The Harper & Paulyne Gerry Student Assistance Corner

Etiquette Breakfast 

On Friday, May 6, 2022, the Mary Lyon Foundation funded a very special breakfast for sixth-grade students at the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School! As part of their preparation to visit Nature’s Classroom in Ocean Park, Maine, they learned table etiquette when eating family style, including what a place setting looks like, where to place a napkin, and other manners for such an occasion. In the third week of May, students visited Nature’s Classroom to learn outside of a traditional classroom and explore topics such as forest destruction and regrowth, ecosystems in swamps, and the impacts of prolonged flooding on plant growth. Learn more about the work Nature’s Classroom does across all of New England by visiting naturesclassroom.org. 

Trailblazer Celebration 

On May 19 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Foundation participated in a Trailblazer Celebration of Learning and Elementary Literacy Event at the Mohawk Trail Regional High School. This districtwide celebration of learning offered opportunities for families to gather, participate in crafts, receive free books from the Mary Lyon Foundation, and enjoy delicious food provided by our community partner, the Foxtown Diner. Those in attendance celebrated students’ hard work through a display of a comprehensive district-wide art walk, while also receiving a preview of the Mohawk Trail Regional School’s musical and spring concert. 

Tom Miner, the owner of Foxtown Diner, who also provides optometry services in town, expressed his gratitude for the work the Foundation does and said he was happy for the opportunity to help. “The only catering we do is for the Mary Lyon Foundation – we need them to raise money and continue to be successful, so they can keep helping kids in the community,” he commented and said the children in the community are a “top priority” for both himself and the Foundation. 

Computer Donations for First-Generation College Students 

The Foundation helped two first-generation college students access the tools needed to be successful as they begin to take the next steps into higher education. Made possible through our Student Assistance Program and with the support of a generous private donor, two students received their own computer, which will enable these Mohawk graduates to succeed and thrive during their time in college. The Foundation is thrilled to be able to help students on their path to success as they move on to attend classes at Greenfield Community College and Westfield State University.