A New School Year, New Opportunities for Our Students

To the Editor,

As a new school year begins, our community is once again filled with the energy and excitement of welcoming students back to Manchester Essex classrooms.  It’s also a wonderful time to reflect on what makes our schools—and our community—so special.

As Communications Chair for the Spaulding Education Fund (SEF), a local pediatrician, and an advocate for children and families, I know how important it is to give children opportunities to explore, create, and discover what excites them.  That’s exactly what SEF helps make possible.

Over the past school year, SEF awarded nearly $33,000 in grants for innovative, teacher-driven programs throughout the Manchester Essex Regional School District.  Students have been able to learn through hands-on experiences—from gardening and sustainable food production, to podcasting and developing public-speaking skills, to environmental science and STEAM activities.

New grants gave fifth graders a two-day learning and team-building experience at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, brought ninth graders to the Museum of Science to explore real-world applications of math, and allowed high school students in the ACE program to create and manage an indoor/outdoor garden.  Other grants supported a district-wide STEAM Night and an elementary comfort closet providing students with basic wellness items in a supportive, stigma-free environment.

These programs do more than supplement the curriculum.  They give students opportunities to build confidence, develop new skills, and connect classroom learning to the world around them.

SEF is able to do this because of the generosity of our community.  Unlike many education foundations, SEF operates without an endowment, relying on donations and volunteers to fund these opportunities for MERSD students.

As the Fall 2026 grant cycle gets underway, I hope you’ll consider supporting SEF. Volunteer your time, attend a fundraising event (Night of Stars is coming up on November 14!), make a donation, or simply spread the word about our work.

A new school year brings new possibilities for our children.  I’m grateful to live in a community that believes in those possibilities—and I hope you’ll join us in making them a reality.

To learn more, visit spauldingeducationfund.org.

Betsy McKeen
Communications Chair, Spaulding Education Fund
Essex