December 2023 Edition

• February 7, 2024: Celebrate Innovation in Education Luncheon
• October 13, 2024: 41st Run for Education, Registration OPEN NOW!

On behalf of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation Board and staff, I extend warm wishes for a joyous holiday season. As we approach the end of 2023, we hope you and your family enjoy a safe and restful conclusion to the year. Exciting opportunities await in 2024!



Reflecting on 2023, our dedicated Board and Staff propelled the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation to new heights, amplifying the impact of our mission. Our programs and events continue to evolve and thrive:

• Imagineering sparks interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), by providing innovative and engaging classes during school breaks.  
• Science Alliance pairs curious and motivated 5th grade students (buddies) with high school students (mentors). The program has been widely recognized as helping to prepare the 5th graders for middle school lab science and teaches positive role-modeling skills to high school mentors.
• The Run for Education, a perennial favorite, exceeded participation goals by 40%. Register now for the 2024 Run for Education at a discounted rate!
• Night with the Stars remains one of our most enjoyable evenings, providing the perfect opportunity to express our thanks to our school affiliates for all the work they do.  
• Celebrate Innovation in Education hosted by our Major Gifts and Endowment Committee, is an opportunity to update the community on the efforts of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District while raising funds for long-term innovative programs. 
• Our annual Teacher Grant program awarded 141 Teacher Grants. Funds for our Teacher Grants come from the Run for Education, the Auction for Education, and the Major Gifts and Endowment Fund.  
• The Season of Giving is underway. This year it is dedicated to supporting school libraries in SRVUSD. Your donation contributes to preparing students for a world of information. Please consider donating!

We would all like to express our gratitude to the numerous sponsors and donors who play a vital role in making these diverse programs and events a reality. Your support is truly exceptional!  

Our collaboration with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is flourishing. We cherish this special relationship and are grateful for the guidance and support they consistently provide.

Lastly, the work of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation is made possible by our Board of Directors and Staff. Special thanks to our amazing Executive Director, Vanessa Berastain, and her team – Donna Browne, Alicia Gee, Karen Robman, Lori Shen, and Jeanne Won. This small team has accomplished a great deal in 2023 and is already planning for an even better 2024.  

As we look forward to 2024, please share your ideas by contacting us at info@SRVEF.org.

Gary Alpert

President

San Ramon Valley Education Foundation

Elementary Library Media Specialist Christine Sharrock shares what our elementary school libraries are offering beyond books (Book Clubs, Escape Room experiences, and more!) plus what we can do with further funding. Don't miss the end of the video for a special message from Golden View Elementary School students!!!

Video created by Audrey Fitzgerald, our iQuest intern.

Thank you to Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) for generously supporting the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. PG&E’s generosity allowed us to offer scholarships to local students to participate in our Imagineering and Science Alliance Programs this year. Additionally, they continue to support the yearly Science Fair.

If you have any questions, email us at info@srvef.org.

As we approach the winter break and the end of this calendar year, I find myself reflecting on the many accomplishments this year.  

We have spent significant time developing and honing practices that broaden the definition of success so that all students can thrive. This includes the highly collaborative work of a design committee to create our Learner Profile- a profile that identifies the major competencies that we believe are essential for the future success of each student when they leave us as graduates. These competencies include critical thinkers, creative contributors, intentional collaborators, adaptable learners, and effective communicators.

To support these competencies, we have enhanced instructional design to create deeper learning experiences for students at all levels. We continue to study our evaluation and assessment practices to ensure that they truly reflect student knowledge and achievement. Continuous cycles of improvement have helped us consistently review instructional practices and implement precise interventions that enable students to receive the time and support necessary to address learning gaps. And since research shows that students learn best when they feel safe, respected, cared for, and included, we have worked tirelessly to create learning environments and spaces on campuses that are safe and inclusive. The work of our Facilities Master Plan Committee and LCAP Committee ensures that these priorities will be supported well into the future.

I am also happy to share that we have strengthened our partnership and outreach with our parents/caregivers and the community at large by increasing opportunities for engagement and voice. We expanded the workshops we offer for SRVUSD families by partnering with the SRVCPTA, the C.O.P.E Family Support Center, and the NAACP to offer education about social media and social emotional well-being, cyber safety, and creating effective learning spaces… just to name a few. In the spirit of shared leadership, we have promoted and encouraged additional parent participation on the many steering committees that guide the work of our district. This year we also hosted, in partnership with SRVEF, our first State of the School District Breakfast. It was a great opportunity to share some of the important work we are engaged in, to offer a guest speaker who addressed the emergence of AI in education, and to celebrate our first annual 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition award winners.  

In looking ahead to the new year, there is much to be excited about! We unveiled a transformative college and career readiness plan at the December 13th Board meeting which will bring opportunities for career exploration and experience to students of all ages. We also look forward to expanded opportunities in visual and performing arts with Prop 28 funding and our continued professional development in the growing area of AI.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the continued and generous support of our community members and donors which allows us to dream big and deliver for our students. As this year comes to a close, I wish you the peace that comes from a job well done and the hope for all the bright possibilities that a new year brings.



John Malloy

Superintendent, SRVUSD

A message from Dr. Malloy

The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Teacher Grants. Once again, SRVEF partnered with DonorsChoose to help with the grant campaign. As a result of matching funds and external donations, SRVEF funded ALL ELIGIBLE grants.

This year, SRVEF awarded 141 grants totaling $40,175.73, including 31 music and science grants funded by the SRVEF Endowment Committee.

Because of a generous match that was made available on Giving Tuesday (November 28), we were able to expand our eligibility requirements, funding grants that were submitted as early as August 25, and as recent as November 27, 2023. 

30 schools had one or more grants funded by SRVEF. 123 Educators had one or more grants funded. 21 teachers were awarded their first Teacher grant. After funding all teachers, we were able to fund a 2nd grant for 17 Educators.

The SRVEF Grant Program is funded primarily through proceeds from the Run for Education and the Auction for Education. The Endowment Grant Program is funded through our annual donation drive and annual fundraising lunch, Celebrate Innovation in Education - featuring the SRVUSD Superintendent.

Unfunded teacher grants will remain active on the DonorsChoose website for approximately two more months during which time the grants may continue to receive external funding, including funding from individual, corporate donors, and matching fund donors. Although SRVEF has exhausted our Grant funding, parents, friends, and local Ed Funds can continue to help fund the remaining grants. If a grant is not fully funded by the expiration date, any external money pledged is returned to the donor.  

Grants that still require funding may be reviewed by clicking here.  Please note that grants can be submitted at any time, so the list changes. All funded SRVUSD Grants may be reviewed on the DonorsChoose site by clicking here.

If you have any questions about the Grants Program, email us at grants@srvef.org.

Would you consider making a donation to support public education in the San Ramon Valley? We welcome you to become a Friend of the Foundation. SRVEF accepts donations via check, through PayPal, or our website. Thank you for your support!

To donate via check, please mail a check to:

SRVEF

3280 Crow Canyon Road

San Ramon, CA 94583

To donate through PayPal (no extra fees for SRVEF), please click the picture above

To donate through our website, please click the picture above

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