AEF Track and Field

Bill’s Word: Happy New Year!

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Dear Friend,

Welcome Back!! School is in full swing and so are many programs run by the Alameda Education Foundation.

S­­ports! Our middle school sports league kicks off this month with Volleyball! Registration is happening now for all 6th – 8th graders who attend one of Alameda’s public schools. To register, go to www.AlamedaEducation.org and click the blue “Sports” button. This fall our program has grown to include teams based at the Academy of Alameda, ACLC/Nea, Bay Farm (B team only), Jr. Jets, Lincoln and Wood. Get ready for an exciting season! Online registration ends Monday, September 9th at 5:00 PM!

Enrichment: We have wonderful new classes at our school sites this fall.  In addition, we are thrilled to be offering Alameda wide classes for el­­­­­ementary, middle and high school students in the arts, sciences, languages and technology. Check out the following new programs!

  • Showtime Theater play program (Gr. 1-8)
  • Elementary and Middle School Band (Gr. 4-5, Gr. 6-8)
  • Tap and Swing Dance (Gr. 1-8)
  • Violin and String Orchestra (Gr. 1-5)
  • Computer Programming (Gr. 6-8)
  • Movie Making (Gr. 3-5, Gr. 6-8)
  • RockShop Alameda rock band (Gr. 6-12)
  • Alameda Asteroids Cross Country running club (Gr. 6-8)
  • Mandarin (Gr. 1-7)

To find more, or to register, click here. Once you are in the registration area click on the “Alameda Wide” button.

We are also launching a couple very valuable high school counseling programs in the Spring – more information to come! Many thanks to our Enrichment Director, Sarah Olaes, who is helping to bring these marvelous learning opportunities for our students!

Adopt A Classroom: Last year we were thrilled to direct $66,000 in Adopt A Classroom donations to Alameda teachers. This year we plan to do more and are off to a good start with many adoptions already coming in. Thank you! These donations provide direct support to our classrooms in a way decided best – by the classroom teachers. We encourage “open” (undirected) donations to enable us to help teachers across our Island who are most in need. Click here to make an Adopt A Classroom donation today!

Equipped 4 Success: Yesterday I helped deliver the final batches of backpacks filled with school supplies to Alameda schools. Prior to the start of school, over 800 filled backpacks were distributed to support low-income students served by the Alameda Unified School District’s (AUSD) McKinney-Vento homeless program, Alameda Point Collaborative (APC), Alameda Boys & Girls Club, Alameda Head Start, and Girls Inc. of the Island City.  In total, 1,000 students who needed our help received backpacks to help them be prepared for success in the classroom at the start of school!

Many contributed to the success of this drive. I would like to thank our community partners: AUSD; Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and Families (ACCYF); APC; Alameda Boys & Girls Club; Alameda Head Start; and Girls Inc. of the Island City. In addition to our community partners, I would like to thank the following for their generous support: Supervisor Wilma Chan, Alameda South Shore Center, Alameda Office Max, Alameda Rotary Club, Alameda Kiwanis Club, Harbor Bay Club, Alameda Social Club, Kaiser Permanente Imaging Group (Oakland), Park Street Business Association, The Family Giving Tree, Alameda Community Fund; Christ Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Twin Towers Lutheran Church, Alameda Police Manager’s Association, Peter’s Kettle Corn, Sharmaine Moody and Lincoln Middle School, the many local businesses and organizations that hosted donation bins and helped us with sorting and packing, the many generous individuals who made donations of funds and supplies, Jim Franz from ACCYF, Luana Espana from APC, and Thelma Garvey from Head Start. A special thanks to our Community Outreach Director, Vicki Sedlack, who was instrumental in organizing the drive.

Looking Ahead: I look forward to another positive year for the ED Foundation as we continue to support student success in the Alameda public schools and public charters. Our Board and staff wish the students and staff all the best during the 2013-14 school year and beyond. Thank you to those who have responded to our Summer and Welcome Back letters with contributions. We welcome your support any time to help us carry out our mission.

Sincerely,

Bill Sonneman