MEDIA RELEASE

CHIME Charter Elementary Receives $5,600 Grant for New Garden Classroom

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., March 21, 2007) — The CHIME Institute’s Arnold Schwarzenegger Charter Elementary School, which has extensive ties to Cal State Northridge, has received a $5,600 grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation to develop the school’s outdoor classroom and garden.

The outdoor classroom was conceived by CHIME families and staff and is comprised of a shaded area with tables and benches built and finished by the families. It is near the CHIME garden and weather center where a wide variety of learning experiences are available in an engaging setting.

"The Lowe’s grant means enriched and advanced curriculum for all of our students," said CHIME Charter Elementary principal Julie Fabrocini. "With Lowe’s support, we are able to provide active learning experiences for our students and plan for thematic instruction in the areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies."

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program is funded by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, which has supported thousands of grassroots community and school projects in the communities where Lowe’s, your local hardware store, does business.

"Experiential learning is part of our teaching approach and Lowe's recognized our commitment to students and active learning," said Fabrocini.

The CHIME Institute’s Arnold Schwarzenegger Charter Elementary School, located in Woodland Hills, and its sister campus, CHIME Charter Middle School, are independent schools that provide free public education through affiliation with the Los Angeles Unified School District. The schools serve as demonstration and teacher-training sites for Cal State Northridge's nationally acclaimed Michael D. Eisner College of Education. Last year, CHIME Charter Elementary was named "Charter School of the Year" by the California Charter Schools Association.

Both schools are part of the CHIME Institute, located in part at Cal State Northridge, which is a national leader in developing and implementing model educational programs and dynamic research and training environments to disseminate best practices in inclusive education. The institute’s research and training center is housed in the Eisner College of Education. The CHIME Institute also offers an infant/toddler program and a preschool/kindergarten inclusion program which is located at CSUN.

CHIME has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model for full inclusion of students with disabilities and for providing a blueprint for local schools across the country.

For more information about CHIME Charter Elementary School, call the school at (818) 356-5100.