Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School Needs You

What's the last landmark we see whenever we leave Beachwood Canyon? What's the first thing we see on our way home? Answer: Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School. It's been here almost as long as our community's oldest houses. For those families with children, the School has been an integral part of daily life as long as we've lived here. Even if you've never had a child at Cheremoya, chances are at some point you've voted in its gymnasium or attended some neighborhood meeting there. 

Perhaps precisely because the School is so familiar to us, we tend to overlook it. And out of sight is frequently out of mind. So maybe you don't know that like most public entities in this economy, the School is facing severe financial difficulties. For example, in the school year about to e

nd, due to budget cuts, Cheremoya lost the very program that made it stand out from other sch ools in the district and made it such a perfect fit for our community: its arts programs.

Ms Pam Moser instructs 3rd Graders in a theatrical performance. There are no further art programs in the budget or on the horizon. Will you help?

Now, the School faces even more serious cutbacks in the coming (2012 - 2013) academic year. According to the principal, Diane Rodriguez, the School will have to deal with further budget cuts exceeding $140,000!

The School needs your help. No single person can be expected to contribute all $140,000, but a community of caring and committed individuals are capable of anything when we pull together. Now is the time for us to chip in and support the School so that it can continue to provide a quality education to our children.

Here are some specific areas in which the School desperately needs help:  

The School Library

It has been years since the School has had discretionary funds to purchase books for the library. And because one of the first positions eliminated in staff reductions was the school librarian, there is no advocate for this critical teaching resource. Furthermore, without a librarian

, there is no one who can tell us what books the School needs most.

You can help in one of two ways. You can make a donation and earmark your gift for the purchase of library books. Or, if you have expertise in this area, you can donate your time as volunteer librarian and help get the library up and running again.

Shouldn't every school have a functioning and up-to-date library?  

The School Orchestra

The School has musical instruments for children to learn how to play. The School has an auditorium and other facilities for the kids to practice their playing. But another position eliminated in the latest wave of layoffs was the music teacher!

It costs only $15,000 for the School to hire a full-time music teacher. Your contribution towards this goal would be both appreciated and beneficial - it is widely known that children who learn a musical instrument do better in math and science throughout their education.  

The School Science Program

Up through fourth grade, science is taught as part of the general curriculum by each grade teacher. By the time students get to the fifth grade, they are old enough for more intensive instruction.

By now it will come as no surprise that due to budget cuts, the School not only doesn't have the funds for simple science experiments but has also had to lay off its designated science teacher. Therefore, kids at Cheremoya are not able to conduct the kind of elementary experiments that made science so much fun for most of us.

The School needs approximately $25,000 to get a science teacher for the fifth and sixth grades and the supplies necessary to make the learning experience a real one. Your donation earmarked for that purpose would be gratefully accepted.  

Grants

Both the public and private sectors have funds available for designated academic purposes. These funds are typically made available through grants. Unfortunately, obtaining funds through grants is a complicated process. First, a student, a class or a school has to qualify for them. Then, a proper grant has to be found. Third, a grant application has to be written and submitted.

Does your company ha

ve a grant program for which the School or its students might quality? Do you have experience locating grant money, or writing grant applications? If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, we need your help!  

Computers, iPads, and iPods

The very machines that are both essential and commonplace in today's society are NOT available to children at Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School. The School needs funds to purchase computers for each grade, so that the kids can start learning how to use them as soon as possible. It's not just a question of equipping students with the skills to succeed - computers help make learning fun, thereby increasing a student's interest and improving his or her performance.  

IPads have enormous storage for books and other academic functions; IPods have a "talking book" application that help kids with dyslexia or other learning disabilities listen to their school books, which helps them keep up with their class and improves their self-image.

Earmark your donation for computer acquisition and increase student achievement. Ms. Rodriquez's goal is to have enough IPads so that every child in every grade has the chance to use one every day.  

Cheremoya students don't have a physical education program. The School can't afford dedicated arts, music or science teachers, so obviously it doesn't have a P.E. instructor. So, at recess the kids simply meander around in the schoolyard and amuse themselves. No organized sports. No calisthenics. No exercises.

Once again, you can help in either of two ways. You can volunteer your time as an activities supervisor if you have that experience, leading children in simple exercises. Or, you can make a donation to hire a part-time P.E. supervisor or assistant. Your contribution is needed!   

Your Reward  

Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School has friends, but not enough. In this age of economic stricture, in a political environment when many public figures are calling for even greater cutbacks in public education, the School needs its neighbors to pitch in. It takes only a minute to write a check and send it off, yet that donation can do so much! By contributing your time or money, you can make a difference now and in the future. Please help!

Mail your donations at Cheremoya Elementary School, attention Diane Rodriguez, 6017 Franklin Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028. Make checks payable to the Cheremoya Elementary School Donation Fund. Remember to earmark your  donation for any of the above programs.

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