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Big & Exciting News for Danville School!

Posted Date: 11/11/25 (1:17 PM)
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Danville School

November 11, 2025

Grant Highlights & Gratitude

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about two recent grants that will have a lasting impact on our school and community!

Danville School has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to strengthen our science programming and makerlab. This funding will help expand hands-on learning opportunities and classroom resources that spark creativity and curiosity in our students.

In addition, we are honored to announce that Danville was selected for a $317,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office as part of its highly competitive School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). The grant will fund critical safety improvements on our PreK–12 campus helping ensure that our students and staff can learn and work in the safest possible environment.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Cheryl Henshaw, Chrissy Paveling, and CCSU's Assistant Business & Grant Finance Manager Ellie Keefe for their tremendous efforts in writing and securing these grants. Their commitment and collaboration have brought new resources and opportunities to our school, and we are deeply grateful for their work. These awards represent the second and third grants that the team has secured since efforts began at the beginning of 2025.

Natalie Conway & Sarah Welch
Co-Principals
Green background with the words 'BIG, EXCITING NEWS!!!' in white.

$317,000 Federal Grant to Modernize Safety Infrastructure at Danville School

Danville School District has been awarded a highly competitive School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The award will fund critical safety upgrades that strengthen the district’s ability to protect students and staff while fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment.

The federal grant, totaling $317,000 will support three major infrastructure improvements:
  • A campus-wide intercom and emergency communications system;
  • An upgraded digital surveillance system with real-time analytics; and
  • “Always-locked” interior classroom door mechanisms to expedite lockdowns without compromising accessibility.
The new systems will replace decades-old equipment, including a 30-year-old PA system, and ensure that emergency communication reaches every corner of campus, inside and out. 

Local partners including the Vermont State Police, Caledonia County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Volunteer Fire Department, and Washington County Mental Health Services will play key roles in implementation and ongoing training.

The district anticipates completing the project within 18 months, following all federal and state procurement guidelines, and will integrate the new systems into its Emergency Operations Plan and regular safety drills.

This award is especially significant for Vermont, which has historically received limited funding through this federal program. Prior to Danville’s substantial award, there had been only two Vermont recipients among the 1,208 awards nationwide since the SVPP Grant’s inception in 2018.

The COPS application represents a new collaborative effort between district leadership and pro bono grant consultants from Green Mountain GrantWorks to secure Federal, State, and private funding for Danville School.

Danville School Expands STEAM Learning with New Technology

Danville School is thrilled to share that we’ve received a $5,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation’s Northeast Kingdom Fund, which supports innovative projects that directly benefit local communities. These funds are being used to enhance our STEM and Makerlab programs by adding new tools that inspire creativity and critical thinking. Purchases include four 3D printers, 18 3D printing pens, two Cricut machines, and three Seestar S50 smart telescopes, along with all necessary supplies to bring students’ ideas to life.

From our youngest learners to high schoolers, these resources are already transforming classroom learning. Students in grades 1–2 are developing fine motor skills and spatial awareness through 3D printing pens, while older students are learning design and iteration using Tinkercad and full-size 3D printers. Cricut machines will soon be used by students in grades 5 and up to design and create custom projects, from stickers to pop-up art, blending technology with creativity. These experiences foster not only technical skills but also perseverance, collaboration, and problem-solving.

One of the most exciting additions has been our Seestar S50 smart telescopes, which are bringing astrophotography within reach for everyone. Once an expensive and highly technical pursuit, this field is now accessible to middle and high school students, staff, and even families who check out the telescopes for home use. With a simple mobile app, students can explore the night sky, locate planets and nebulae, and capture their own celestial images. Many have shared that these viewing sessions have turned into memorable family experiences, learning together while looking up at the stars.

These combined tools are helping to expand hands-on STEAM opportunities for all Danville students. We’re deeply grateful to the Vermont Community Foundation for supporting this vision and to our dedicated educators for bringing it to life. From 3D printing projects to backyard stargazing, students are discovering that creativity, technology, and curiosity truly go hand in hand.

Enjoy these photos below, taken by Danville students, with our new digital telescopes!
images of outer space
image of outer space