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News From API Growth RCSD
Ravenswood Education Foundation
February 2012 
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HIGHLIGHTS
  • Superintendent to Receive County Honor  
  • "Programs Don't Change Kids, Relationships Do" 
  • Annual School Fund Drive Surpasses Last Year's Parent Participation 
  • Message from the Executive Director:  REF Exceeds Fall Fundraising Campaign Goal 
  • Cesar Chavez Pilots Math Program with Renowned Khan Academy  
  • Upcoming Events

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SAVE THE DATE:  Friday, May 4th REF hosts its 5th Annual Benefit at the Four Seasons in East Palo Alto (Click for more info) 

  
Superintendent to Receive County Honor

 In recognition of her leadership in education, Superintendent Maria De La Vega will be inducted on March 22nd to San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame.

 

Superintendent Maria De La Vega
Ravenswood City School District Superintendent Maria De La Vega

The San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame, sponsored by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Commission on the Status of Women, has been recognizing the exceptional leadership of women who live or work in San Mateo County for the past 28 years. As a member of the Women's Hall of Fame the Superintendent will be joining the ranks of more than 200 other extraordinary women who have left an indelible mark on the community.

 

Maria De La Vega believes in and promotes women, particularly women of color, into positions of leadership. Today the District boasts seven school sites, all led by an administrator who is a woman of color. Six of the seven women were previously employed in lesser positions in the District and mentored by the Superintendent into their current positions as school site instructional leaders.

 

In the late 1970s, the Superintendent was first employed as a clerical worker in the Stockton Unified School District Office. From there, she ascended from classified employee to certificated employee, management employee, and then to her present position as Superintendent. During this time, she was a single parent to her three children.

 

"Programs Don't Change Kids, Relationships Do"

As 49ers Academy 8th graders consider their choices for high school, it appears that they are carrying high expectations about the caring relationships they have experienced at their school.  

 

At an informational session with the admissions officer of a Bay Area private high school, one of about eight such sessions periodically held on campus this past Fall, one student's question seemed to stump their guest. "Here, we're used to getting help from teachers. They come to school before school and open their doors for us to help," the 49ers student said. "Do they do that over there?"

 

Somewhat taken aback, the admissions officer was unable to respond with a yes, indicating that it depended upon the teacher.

 

"Programs Don't Change Kids, Relationships Do" is the motto of 49ers Academy and informs the selection of staff and teachers., according to the school's Executive Director Michele Sharkey.   It seems the students agree that it is much more than a motto. 
Annual School Fund Drive Surpasses Last Year's Parent Participation
This year all seven schools at Ravenswood kicked off their school year by asking parents to contribute to their annual school fund drive. 

In the third year of this program, total donation nearly doubled from last year's $5,800 to just over $11,000 total this year.

As part of the program, REF matches funds raised by each school for use as the principal, teachers and parents decide.     
Message from the Executive Director:  REF Exceeds Fall Fundraising Campaign Goal

I am very pleased to say that our Fall Campaign has once again surpassed our fundraising goals.

 

Not only did we fulfill our challenge grant and raise a total of $255,250, exceeding our $225,000 target, the number of donors increased by 64%!

 

We also continue to gain the support of esteemed corporate partners and foundations with an interest in commitment to our community for the long term.

  

 Sobrato Family Foundation Logo

The Sobrato Family Foundation represents one our new local foundation partners committed to our schools with an exciting 2 for 1 challenge grant in which every dollar from a new source or increased donation, up to at total of $30,000 from February through December 2012, will be matched by $2 from the Sobrato Family Foundation. 

 

Bosch LogoIn addition, Bosch Healthcare in Palo Alto made a sizable grant to REF to fund our summer academies and science lab materials for middle school students.



We are grateful for the growing community support and are ever more focused on directing our resources at scaling programs with the surest impact on improving student academic performance. We continue to strive to live up to our mission to foster educational outcomes for the students of Ravenswood City School District that are on par with those of students in the surrounding communities. 

 

Thank you for joining us in the important work in the year ahead!

With Deep Appreciation,

Renu Nanda
Executive Director, Ravenswood Education Foundation


Cesar Chavez Pilots Math Program with Renowned Khan Academy

At Cesar Chavez Academy, Laurie Gross's 6th grade students are using web-delivered tutorial videos and interactive exercises to hone their math skills as part of pilot with the non-profit Khan Academy.  

 

With backing from the Gates Foundation and accolades from many respected educators, Khan Academy has drawn national attention as an exemplar of the game-changing innovation needed to transform and improve the education system in the U.S.  

 

Non-profit Citizen Schools, whom REF is supporting in extended day programming at Cesar Chavez, approached Khan Academy leading to the current collaboration.

 

Individualized use of the web-based material two days of the week after school provides data that can be used by the teacher to tailor the teaching in the classroom during the regular school day. Currently, Ms. Gross creates four distinct levels of homework assignments for her students. Use of Khan Academy allows students to access easily the practice exercises best suited to each students needs. When they struggle, they turn to the video tutorials to help get unstuck.

The time that students spend with Khan Academy, which includes one day of the week in class, frees Ms. Gross to provide extra attention with individual students.
Upcoming Events 
  • March 3-4:  Cheeky Monkey Toys will be hosting a fundraiser for REF in conjunction with renowned artist Florence de Bretagne.   Cheeky Monkey will be donating 10% of sales over that weekend and Florence de Bretagne will be donating 20% of the sale of her artwork on display at Cheeky Monkey Toys to REF.  Festivities will include art projects for children led by Ms. de Bretagne.  Cheeky Monkey Toys is located at 640 Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park.  Check their website for hours and further details.  www.cheekymonkeytoys.com 
  • April 28-29:  Compassion Weekend Service Projects will be conducted across District campuses    
  • May 4:  REF's 5th Annual Benefit Gala will take place at the Four Seasons in East Palo Alto   
REF Gala 2012 Hands
Please click the above image for more information, including details on sponsorship opportunities.
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The vision of the Ravenswood Education Foundation is to help foster educational outcomes in the Ravenswood City School District that are on par with those of students from the surrounding communities.
 
Please visit our website www.RavenswoodEF.org to donate online or contact Executive Director Renu Nanda for more information about how to volunteer or lend your expertise to improving our Ravenswood schools. Call 650.539.9577 or email rnanda@ravenswoodef.org. 
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