Author: jill

Maya Lin students with new texts 2025

New Texts for Early Readers

Assia Day, 2nd & 3rd Grade Teacher at Maya Lin School, applied for a Teacher Mini Grants for decodable texts for her classroom. Decodable texts are books or reading materials specifically designed to help early readers practice their phonics skills. They are designed JUST for early readers, and follow a very explicit sequence. Students are taught the phonics skill explicitly, then expected to practice applying the skill in texts. These texts are made to be easy for beginners,

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New classroom library at Ruby Bridges

Students Love Their New Classroom Library

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous support of our classroom library at Ruby Bridges Elementary School. Thanks to your grant, my third-grade students are now enjoying a welcoming, well-stocked, and engaging library space that has quickly become the heart of our classroom.

The new library rug and comfortable seating have transformed our reading area into a cozy, inviting environment where students are excited to gather, read independently, and share books with one another.

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AMP presents check to AEF

Thank You Alameda Municipal Power

Many thanks to Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) and their customers who donated to AEF’s Power Up for Learning program through their monthly energy bills. These funds will go to:

  1. Provide internet connection to students and their families who are unhoused or in unstable housing.
  2. Underwrite technology focused Teacher Mini Grants.
  3. Provide scholarships so students have the opportunity to take STEM focused after school enrichment classes and summer camps.

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Rotary Matching Grant Dec 2025

Alameda Rotary Club Gives AEF 2025 Matching Grant

Twenty Alameda non-profits received grants from the Rotary Club of Alameda at the Rotary meeting on Tuesday, December 9.  The Rotary Club of Alameda awarded $24,000 to local non-profits as part of their matching grant program. These grants come from generous donations made by Rotarians to their favorite Alameda charities and are matched by the Alameda Rotary Endowment Foundation.  AEF received a matching grant for our Teacher Mini Grants program.

Thank you Alameda Rotarians!

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Queer Teen Alameda Center

QTAC is a Safe Nurturing Place for Alameda Teens

Interview with Jeramie Andehueson from Alameda Pride

Because Jeramie Andehueson, who founded Alameda Pride (and the Alameda Pride Foundation non-profit organization), didn’t get the support he needed growing up in the Midwest, he wanted to create a safe, inclusive environment for LGTBQ+ teens in Alameda. Thus the QTAC (Queer Teen Alameda Center) was born in October 2024.

Jeramie began his dive into community activism when he started the Alameda Pride in the Park festival in 2022.

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Junior Engineer after school enrichment STEM class

Junior Engineer Enrichment Class Jump Starts STEM Learning

One of AEF’s favorite STEM after school enrichment classes in the fall of 2025 was Junior Engineer – described as a hands-on adventure in engineering and space exploration. Kids dove into projects –  like aviation, space science, and engineering. From building models of the solar system to experimenting with compass headings, students learned by doing—building, asking questions, and testing real-world engineering concepts. The program was designed to inspire the next generation of innovators, showing kids that they have what it takes to become future engineers,

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Fall Sports Wrap Up

The Asteroids Cross Country team just finished their final meet of the season and we’re so proud of all our runners. We had a very competitive team this year with many of our runners placing in the top ten finishers at every meet this season. Thank you to our coaches and the fabulous Asteroid families for all your support. We hope all the Asteroids enjoyed their time on the team and look forward to seeing them back out for our Track &

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