in Andover to attend summer camps and $10,000 in scholarships for high school seniors from Andover .  Andona is able to continue to support youth programs by holding annual fund raising events and by generous contributions from local businesses.  Andona's next fundraiser is a Spring Fashion Show & Luncheon with the theme “Escape to the Tropics” to be held on Sunday March 12, 2006 from 12:00 - 4:00pm at the Wyndham Hotel - Andover .  To purchase tickets for the Fashion Show, please contact Nicole Hayes at 978-409-2085.   For more information about the Andona Society and their mission, please visit their web site at www.andonasociety.org.  An Extreme Kid’s Bedroom makeover to raise additional funds for the Expeditionary Learning program is planned by the Wood Hill Middle School.  Tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased by contacting Principal Patrick Bucco.