December, 2011

As the calendar year draws to a close and you make your charitable gift contributions, please consider a gift to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.    In addition to supporting excellent and challenging programs for all Ann Arbor Public School students, your gift also maintains the level of excellence in our schools, which is desired by current and prospective residents and business owners. 

Please join with us to maintain our stellar school system, make a difference in our student’s education and build a strong community.  There are many ways you can provide support:

• A contribution to the general fund, supporting excellent programs
• A gift in memory of a loved one, friend or former educator
• A tribute gift in honor of a teacher, parent, colleague or friend

Thank you for your support this year and for your decision to support the Educational Foundation this year.  You are making a difference in public education in Ann Arbor!

Foundation Delivers $183,982 to AAPS in 2011

Thanks to your generous donations, the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is able to support continued excellence in the Ann Arbor Public Schools in the academic year 2011-2012.  With your help and that of your fellow community members, here’s what we’ve accomplished together this year:

$141,982 was awarded through our Initiatives for Excellence grants, funding

• Air Tracks equipment use by Physics students in all district high schools, $52,662;
  
• Professional development materials for 8th grade algebra curriculum, $5,960;
• Environmental education program field trip support for first and third graders, $23,133;

  Third grade students on Pond Habitat Field Trip

  First grade students at Kensington Metropark

• School Messenger communications system for the district, $11,386;
• Elementary enrichment facilitators, coordinating opportunities in all elementary schools throughout the district, $23,000;
• PLAN tests from the Educational Planning and Assessment System for all 10tth grade students, $13,000:
• Instrument maintenance and repair for the 5th Grade Instrumental Music program, $4,000;
• Document cameras purchased for use at all middle and high schools to support science and math instruction, $8,841. 

That’s not all.  Specific donors and groups give funds for designated purposes, and AAPSEF supports their generosity by administering those dollars.  This year, endowed funds will award approximately $4,000 in scholarship support to AAPS students.  The Dancing Through History Grant awarded $6,000 in support of guest artist’s work in the elementary schools, in partnership with the University Musical Society.  Through the Karen Thomas Fund, $3,000 of classic literature will be purchased for elementary school libraries.  The Disability Awareness Workshops Fund received $1,000 in ongoing support for this important program for our elementary students.  $3,000 was given through the Village Fund to enhance social inclusion at the elementary level. 

In addition, Great Idea Grants to staff and faculty totaled $25,000 for this academic year.  See below for details on the innovative projects our dedicated teachers will implement, thanks to your support. 

End of Year Gifts to Honor Teachers and Staff

Had enough of shopping for multitudes of meaningful gifts? If your child’s teacher, bus driver, principal, etc.  is on your list, please consider a tribute to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation to support their commitment.  Simply go online and make a gift, citing their name, and we’ll send them a certificate notifying them of your donation in their honor.  Your tribute can be in any amount and will be deeply appreciated. 

Getting Behind Great Ideas

In Ann Arbor we’re blessed with passionate, energetic teachers and staff with great ideas.  The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation supports our faculty with Great Idea Grants, awarded yearly to teachers for classroom projects that show innovation.  A committee comprised of board members, retired teachers and community members, review applications and choose those that clearly support curriculum, offer hands-on learning opportunities, and that may be replicated throughout the district.  More than 5,000 students will be the beneficiaries of these programs, in 18 schools, across all grade levels. 

Grants awarded included support for AAPS’s homeless student liaison; take-home math games for families of students at Carpenter; a community garden at Pittsfield Elementary; a Young Entrepreneurs Club at Ann Arbor Technical High School, and 21 other Great Ideas. 

You can find a complete list of awards on our website. 

DFCU’s Second Gift Puts Notch Halfway to One Million Our supporters first heard about DFCU Financial’s support of public education back in March, with its first gift to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation - $10,000 - on the occasion of its expansion into the Ann Arbor area.  This summer, DFCU launched its “SAY” (Schools and You) program, contributing $25 to education for every new account opened or loan closed in the Ann Arbor area.  Officials from the credit union, Michigan’s largest, recently presented a check for $8,000 to AAPSEF.  This gift puts the amount collected in the One Million Reasons campaign to over $500,000. Thanks, DFCU Financial!  We’re proud to partner with you for exceptional education in Ann Arbor.