SANTA CRUZ EDUCATION FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
The Santa Cruz Education Foundation works to ensure that every one of the 7,000 Santa Cruz City Schools students at our 10 campuses, in kindergarten through high school, has an outstanding educational experience.
About This Cause
Academic Programs Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) The Foundation provides funding to all of our middle and high schools for tutor/mentors, field trips to colleges and special events. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college readiness program that increases school wide learning and performance. Although AVID serves all students, it focuses on the least served students in the academic middle. The formula is simple – raise expectations of students and, with the AVID support system in place, they will rise to the challenge. What differentiates AVID from other educational reform programs is its astounding success rate. Since 2005, nearly 125,000 AVID students have graduated from high school and planned to attend college. Of the 27,891 AVID graduates in 2011, 91% plan to attend a postsecondary institution; 58% in four-year institutions and 33% in two-year institutions. Outdoor Science School Years ago, the decades long tradition of sending 5th graders to Outdoor Science School came to an end due to budget cuts. Teachers and families noticed immediately the impact the loss had on classroom learning. The Santa Cruz Education Foundation stepped forward to restore the program and facilitate logistical coordination. Today, every 5th grader has the opportunity, regardless of ability to pay, to attend a week-long hands on science experience led by expert naturalists and accompanied by their classroom teachers. In their field week, they become inspired learners, independent individuals and knowledgable stewards of their environment. Outdoor Science School is made possible by a strong collaboration between our business community, the elementary school parent organizations, Santa Cruz City Schools and the Foundation. Watershed Education Through a curriculum developed by Julia Davenport, member of the Santa Cruz City Schools Green Schools Committee, teachers and students deepen their knowledge by submersing themselves in hands-on science at the water’s edge. River-side water quality and nature observation stations give each student the time to observe, reflect, and record their observations. Foundation funding helps to transport students from their classrooms and into the riparian habitat of Loch Lomond where they develop a sense of place, and where they experience first-hand where their water comes from, where it goes, what happens to it on its path to their faucets or the ocean, and impacts to marine habitats. This program is made possible for all 5th graders through SCEF support and a grant from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Wellness Programs Food What?! FOOD, WHAT?! is a youth empowerment and food justice program using food, through sustainable agriculture and health, as the vehicle for growing strong, healthy, and inspired teens. Partnering with low-income and at-risk youth to grow, cook, eat, and distribute healthy, sustainably raised food, Food What addresses food justice issues in our community. At FoodWhat inspires personal transformation by supporting teens in finding their voices and developing lasting confidence in themselves. The Foundation supports Food What through advocacy and promotional support for the annual Harvest Festival and Strawberry Blast. Food, What?! is a project of Life Lab. Healthy School Food Through participation on the Santa Cruz City Schools Wellness Committee, the Foundation has long advocated for fresh, healthy school meals. Working closely with policy makers, local staff and community members, the Foundation strives to ensure that no child is hungry in our schools and that every student has access to healthy, appealing, fresh meals. Life Lab Garden Classrooms Hands-on learning gives students real-world experiences bringing classroom lessons to life. Our elementary school life lab programs are led by experience garden instructors who prepare lessons aligned to the education standards. Students not only learn about science and nature, but also learn good nutrition and the joy of growing and eating fresh produce. They become committed stewards of their environment with firsthand experience of natural systems. PlayWorks The Santa Cruz Education Foundation hopes to expand a pilot facilitated recess program to all four Santa Cruz City Schools elementary schools. Modeled on Playworks, our program will increase students’ physical activity during the school day, promote positive, inclusive play and incorporate effective conflict resolution tools into student interaction. Over 30% of U.S. children have a body mass index that qualifies them as overweight, 15.5 are obese. Hispanic and African American children have even higher obesity rates. Childhood obesity is associated health complications like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Overall health and fitness are linked and impact students’ academic outcomes. Children, even when given the opportunity, are not engaging in self-initiated physical activity. Physical activity is an essential component to health, but it is also essential to promoting focus in the classroom. Children who do not regularly engage in physical activity or play experience fewer opportunities for healthy social interaction. In a pilot program at Bay View Elementary School in Santa Cruz, Playworks coaches are guiding students in sage, meaningful play at recess. Virtually every child now plays at recess increasing the number of children who are physically active and increasing the amount time they spend being physically active. This program, coupled with a transition to recess before lunch, has also resulted in significantly fewer disciplinary incidents. Teachers report that students return ready to focus and no longer bring playground conflict into the classroom. Music--El Sistema El Sistema Santa Cruz is a pilot after school orchestral program that debuted at Gault Elementary School in May, 2012. With an initial grant from the Yahoo Employee Foundation, sponsored by Gault parent and Yahoo employee, El Sistema seeks to provide high quality music instruction and ensemble performance. Modeled after the highly regarded program first developed in Venezuela, El Sistema creates a community of scholars and musicians who take pride in their accomplishments. The program pilot began with 40 kindergartners, expanding each year to the next grade level. The Eddy Awards The Santa Cruz Education Foundation’s Eddy Awards provide an opportunity for the community to recognize the outstanding commitment made daily by the dedicated educators, staff and volunteers of Santa Cruz City Schools. Every year we honor four teachers who teach Kindergarten through 3rd grade, 4th and 5th grade, 6th through 8th grade (middle school) and 9th through 12th grade (high school). The Roseann Coonerty Layne Inspiring Teaching Award recognizes 7-12 grade teachers who teach writing, history, social studies, government, civics or any other writing-intensive course. The Eddy Awards also recognize staff, parent volunteers, community members and outstanding programs in our schools. And last but not least, check out our online blog: The Eddy: Currents in Santa Cruz Education. http://theeddy.sceducation.org