An excellent education is one of the keys to our children’s future success.

JANUARY 2013

 

On behalf of our Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas students, we want to thank all of our donor parents, teachers, staff, business partners and community for their continued support. Based on last school year’s donations WCEF has committed $800,000 to fund enrichment programs this year at all five elementary schools, WCI and Las Lomas. Click here for a complete list.

However, to meet our funding commitment, we must all work together and donate an amount significant to our own family’s finances. Only you can determine that amount. Whatever you can give, please know our entire school community is grateful for each family’s personal sacrifice and dedication to our students.

As we welcome a new year, we hope…

  • For a stronger economy and the impact that it will have on our schools and government.
  • That our students will not have to experience reduced programming due to WCEF donation shortfalls.
  • That our children stay safe and enjoy the many opportunities available to them.
  • That we all remember how fortunate we are to live in such a caring and supportive community.
  • That you consider lending your talents to our amazing team of volunteers at WCEF.

Thank you again for your support of the Walnut Creek Education Foundation and the strength it brings to our community.

Happy New Year!
Joanne Hernandez & Sharon Taplin
WCEF Co-Presidents

 

IN THIS ISSUE:
"Strong Schools=Strong Community" Alumni Giving Campaign
First Friday
2011-2012 Annual Report
Save the Date:
The 2nd Annual Play It Forward
Rossmoor Friends of WCEF Club
Community Fundraising Update
 
DONATE NOW
Ensure WCEF Funded Programs Continue for All Students
 

"Thanks to WCEF I enjoy the privilege of learning with and from my colleagues. When my students go to Art, Music & PE, I meet with my grade level colleagues and we plan, half of the time with our coach, for how best to teach our students. I cannot begin to list the ways my teaching has improved because of this collaborative time, but I promise that what I learn directly affects students because we are always working hard to become better teachers."

Judy Mazur, Teacher, Grade 5 Buena Vista Elementary

 

 

"Strong Schools=Strong Community" Alumni Giving Campaign

Several alumni parents came together to start WCEF’s newest fundraising campaign, “Strong Schools=Strong Community” Alumni Giving Campaign. These alumni recognize that quality schools serve everyone: they add to real estate values, create an environment that welcomes business and make our our community.

These parents learned that they are not alone in wanting to continue to support the schools in their community. They reached out to other alumni parents and in a little over a month the campaign received 20 donations totaling close to $4500 – from people with no children in our schools! They hope to continue to grow this amount over the next several months and into the future.

If you are the parent of an alumni and are interested in more information about this campaign or would like to make a donation please click here. If you know any alumni parents who are supporters of our schools, let them know that they can continue to support their schools and community. Click here to learn more!

First Friday - Thank you to Our Business Supporters!

Now in its second year the WCEF First Friday Business Program benefits our students AND supports our local businesses. Distributed via email to all school families on the First Friday of every month, this e-newsletter features local businesses, many parent–owned, which support WCEF and all our students through their paid advertising. Many of these businesses feature give-backs to WCEF and exclusive savings that are good all month long!

We are very grateful to this year’s partners: Advance Upper Cervical Chiropractic, Extreme Pizza, FORMA Gym, Honey Bear Trees, Itrim, Kelly Moore Paints, Northstar Risk Management, Solar Universe, Sorrento Restaurant, Sports Basement, the Walnut Creek Downtown Business Assoc., and the Walnut Creek Magazine. Together we have raised over $13,500 so far this school year.

Now you can promote your company’s products or services directly to every Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School family and our WCEF community members–and feel good knowing that you are helping our students at the same time! Contact Liz Davis at eadavisus@yahoo.com or call 925.933.9233 for more information or to reserve your spot in the next edition.

We encourage our families to support these local businesses that are supporting our schools! To see our current month’s First Friday publication, click here. Then forward First Friday to your friends and neighbors and share on Facebook!

2011-2012 Annual Report
Thank You Walnut Creek School Families and Community!

Through your generous support, the Walnut Creek Education Foundation K-12 (WCEF K-12) was able to contribute $774,418 to the Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School (Acalanes Union High School District) for the 2011-2012 school year. Together, through our shared effort and commitment, we ensure our children receive an exceptional educational experience.

Our 2011-2012 Annual Report includes information about how your donations are put to work funding vital programs at Buena Vista, Indian Valley, Murwood, Parkmead, Walnut Heights, Walnut Creek Intermediate and Las Lomas High School that otherwise would not exist. The report also includes a list of all individuals and businesses who donated to our 2011-2012 Annual Giving Campaign. Read the report here.

Special thanks to our Champion Partner, Robert Anthony Strategic Marketing and Design, for producing our Annual Report at no cost to WCEF.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2nd Annual Play It Forward – Benefit Concert at the Lesher Thursday, March 7, 2013

EVENT SPONSORS

Please join our WCEF community on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek for WCEF’s premier concert event "Play It Forward!," a benefit concert for the students of the Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School.

The evening will feature the amazing sounds of:

  • Vocalist Jamie Davis who brings a repertoire from Cole Porter to Stevie Wonder; from Big Band to Jazz to current hits.
  • Walnut Creek’s own Carlos Reyes – charismatic, wildly talented and always entertaining; playing the harp and violin like you’ve never experienced!
  • Greg Errico, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a founding member of Sly and the Family Stone.
  • And our own Las Lomas Jazz Band, the Las Lomas Chorale, and the WCI Jazz Band! Last year’s audience was blown away by the talent of our student groups.

Read more about these amazing performers and event here.

Tickets available online now at the Lesher Center ticket office. You can also call 925.943.SHOW. Or visit the Ticket Office at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA

WCEF would like to thank Unity Music Foundation for their partnership in bringing this great event to life.

Rossmoor Friends of WCEF Club

In 2012 WCEF became the sponsor of the Rossmoor Friends of the Walnut Creek Education Foundation Club. This club provides an opportunity for Rossmoor residents to keep abreast of current news and issues related to the Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School.

The club held four meetings at Rossmoor in 2012. The first meeting held March 22 was an opportunity for Rossmoor residents to meet school administrators and WCEF members and to provide suggestions for future meetings. The May 31 meeting featured a talk by Dr. Patricia Wool, Superintendent of the WCSD, on the topic of “Learning in the 21st Century”. The third meeting, on October 18, featured a talk by Dr. John Nickerson, Superintendent of the AUHSD, about “California’s Education Budget History and Propositions 30 and 38: What is the Impact on Our Local Schools?” On December 13, the club held the final meeting of the year. It was holiday social with a performance by the student jazz quintet Nuspice.

The club currently has 24 resident members and hopes to attract more members in 2013. All meetings are held at the Creekside Clubhouse Rooms 1 & 2. If you have family or friends living in Rossmoor, please encourage them to join us! Our next meeting is March 21, 2013. For more information click here.

Community Fundraising Update

This fall, WCEF participated in several community building events that raised funds for our students’ education. Your participation is the key and we thank you for coming out and supporting these great events.

  • In August, Sports Basement hosted a Back to School shopping day. Between Sports Basement’s Shopping Day and its Charity Lift Ticket Program, a total of $5,277.75 was raised. An additional Holiday shopping event was held in December offering photos with Santa. It was a fun day for our families. Thank you, Sports Basement, for being such a generous partner for our students.
  • The Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association’s Fall Wine Walk in September raised $2,200.
  • On Thanksgiving Day, FORMA Gym (formerly Walnut Creek Sports and Fitness) organized the 20th Annual Walnut Creek Turkey Trot which benefited WCEF, PEAK Education Foundation, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and Wellness City Challenge. Almost 6,000 runners and 330 volunteers took part in this inspirational event to promote healthy lifestyles. WCEF was just presented with a check for $20,000. THANK YOU, FORMA Gym!!! Check out some great Turkey Trot race day photos here.
  • The Honey Bear Christmas tree lot fundraiser raised $757.90.
Funded Programs and Personnel 2012-2013

K-5 – Buena Vista, Indian Valley, Murwood, Parkmead,
Walnut Heights (WCSD)

  • Art. Music & Physical Education (27 weeks)
  • Teacher Collaboration
  • Librarian Hours
  • ROPES Right of Passage Experiences (Grades 5,7,8)

6-8 Walnut Creek Intermediate (WCSD)

  • Teacher on Special Assignment (2nd Vice Principal)
  • Counselor
  • Librarian Hours
  • Campus Safety Supervisor
  • Afterschool Homework Program
  • Visiting Artists Program
  • 6th Grade Orientation and
    WEB leaders
  • ROPES Right of Passage Experiences (Grades 5,7,8)

9-12 Las Lomas High School
(AUHSD)

  • Class Size Reduction for English and Algebra
  • Academic Electives
  • Technology
  • Additional funding at Las Lomas High School for the 2012-2013 school year is contingent upon the outcome of the state election in November.
For more information or to donate visit wcefk12.org
WCEF is a 501c3 non-profit organization, Federal Tax I.D. #94-2915151