A Note from the Executive Director
2017 is off to a great start!  We are pleased to award our PPIE Innovative Student Grants, which covered a great variety of student-led projects - from 3D printing and modeling to baking for Open Heart Kitchen.  Congratulations to all!  We are also happy to announce our Innovative Education Grants - see below for details. Please visit our Facebook page to see some of the projects as well as the great PTA Reflections' student art on our walls. We've also made significant progress working with Parent Club leaders (PTA/PTSA/PFC) to develop a lasting agreement that will help us to better coordinate and communicate with parents about our goals and where your contributions go toward supporting our students and teachers - please look for future announcements and our joint Peachjar flyers.  And, as always, please contact PPIE directly with any questions or suggestions!
Register for 5th Annual Run for Education
Join us April 23, 2017!
PPIE is joining up with ClubSport Pleasanton and Veeva Systems to host the 5 th annual Pleasanton Run for Education on April 23.  Thank you to our title sponsors for supporting the Run for Education, a great community event that benefits PPIE and Pleasanton schools.  We appreciate ClubSport Pleasanton's longtime commitment to this event and we are excited to welcome Veeva Systems.  We are still welcoming new sponsors at all levels.

This year's race again offers 3 distances (5K, 10K and 15K) to challenge everyone - from the casual walker, to the novice runner, to those training for their first marathon. The Kids' Challenge for ages 12 and under is also back by popular demand!  All races begin and end at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. 
 
Make sure to take advantage of early bird pricing and register TODAY! Race entry pricing goes up after March 20th. 
PPIE Innovative Grant Programs
For nearly 30 years, PPIE has provided grants to PUSD students and teachers to support student achievement in all areas, thanks in large part from a generous grant from Oracle.  The Innovative Student Grants have been awarded - congratulations to the students awarded funds!

Valentine's Day Baking: A Display of Love
$286.86 - Muna Bellot, Pleasanton Middle School
Baking Valentine's Day sweets to be distributed at Open Heart Kitchen
 
Making Toys with 3D Printing
$224.61 - Emily Dubon, Lydiksen Elementary
Funds for materials for to make toys for less fortunate children
 
Holidays for the Seniors
$93 - Robert Gan, Hart Middle School
Funds for blank cards to be decorated by Hart students and distributed to Pleasanton senior citizens

Science Triad
$350 - Luke Liu, Foothill High School
Funds for materials to help team prepare for and register in Science Triad
 
Every Fifteen Minutes
$500 - Katherine Marotto, Amador Valley High School
Funds for a program to raise students' awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving
 
Science Olympiad
$500 - Irene Sha, Foothill High School
Funds for build event materials and registration at Bay Area Science Olympiad Regionals
 
Community Service Art Project
$490.94 - Nivita Susendran, Hart Middle School
Funds to creating a mural at Hart's library and providing artwork for the community
 
Engineering Club 3D Modeling Project
$150 - Annie Tor, Amador Valley High School
Funds for 3D printing materials that will be used to create teaching materials for a variety of courses at Amador Valley
 
Astronomy Telescope Carrying Case
$500 - Shawn Zhang, Amador Valley High School
Funds for a case for the Astronomy Club's telescope

The PPIE Innovative Education Grants application is now open through March 15.  All PUSD educators are eligible to apply for up to $3,000 to fund an innovative project that is student focused, promotes creativity and innovative thinking, offers expanded opportunities for learning and supports Common Core standards, as well as the PUSD Strategic Plan.  Keep reading to learn more about one of last year's Innovative Education Grants in action.
PPIE In the Schools
Lydiksen Elementary teachers Linda Wu and Arlene Simpelo received a PPIE Innovative Education Grant in May 2016 for their project "Coding with Dash and Dot."  With funds from PPIE, the teachers were able to purchase a classroom pack of Dash and Dot, educational toy robots that help students learn to code through play.  Wu and Simpelo sponsor an after school coding club for 1st-3rd graders.  "Dash and Dot nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity in students which sets the foundation for success as 21st century learners.  Dash and Dot also nurture collaboration, perseverance, and a growth mindset as students celebrate each other's successes," according to Wu.
Thank you for your continued support.  

Sincerely, 

Steve McCoy-Thompson, Executive Director

Quality Education is Built on a Strong Foundation