Bill’s Word: Thanks for all you do!
Dear Friend,
Salute to Education on April 25th was once again a magical evening. This is such a special evening that highlights programs and volunteers across Alameda. I enjoyed seeing old friends again and meeting new ones. I thank all of you for all you do to support our students. A special thank you this year to our chair, Pam Riley Chang, who did such a great job that we’ve already recruited her to chair again next year!
I am sorry to announce that we have had to cancel Summer High School for this year due to low enrollment, but I can assure you that we will offer it again in 2015. All three of my daughters benefited from being able to take Summer School “go ahead” classes when they were students and it is something I look forward to seeing be available for today’s students. Summer school increases the educational opportunities students have during their high school career by allowing them to take some of their required courses during the summer, thereby opening up their schedules to more electives or to stretch themselves academically during the school year. Look for more information in back to school packets this summer.
Other AEF programs supporting high school students include Incoming Freshman Information Nights on May 15 at Kofman Auditorium and May 22 at Encinal High (room #605 next to the cafeteria). Both evenings are 6:30 – 7:30pm.
AEF’s Early High School Counseling program for this year is just about wrapped up and the feedback from parents and counselors has been very positive. AEF sponsored this program that enabled students and parents to meet one-on-one with their high school counselors after school hours to review their school records, plan for the upcoming years, and address individual concerns. We have found this program helped students from both ends of the spectrum from the student who is over-scheduling the AP classes to the student who needs a bit of a wake up call to stay on track.
For those on the other end of high school, be sure to check out our College Finances 101 page for information on college finances to help you make sound decisions about your student’s future.
For students of all grade levels, there are many Summer Enrichment Camps to choose from this summer in the arts, academics, science and technology and more. There are still spots left in some of our more popular camps for middle school students in AnimatED (animation) and Mindstorms (robotics). These classes are not only fun for students but prepare them for the the top careers of the future. Register on our website by clicking the blue “Enrichment” button.
For the much younger set, be sure to purchase Alameda Theatre’s Summer Movie Series tickets. Nine movies for $9 ($10 if purchased online) is quite a bargain and the proceeds benefit AEF.
Run on over and check out our last two Track & Field meets of the season! With two all-comers under our belt, next up are the Qualifying meets on May 14 and 15 followed by the Championships on May 28 and 29. A full schedule may be found here.
It may only be May, but we are already looking ahead to next year. Be on the lookout soon for information on Equipped 4 Success, our annual community wide school supply drive.
As the year winds down, it is a time of reflection for me about the work AEF does. It has been a very good year indeed with a record number of classrooms adopted, a growing Middle School Sports program, and dozens of new Enrichment classes and programs to address the educational needs of students across the grade levels. I am proud to live in a community that values quality education for all students and helps us “Support Student Success!” Thank you for your generous support.
Sincerely,
Bill Sonneman, President