2017-2018

Chad Hymas District Visit
The Colonial Fund sponsored a visit to the district by world renowned speaker Chad Hymas. Chad delivered an inspiring message of overcoming personal challenges and societal pressures to be the best self we can be. Chad mesmerized his audiences with incredibly moving, inspiring and often funny stories from his own life. Chad spoke to students in grades 7-12 over his two days in Shrewsbury and to parents in the evening. This presentation continued the discussion about how Shrewsbury can best prepare our students for success in a changing world.

Thoughtexchange
The Colonial Fund funded the use of Thoughtexchange software to solicit input critical to the development of the district's next five year strategic plan. Parents and caregivers, staff and students all used this software to answer three questions about what our district does well, where there is room for improvement and what are the most important things our school and school district should focus on over the next five years. Unlike traditional survey tools, Thoughtexchange allows users to not only answer questions anonymously but to also see the responses from others and "star" the ideas they like best.  In this way, the ideas that resonate most receive the most stars and rise to the top as the most valued topics. Over 4,500 students, staff and parents/caregivers used this tool to provide input in a way that would not otherwise have been possible.   

Art Department Printer
Colonial Fund dollars were allocated to the Art Department to purchase a high quality printer to facilitate student submissions to local and state art competitions.  Art students, coincidentally, created the graphic design for the Portrait of a Graduate's website; the Portrait of a Graduate was a 2017 initiative that determined what skills and knowledge Shrewsbury students should attain and develop during their years in Shrewsbury Publlic Schools.