Sippican Elementary School second graders in Ashley Sweatland’s class presented their suitcase-shaped poster boards as part of the school’s annual Family Heritage Project. During the 2024-25 school year, Sweatland received a $689 grant from the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund to buy books for the project. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
MATTAPOISETT — The conversations start at home with Sippican Elementary School students talking to their families, asking, “Where did our ancestors come from? And how did they end up in America?”
Then, the second graders come to class and begin their research, using a special collection of informative books about foreign countries and their cultures, allowing the students to learn more about their familial heritage and where it has its roots.
Those books were purchased this past year through a $689 grant that was awarded by the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund to Sippican School Grade 2 teacher Ashley Sweatland to expand the collection of age-appropriate research books used in the school’s annual Family Heritage Project.
The family heritage research project culminates with the students presenting their findings on posters made in the shape of suitcases, with handles on both sides that make them easy to hold up before the class. Through the project and the grant-funded books, students explore and celebrate their family history while learning about global geography, cultures and migration, helping the school to exceed Massachusetts curriculum standards in both history and civics.
“With the help of these books, students gained a deeper knowledge and understanding of their family heritage,” said Sweatland. “Students enjoyed sharing with their classmates all about special traditions, foods, celebrations and history that represents where they came from. We were able to share and present our final projects with grade-level peers, as well as adults in the school. Everyone was so impressed with the wealth of knowledge these students had.”
The Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 are pleased to share this story and the outcome of a total of more than $9,400 in private grants provided by the nonprofit Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation for the 2024-25 school year.
The Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund is a growing endowment under the umbrella of the SouthCoast Community Foundation. Supported by community donors, the fund helps educators pursue innovative, high-quality learning experiences for students throughout Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.
This is the second in a series of articles describing the impact of grants awarded by the Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund to support innovative teaching and student enrichment across the school system.
“Hopefully this has inspired students to continue to inquire and learn more about this as they grow,” Sweatland said. “Students have had a wonderful time researching and creating a hands-on suitcase project representing their family’s heritage. These books were so helpful, as they were at a reading level students could access, providing beautiful illustrations that allowed a deeper understanding for my students.”
Early Childhood Coordinator Doreen Lopes said the project enriches both academic and personal growth for young learners.
“This project encourages students to learn about their roots in a meaningful and developmentally appropriate way,” Lopes said. “These new grant-funded books will help ensure that every student has access to the resources they need to explore their heritage with curiosity and confidence.”
Superintendent Michael S. Nelson expressed gratitude for the Tri-Town Education Foundation’s contribution to classroom projects like this one that strengthens both learning and community building.
“The Family Heritage Project helps students build knowledge and pride in who they are and an understanding of the diverse backgrounds and experiences that shape our communities,” Superintendent Nelson said. “We are thankful for the Tri-Town Education Foundation’s support in making these research materials more accessible to all second graders at Sippican School. We urge the community to continue supporting the Foundation in its efforts to assist our schools, providing additional resources that are so helpful with learning and deeply enrich the experiences of our students.”
Donate today: To support future grant-funded programs like this one, community members are encouraged to donate to the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund. Please use the QR code below to go directly to the Old Rochester Regional Tri-Town Education Foundation Fund donation page: https://cfsema.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1304
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