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“Thanks to grants from the
Foundation’s Bridge the
Gap campaign, the equipment in
our high school science labs is kept
up to date in order to prepare our
students for college science classes.”
Foti Davlantis, ESHS
chemistry teacher |
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The ESEF has pledged $450,000 to the ESUSD in the 2010-2011 school year to provide the following programs that would not be possible without the supplemental grant.
Creativity and Innovation
ESEF funding provides partial support for the Robotics Program ($25,000) for grades 6 through 12 at both the middle and high schools. Students learn to work as a team and practice creativity and innovation as they encounter engineering and physics challenges while building a robot for competition. Problem solving skills are enhanced through trial and error efforts to correct and improve their work under a strict timeline. In previous years, the team has placed strongly in several major competitions as well as having been invited to participate in a major tournament in Hawaii in spring 2010.
Students at all levels enthusiastically learn to collaborate and communicate while performing and presenting themselves to the public in a composed and professional manner. Continued support of the K-12 Music Program ($180,000) adds a highly collaborative, creative element to the curriculum, enriching the fine arts offerings for all students.
Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy
Students have the opportunity to participate in a Financial Literacy ($10,000) course at the high school. Previous participants demonstrated growth in self-respect, work ethic, and productivity. They developed entrepreneurial skills by creating an endeavor incorporating the business and financial literacy aspects of the class. A growing interest in the course has developed, even among students with more advanced math skills.
Contextual Learning Skills
AVID ($22,000) helps maximize students’ academic potential by providing contextual learning experiences for students in grades 9 through 12. The program teaches students from diverse backgrounds to take pride in personal responsibility, take ownership of their work ethic, develop and implement written and communication skills across the curriculum, and exposes them to the reality of a college education. A proposed AVID partnership with the middle school will likely influence students in lower grades to consider college at an even younger age.
Collaboration and Communication Skills
Link Crew ($5,000) is a highly defined and structured transitional leadership program that engages incoming 9th grade students in exciting and purposeful activities, introducing them not just to their new campus, but also pairing them with upper classmate mentors.
A Literacy Program ($82,000) funded through the Educational Foundation would allow struggling elementary school readers to get the individual and small group coaching so imperative to their success, ensuring competency not just in English Language Arts but also providing access to the curriculum that will ultimately prepare them for the demands of the workplace.
Information, Media and Technology Literacy
Technology has become the instructional delivery method of choice in most El Segundo Unified classrooms. The ability to trouble-shoot, problem solve, and keep PowerSchool ($10,000) running is vital. Funds will provide for ongoing support and training.
Electronic enrollment has been completed throughout the District using Info Snap ($16,000). With its introduction at the high school, the cost-savings will soon be District-wide in reduced employee hours spent on data entry, paper use, and copying costs.
Personal Health & Wellness
Roughly 1200 elementary students benefit each year from Physical Education ($70,000) programs that not only promote healthy lifestyle choices but also teach healthy competition, good sportsmanship, and provide a positive outlet for frustration and excessive energy. Incorporating a physical fitness curriculum models for students the importance of day-to-day physical activity, helps students to focus in class, and cuts down on classroom disruptions.
Life & Career
The District has developed "Bridges to Partnerships" ($30,000) a collaborative effort in partnership with community professionals who will bring their real-world expertise into the classroom and the curriculum in order to motivate and engage students toward math and science careers.
