Alameda middle school students are lacing up their running shoes in preparation for the start of Track & Field this week, part of the Middle School Sports program run by the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF).  “We expect over 200 students to compete this year,” said AEF Athletic Director Marty Garchar.  Teams are based at The Academy of Alameda, Lincoln and Wood Middle Schools as well as a combined team from Nea/ACLC 6th – 8th grades. The students will compete in two “All-Comers” meets, where there are no limits on entries to give students a chance to try different events, culminating in a Championship meet June 5th and 6th.

Students compete in a range of running events, from the 50 meter sprint to the mile.  There are also relays.  Field events include the Long Jump and Shot Put. Running events are held at the College of Alameda (no Alameda high school has a viable track) with field events at Encinal High School.

For many middle school students, this is the first opportunity to participate in Track & Field.  Because there are no limits to how many students can participate per school, unlike team sports, “all students have the opportunity to participate, no matter their skill level,” explained Garchar.  Besides the obvious fitness benefits of track & field, students learn a lot about themselves.  Said Don Porteous, Encinal High School distance coach who volunteers to help run the meets:  “The young people get a taste of what they can achieve if they work at it, and many discover talent that they did not realize they had.”

AEF took over management and support of middle school sports in 2009 after it was cut by the district due to budget shortfalls.  In addition to Track & Field, the program includes coed volleyball in the fall and boys and girls basketball in the winter.  It is open to students from both the district and charter public schools.  The program boasts a strong academic tie-in – student-athletes must maintain minimum GPA to participate – as well as a code of conduct.  “Our goal is to support student success in the classroom as well as on the field or court,” added AEF President Bill Sonneman.  In addition to a small participation fee, AEF seeks grants and community donations to fund the program.

For more information or to make a donation to support this program, please click here.

2012 Schedule:

• April 24 – All-Comers:  Field Events – Encinal High School
• April 25 – - All-Comers:  Running Events – College of Alameda
• May 9 – All-Comers:  Running Events – College of Alameda
• May 10 – - All-Comers:  Field Events – Encinal High School
• June 5 – Championships:  Field Events – Encinal High School
• June 6 – Championships:  Running Events – College of Alameda

Click the Track and Field page for more details.

Salute to Education – April 13, 2012
Rock Wall Winery, Alameda Point

Thank you everyone for a successful and fun Salute to Education event! We celebrated impressive innovative programs, honored volunteers, and listened to amazing jazz music from the Alameda and Encinal High School bands. For more details, click here for the Salute to Education page.

Registration is now open for March 16th and Spring Break Camps.  Summer Camp registration begins March 13th.  Click here for more information or click on the blue “Register” button to the left to enroll your student.

AEF President Bill Sonneman presents check to AUSD Superintendent Kirsten Vital. Photo courtesy of AEF

At the February 28, 2012 Board of Education meeting, Alameda Education Foundation Board President Bill Sonneman presented a check to the Alameda Unified School District to support visual and performing arts programs in Alameda public schools.  The funds were raised at “All Together Now,” an annual event supporting music, art and drama.  In all, the Foundation is distributing $35,000 from the event to district and charter public schools.  

“All Together Now” was founded in 2010 by Drew Harrison, bandleader of the popular Beatles tribute band The Sun Kings, and Peter Fletcher, of Peter Fletcher’s Hand-Picked Oldies Dance Party, for the purpose of raising funds for school music, art and drama programs as well as awareness of the importance of arts education in schools.  “All Together Now 2011” was held on November 10th at the historic Alameda Theatre.   In addition to Harrison and Fletcher, the benefit was sponsored by the Alameda Education Foundation, the Alameda Association of Realtors, and the Alameda Theatre and Cineplex.  

Close to 500 guests enjoyed an evening of music, dancing, food and wine.  The evening was headlined by The Sun Kings, who were joined by Alameda student musicians performing the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album in its entirety.  The evening also featured Pete Fletcher’s Hand Picked Oldies Dance Party, Dance 10 dancers, and nationally acclaimed a capella group Talk of the Town.  Guests enjoyed gourmet hors d’oeuvres and wine generously donated by local restaurants and vintners.

Dozens of Alameda businesses contributed to the success of the evening through their sponsorships and donations.  A complete list of all sponsors and donors may be found here.

The funds from “All Together Now” are used by Alameda public schools to purchase and repair musical instruments, pay for play rights and production costs, and purchase art materials.  Visual and Performing Arts budgets have been greatly reduced due to severe funding shortages from the State; however, with community support, these valuable programs are able to receive the resources needed to support arts education in Alameda.  

“All Together Now” follows a long tradition of local musicians coming together to support music, art and drama in public school.  For several years, the Alameda Education Foundation sponsored an annual Gala, featuring artists such as Frederica von Stade, Natasha Miller, Emil Miland and Michael Morgan, among many others, which raised tens of thousands of dollars for local public school music programs.

In addition to art, music, and drama, since 1982 the Foundation has been supporting programs in sports, science, technology and a variety of enrichment programs for Alameda’s 10,000 school children by providing funds, materials, and volunteer resources to supplement the opportunities available in our schools. We believe that thriving schools are essential for a desirable community and a promising future.

The Alameda Education Foundation wishes to thank all those who made “All Together Now 2011” such a success.  And mark your calendars now to join us for the best party in town at “All Together Now 2012” coming this fall!

Student Success Stories
Want to know what Alameda student is going to Harvard?  Or which teams beat out ALL others in northern California, public or private, for the North Coast Section Academic Achievement Awards?  Then check out my first  blogpost on this topic on Alameda Patch.  It will be a regular feature and I encourage you to share success stories about students you know, current or graduate, via the comment section or by emailing info@alamedaeducation.org.

It’s important to remember why we work so hard and give so generously for our schools: the students.  And it’s nice to see it pay off.  Let’s get the word out about our amazing Alameda students!

Adopt A Classroom
Right alongside hearing about successful students, my favorite task as AEF president is making  Adopt A Classroom  presentations. As of this week, we will have made 84 Adopt A Classroom presentations this year, up from a total of 77 last year. Our last presentations will be in March and we remain hopeful about reaching our goal of 100.  Adopt A Classroom is such a wonderful program because it puts the $500 “adoption” donation directly into the hands of teachers (or program leaders) to use how they know is best for their unique classroom – no strings attached!  And while I know the teachers use the funds effectively, they do get some interesting suggestions from the students.  I invite you to read about some of these ideas and my experience with Adopt A Classroom on this blogpost .

Enrichment
I am so excited about how our  Enrichment program is growing under the direction of Enrichment Director, Sarah Olaes.  We are continuing to offer fun and educational programs to elementary and middle school students, such as dance, creative writing and woodworking, and we are starting to expand our offerings into more academic areas for middle school students and eventually high school students. More on those later, but for now, be sure to check out our Enrichment day camp on March 16th. No need to worry about child care on this non-student day as we are offering Mad Science, Drama and Music classes for elementary students. Click here for the details and registration information.

Middle School Sports
Forget the NBA, the exciting basketball games are right here in Alameda. This week begins the playoff games for our middle school basketball program with championships next week. It has been great having the addition of Nea/ACLC this year joining the Academy, Lincoln and Wood. And there have been some close and exciting games, too! Check out our web site for a complete playoff/championship schedule. And thank you to the  Boys & Girls Club who are providing the facilities for our playoff and championship games.

All Together Now
On February 28th, AEF will be presenting a check at the Board of Education meeting for funds earned from our  All Together Now  event on November 10, 2011.  In all, AEF will be distributing $35,000 to Alameda public schools – district and charter – to support school visual and performing arts programs. If you missed All Together Now last November, you won’t want to again – it is the funnest and tastiest way to raise money for schools!  Take a look at this slideshow  from last year.

Salute to Education
Mark your calendars!  On Friday, April 13th, 6 – 9 pm at Rock Wall Winery, we will be hosting our 29th annual  Salute to Education  event AND celebrating AEF’s 30th birthday!  Salute to Education is a community event that honors innovative programming in our schools and the people who make them possible.  We get together in a relaxed, celebratory setting to share best practices, network and socialize.  Guests enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, wine and award winning music from Alameda and Encinal High Schools.  All against the magnificent backdrop of the San Francisco skyline.  Tickets are just $25 in advance and can be purchased by clicking on our “Buy Ticket Now” button.  Additional food purchases will be available from the popular le truc food truck.

Shop 4 Education
The Foundation is deeply appreciative of the support local businesses give to our schools.  Several have signed on to be Shop 4 Education partners with AEF whereby they donate a portion of sales to AEF. I urge you to consider them for your shopping needs. For instance, it really might rain some time this year and when it does, will you be ready? Beethoven’s Gutter Works is one of our partners that can take care of those gutters for you. Want to take advantage of historic low interest rates and refinance? Then you’ll want to check out what Rick Weber can do for you at First Priority Financial. And congratulations to fitness guru and Shop 4 Education partner Ada Wells of ProBalance who has opened a second location of her physical therapy, pilates and sports rehabilitation studio at 2213 Harbor Bay Parkway.

Congratulations to our outstanding students and thanks to all of you for supporting AEF in its mission of Supporting Student Success!

A complete schedule is here.  Come on our and cheer on your favorite team!

AEF facilitates grant opportunities for Alameda public schools as part of its TeacherandClassroomSupport mission. 

AEF is pleased to be able to help Alameda high school students enjoy a safe and fun graduation night. 

Thank you to Cognex and congratulations to Alameda and Encinal High Schools!

Middle school basketball is part of the Middle School Sports program run by AEF. The year-round, after-school sports program is open to all Alameda public middle school students and includes volleyball in the fall and track and field in the spring. This year, a combined Nea/ACLC team joins the basketball league along with the Academy, Lincoln and Wood middle schools. The basketball program has four divisions: Girls A and B and Boys A and B teams.

“A fourth team — Nea/ACLC — adds an exciting new dimension to the season,” said Marty Garchar, the Athletic Director for AEF.  “The schools will play each other twice during the regular season and then playoff and championship rounds will determine the top spot in each of the four divisions.” 

If the first two days of the season are any indicator, there is going to be some fierce competition among the teams.

In the girls division, the Lincoln Lions have roared their way to championship wins year after year, but Wood’s eager Beavers pulled off an upset in their opener on Wednesday by a score of 35 – 33.  

In the boys division, the Beavers A team has “dammed” the competition the last couple of years, including an undefeated record last year, but they were upset in their Tuesday opener by the Lincoln Lions boys A team, 44 – 29.  

At the time of this writing the Academy and Nea/ACLC had not yet competed.

Middle School sports were cut by the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) a few years ago due to state budget shortfalls. Since the winter of 2009, AEF has financed and managed the program, which is supported by modest participation fees, grants and community donations.

AEF’s basketball league is run similarly to high school sports. Students try out to play for their schools, which then compete against each other for the championship title. Like high school, there is an academic component: student-athletes must meet a minimum grade point average (GPA) in order to compete. Student-athletes also adhere to a player code of conduct. The program has been credited with helping students understand the importance of academics.

“Students realize that they need to keep up in the classroom in order to make it onto the court,” said AEF president Bill Sonneman.  

The program has also been an important part of school spirit. “Players always tell me how much they like to play for their school,” Sonneman said. And there are roles for student involvement besides playing – students manage the gate, set up the gym, keep the score and run the clock. And, of course, cheer on their classmates.

Regular season games are held at the middle schools (Nea/ACLC use the Boys and Girls Club as their home court) with the playoff and championship games tentatively scheduled for the Boys and Girls Club.  

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students. Children under 5 are free. Season passes are available and may be purchased at the games.

Tip-off is 4:00 PM for all games, which B teams competing first.  Click here for a complete schedule or reference the Basketball webpage for more information.

So much about what AEF does is about empowering students. The programs  we support – Visual and Performing Arts, Middle School Sports, Enrichment, and Teacher and Classroom Support – make learning more accessible to more students, engage students, motivate students, encourage creative thinking, and teach important Life Skills. By expanding educational opportunities, we empower more students to be future thinkers and problem-solvers.

Empowerment sounds like a pretty hefty goal, but with your donation,  AEF is able to support vital programs that really do make a difference.

Thank you to all of you who have already responded to our year-end appeal. Your gift is an invaluable gift for the future. We hope you will all consider making a donation today to the AEF and help give the gift of empowerment to thousands of Alameda students!  Don’t forget many companies offer Community Giving programs.

Just read about the difference your support of AEF can make!

Visual and Performing Arts

If you heard a lot of music and laughter last month, it was AEF’s annual fundraiser for the Arts,  All Together Now , on November 10th at Alameda Theatre.  Not only was it the best party in town, it was a successful fundraiser for music, art and drama programs in our public schools.  Look for an announcement early in 2012 regarding distribution to school visual and performing arts programs.

Have a flute or guitar gathering dust? Then consider donating it to AEF’s Instrument Drive. As one middle school music director told us “We have a ton of students in music and a shortage of instruments to put in their hands. With each instrument we receive, another student will have his or her musical education needs met.” Your tax-deductible donation of an unused instrument will get it in the hands of needy students.

Middle School Sports

Nets are being traded in for hoops as a successful fall volleyball season has ended and basketball is starting up, with games beginning in January. We are so pleased to have been able to expand our sports program this year to four sites, including district and charter schools: Lincoln, Wood, Academy, and Nea/ACLC. This program is so vital to middle school students. As one coach, who is also a teacher shared, “Learning to work and grow together not only as individuals, but as a team, is an invaluable gift that the Alameda Education Foundation extends to the students of the Island.” You can check out the hoops schedule and scores on the AEF sports page.

Enrichment

Schools were bustling with after-school activity this fall as our after-school  Enrichment program had a record number of registrations. Students created and designed and made music in such classes as cooking, drawing, engineering, jewelry making, choral and rock band. In all, we offered 148 classes for almost 1300 registrants! This fall, we also introduced holiday and non-student day camps. We look forward to offering spring and summer camps, as well. We’re happy to announce that the Enrichment program was added at the Haight School site this fall and that Washington is coming on board this winter, with sign-ups beginning in January. Thank you to all our Enrichment site coordinators for a very successful fall program!

Teacher and Classroom Support

We made quite a few teachers – and students – cheer this year with our Adopt A Classroom program. Adopt A Classroom provides direct support into the classroom where 100% of each $500 donation goes directly to the classroom teacher or program leader who uses the funds to purch ase materials and supplies, fund field trips or assemblies, or support other learning impact programs. So far, we’ve adopted 61 classrooms, but our goal is 100. Your $500 donation enables us to get the money directly where it is most needed. This is one of our most direct impact programs – please consider a gift today.

Year End Thank Yous

Since the start of school, we have had so much support from the Alameda community for the work we do. Thank you to all the local businesses and citizens that have hosted or supported fundraisers supporting AEF including: the Harbor Bay Club, Angela’s Bistro, Books Inc, Deborah Wright and the entire Pirates in Paradise crew, Miss Alameda, the vendors of the December 3rd Holiday Fair, the Alameda Theatre, the Sun Kings, Drew Harrison, Peter Fletcher, Justine Francis, the Alameda Association of Realtors, and the many donors to All Together Now. You can learn more about these generous businesses, organizations, and individuals on our Events and Shop 4 Education pages on our web site.

Thank you also to the wonderful AEF Board! I am privileged to work with such dedicated people who give of their time to support our schools and our students. And a special thanks to AEF’s hard-working staff who manage all these wonderful programs. And keep me awfully busy!

Of course, we want to thank all of you who support AEF. We could not support our vital programs without you! Your support will help us continue to offer these valuable educational opportunities that support academics and prepare our students for a bright and promising future!

Let there be Lights!

Alameda loves to decorate for the holidays and this year, there is an opportunity to win $100,000 for local schools by winning the Patch’s best decked holiday house! So, get those decorations out and light up for schools! Complete contest information is available at  AlamedaPatch .

Lighten Up!

No hints intended here, but if you do want to do something good for your body – and for education – Ada Wells of ProBalance is holding a holiday “Pilates for Charity” week, December 26 – 29 at her new studio at 2213 Harbor Bay Parkway.  Click here for details.

We wish you all a bright and wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Bill Sonneman, AEF President

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we at the Alameda Education Foundation have much to be thankful for!

All Together Now 2011!

Our second annual fundraiser for music, art and drama on November 10th – All Together Now – really WAS the best party in town! A packed audience danced the night away to awesome music, enjoyed fabulous hors d’oeuvres and wine, and bid on some amazing auction items.

This year was the debut of including student musicians in the event and it was amazing. Hearing those student perform up there on stage gives one chills – it’s what it is all about. Next year we hope to include even more students.

All Together Now 2011 was truly a community event. Thank you to the entire  ATN 2011 committee ; The Sun Kings and all the musical and dance performers; the middle and high school musicians and their directors; our sponsors; and the dozens of donors who made it all possible, including the Alameda Theatre, the Alameda Association of Realtors, our wonderful restaurants, vintners and breweries; and the many individuals who contributed auction items, time and elbow grease to make it all possible.  Check back later on our website for pictures and more details. Together we really did make a difference!  Mark your calendars – All Together Now coming again at the Alameda Theatre in November 2012!

Holiday Events

Our community keeps stepping up and there are more events coming our way, whether you want to learn more about helping the environment or get a jump start on shopping.

Recycle Woman is a documentary bringing awareness to environmental issues while empowering the youth and community with the tools to become the solution to the problem. It premiers November 26th at Alameda Theatre and December 3rd at Auctions by the Bay. VIP packages may be purchased through November 20th that include admission to the film, a movie pass for Alameda Theatre, and more.   A portion of the proceeds benefit AEF. Details may be found on our website. Thank you to Miss Alameda, Jessica Robinson, a.k.a. Recycle Woman, for putting together this important film and supporting AEF!

Alameda Holiday Fair 2011. On Saturday, December 3rd, start your holiday shopping early at the Alameda Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue, 10 AM – 5 PM. Some of the east bay’s finest crafters and vendors will be offering unique and wonderful gifts, and I even hear there will be a chair massage and holiday treats for weary shoppers!  

Then, head over to City Hall right next door to see for the presentation of America’s Promise 100 Best Communities for Young People. Alameda has been named one of the best communities for youth a second year in a row! The presentation will be at approximately 5:00 PM immediately preceding the annual lighting of the Holiday Tree. That afternoon, there will be numerous holiday festivities and activities in the City Hall parking lot, a.k.a. Winter Wonderland, including ice skating. Check the City website for details.

Sports Time

Congratulations to the Wood Middle School Beavers!  They clinched the volleyball championships in both the A and B divisions on Tuesday, November 15th.  Full coverage is here. Next up is basketball.  Teams will be based at the Academy, Lincoln, Nea/ACLC and Wood and games begin in January. Middle school students should check with their site for try-out information.

Adopt A Classroom

We are on our way to achieving our goal of 100 Adopt A Classrooms this year.  Currently, we’re over half way there with 55 adoptions.  Teachers use these donations to purchase critical materials or supplies or fund special learning opportunities for their students. Think what a wonderful gift an Adopt A Classroom donation would make for a needy classroom! More information may be found here.  Unspecified donations, which go to teachers based on need, are strongly encouraged!

On behalf of all of us at AEF, we wish you all a very restful and pleasant Thanksgiving holiday!

President