FREE/NEFEC Newsletter

Foundation for Rural Education Excellence

Supporting Academic Achievement in

Rural Northeast Florida Communities

December 2018 Newsletter

The Foundation for Rural Education Excellence, a registered 501(C)(3) organization, was founded in 1998 to facilitate philanthropic support for rural school districts of the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC): Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, Putnam, Suwannee and Union Counties as well as Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and PK Yonge Developmental Research School. Working collaboratively, our mission is to enhance academic success and career opportunities for rural students in northeast Florida.

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H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S F R O M A L L O F U S !

At this time of the year, it's important to take some time to reflect on our families, friends, and colleagues! We are so thankful for each of you. All of you care about our students and work hard to make education excellence attainable for them. We hope that your holidays are filled with laughter, love, and some rest!

FREE also hopes that you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year! We plan to begin 2019 with fresh engagement and renewed energy for our foundation and our students. Thanks for being a catalyst for making that happen!

Expanding Computer Science in Middle Grades

Made possible through a grant from Clay Electric's Foundation and the "Round Up" program, FREE partnered with NEFEC's MyDistrict Virtual School to offer courses to promote learning in computer sciences. The cost of the course curriculum and online teacher is covered by grant funds. Our hope is that this program will open up students to computer science courses and stoke the passion for learning that we see in our districts every day.

Putnam County students (pictured above) participate in Computer Science Education Week activities.

Taylor Strayer (Baker County) is hard at work. She has done well with the course so far and has appreciated the opportunity to participate.

Saralye West (Baker County) is working hard on her class work. She’s very diligent with all that she does.

Upcoming Events

FREE Board of Directors Meeting

The Foundation for Rural Education Excellence Board of Directors will meet on January 31 2019, at 10:00 am in Starke at the Bradford County School Board meeting room.

21st Annual Golf Tournament

FREE's annual golf tournament is scheduled for March 22, 2019, at The Palatka Golf Club. For more information or to register to play, click on the link below:

Registration Flyer

Summer Leadership Conference

NEFEC's Annual Summer Leadership Conference is scheduled for July 8-11, 2019, at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Foundation for Rural Education Excellence

(352) 317-0621

foundationruraled@gmail.com

freeneedsyou.org