source: http://www.courant.com/community/hc-ugc-article-phs-science-department-receives-grant-from-pe-2015-04-17-story.html

PHS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FROM PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION

By Community Contributor davisl University of Connecticut

The Plainville High School Science Department has received a grant from the Petit Family Foundation to support a number of projects, according to Principal Steven LePage.

The $10,000 grant will allow Plainville High School to be one of only a handful of high schools in Connecticut to offer an Early College Experience (ECE) in Engineering, which ultimately earns college credits at the University of Connecticut for those high school students who earn a "C" or better in the course. In addition, the grant provides funding for the high school's Science Department to add Forensic Science as an elective course offering. Finally, as a result of the grant, Plainville High School will host three professional female guest speakers who are successful in the fields of science, technology, engineering or math during the 2015-16 school year.

"The Science Department is incredibly grateful to the Petit Family Foundation for their generous gift. Students will be able to work as scientists and engineers, using top-of-the-line equipment, to solve real world problems. Successful female professionals in the fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering will serve as role models, meeting with and discussing possible career paths for our students," said Plainville High School Science Department Instructional Leader, Paris Godbout.

"Plainville High School's Science Department is fortunate to have Paris Godbout's leadership and talented faculty dedicated to continual growth and development in their field. This very generous grant from the Petit Foundation will help our department to build our new Forensics course, broaden STEM career prospects, and much more. We are most grateful to the Petit Family Foundation," noted LePage.

The goal of the Petit Family Foundation is to continue to raise and distribute funds to fulfill their mission to help educate young people, especially those with interests in science, to help support those with chronic illnesses, and to help protect those affected by violence.