Bill’s Word: Congratulations to the Class of 2013!
Dear Friend,
Congratulations! The end of any school year is exciting. 2013 stands out as being very impressive for all our graduates. Seniors will be matriculating to the finest colleges and universities in America including Harvard, Harvey Mudd, Stanford, and most of the UCs and CSUs, as well as West Point and the Naval Academy, among many more. However, I was so impressed to hear the personal stories of four graduates who spoke at the “Educational Options” graduation held on June 6th. The Ed Options program includes Island, Adult School and Independent Study students. One young women graduating from Adult School in 2013 when her traditional graduating year was 1999 was inspiring as she spoke on being a “role model” for her two young children as they attend school. All graduations are important to the individual and their family and friends. We at the Foundation wish all our graduates the best in the future.
Wells Fargo Caring Attitude Scholarships
The Foundation was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to develop the criteria and help select recipients for scholarships provided by Wells Fargo. Eight seniors from the four AUSD high schools received $1000 scholarships based on an essay entitled “What is the best thing you have done for someone else?” Anyone who may think millennials are the “me, me, me” generation has not met these young people. From the student who at 8 years old had to report her father to social services for beating his wife and children, and has felt she betrayed her family ever since, to the student who resisted peer pressure to avoid another student of a different race to the student who nursed her mother through drug addiction and cancer, to the student who helped her friend escape the clutches of depression, these young people have shown us that the future is in very caring hands. We thank Wells Fargo for their generosity in providing funds for these scholarships.
Enrichment
How many cities these days can say that elementary school children have access to violin, orchestra and band programs? Alameda can, thanks to The Foundation’s After-School Enrichment program. Students at our elementary and middle schools were able to take classes in everything from Architecture to Dance to Writing. In fact, I encourage you to take a look at the Swing Kids from Ruby Bridges Elementary.
We are very excited about our Enrichment Summer Camps. We are offering over 50 camps for all age groups in aviation, architecture, computer programming, Mandarin, Spanish, art, circus arts, dance, music and much more. There are even math classes to give your student a boost into next year. Camps are enrolling now and begin June 24th.
Middle School Sports
A full year of sports just ended with the Track & Field Championships in late May. We were pleased this year to be able to include the 6th graders from Bay Farm in our track program. In fact, under the awesome leadership of teacher/coach Joni Reynolds, half of Bay Farm’s 6th graders participated! We are also pleased that this program has become part of the culture in some of our schools: both Lincoln and ACLC/Nea have running clubs! In the fall, we look forward to the addition of the Junior Jets from Encinal.
Our sports program is about so much more than just sports, though. It is about supporting academic success and building character. We just received a nice email from a parent whose 6th grader was thrilled to make his school’s basketball team – and then devastated to learn he could not play because of poor grades. The coaches and The Foundation’s Athletic Director, Marty Garchar, put together a plan to allow him to get his grades up that was “instrumental in helping me show my son how important grades are in school and in life,” according to the parent.
Equipped 4 Success
The Foundation is again partnering with other local organizations to put together Equipped 4 Success, a community wide school supply drive. We are working with the Alameda Unified School District, the Alameda Point Collaborative, the Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., Head Start and the Alameda Collaborative for Children Youth and Families. Our goal this year is to fill 1000 backpacks with school supplies for low-income students served by these organizations. The Back-to-School sales will be beginning before we know it. When you see those two-for-one specials, be sure to pick up something extra for a student who can’t afford it. Or simply make a monetary donation. Donations and a list of items needed may be found here . The drive kicks off July 4th at the Summer Concerts at South Shore.
Adopt A Classroom
Thank you to all who donated to Adopt A Classroom this year. We made 132 donations for $66,000 that went directly – 100% – to Alameda classrooms!
Summer Movies
Finally, thank you to Alameda Theatre, Bank of Alameda, Cafe Q, Daisy’s and Otis School and all who purchased Summer Movie Series tickets for your support of the Alameda Education Foundation!
As always, thank you for your support and helping us Support Student Success. Have a safe and restful summer!
Sincerely,
Bill Sonneman