Archive for month: November, 2018
PPIE funding Outdoor Ed
PPIE funding Outdoor Ed buses
Nonprofit partnering with Black Tie Transportation to bring Pleasanton elementary students to camps
by Erika Alvero / Pleasanton Weekly
Last week, Valley View Elementary students kicked off Pleasanton Unified’s annual Outdoor Education tradition by heading out to a camp in Loma Mar — this time on buses funded completely by the Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE) Foundation.
The nonprofit, which supports Pleasanton schools through year-round fundraising efforts, will be providing round-trip bus transportation for all nine PUSD elementary schools’ treks to the outdoors, thereby lowering overall camp costs for participating families. The donation is provided in partnership with Black Tie Transportation, which is offering PPIE discounted bus services.
“Of all the things PPIE funds at elementary schools, Outdoor Ed bus transportation receives the greatest applause from parents,” PPIE executive director Steve McCoy-Thompson said. “It has tangible impact on their children and we are happy to provide this support, which comes from our great parent and corporate donors.”
PPIE has budgeted about $36,000 for the bus transportation, McCoy-Thompson said.
Valley View students departed Tuesday for the Exploring New Horizons camp in Loma Mar, where they will learn about the environment and biology in a natural setting. Elementary students at other schools will follow suit in participating in Outdoor Education programs throughout the year.
“Our Valley View students are super excited to embark on this once in a lifetime adventure with their classmates,” said Soraya Villaseñor, principal at Valley View. “They will share memorable new experiences. We are so thankful to PPIE and Black Tie for their generosity in providing transportation to Outdoor Ed.”
Added Bill Wheeler, president of Black Tie Transportation and a PPIE board member, “We’re happy to support Pleasanton families and to help their children have this very special experience. We’re also proud to partner with PPIE to serve the Pleasanton community.”
Original Article can be found here
PPIE raises record funds for PUSD
PPIE raises record-high funding for local schools
Money will go toward intervention specialists, librarian hours and more
by Erika Alvero / Pleasanton Weekly
This year, the Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation (PPIE) raised a record-high $644,000 for local schools.
The funding raised through PPIE’s Annual Giving Fund Campaign surpasses last year’s by over $100,000. Much of the money will go toward intervention specialist programs in the 2018-19 school year, according to the organization’s executive director Steve McCoy-Thompson.
“Thank you very, very much, Steve, for all you do for us,” said Steve Maher, a PUSD trustee, at the May 22 board meeting when McCoy-Thompson presented the board with a ceremonial check. “I don’t think we would make it without you.”
“Yes, thank you very much,” added board vice president Valerie Arkin. “It’s wonderful that we can put that money to good use for things for our kids in the district.”
PPIE is a local nonprofit that supports Pleasanton schools through year-round fundraising efforts.
The organization’s Giving Fund is supported through direct donations from parents and employer matching funds, along with proceeds from the annual Run for Education, which was held April 15.
PPIE executive director Steve McCoy-Thompson (far right) presents the PUSD school board and superintendent with a ceremonial donation check and Run for Education volunteer t-shirts. (Photo courtesy of PPIE)
“PPIE focuses on funding supplemental staff to support our students and teachers,” McCoy- Thompson said. “What’s important is that our funding is guided by school principals, teachers and parents who determine how the staff are best utilized at each school. We are grateful to our amazing volunteers, corporate sponsors and parents and we are honored to support our incredible Pleasanton schools.”
This year’s donation will be divvied up among various sectors throughout the district:
* $240,000 to fund intervention specialists in math, technology and English language, including one full- time specialist at each elementary school.
* $97,000 for extra librarian hours to keep libraries open at recess and lunch.
* $92,000 for on-site IT specialists.
* $85,000 for more support counselor and librarian hours at Foothill and Amador Valley high schools, along with support for Village High School and the Harvest Park and STEAM preschools.
* $42,000 in student and teacher grants for STEAM projects.
* $38,000 for round-trip bus transportation for outdoor education at all elementary schools, provided by Black Tie Transportation.
“Building excellence throughout our school system requires a community effort,” said Stephen Hilton, PPIE board president. “PPIE is grateful to the individuals, families and businesses whose generosity helped us raise more money for schools than ever before. We hope to build on that momentum as we look ahead to next year.”
Original Article can be found here
PPIE Thanks Sponsors
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for supporting the Fall Gala and all our Pleasanton schools.
Support for Foster Students
Students honored for completing PUSD’s college-career prep program
18 foster, kinship seniors graduated from high school program. Aloe DeMichiel, a senior from Amador Valley High School who completed the program, spoke at the ceremony Thursday. (Photo courtesy of PUSD)
by Erika Alvero / Pleasanton Weekly
School and community leaders gathered at Foothill High School last week to honor foster and kinship students who completed the district’s college-career preparation and readiness program.
The program supports students in foster or kinship care in applying for college, work and financial aid. This is the second year of the program, with 18 students recognized at the Thursday luncheon.
“Though it has always been my dream to go to college and it has always been my intention, I wasn’t certain that it was actually going to happen,” said Aloe DeMichiel, a senior from Amador Valley High School who spoke at the ceremony. “I am very grateful the foster kinship youth program exists to turn my dreams into a reality.”
The program also provides resources for families and guardians who may speak English as a second language, to assist them in navigating school and application systems.
At the ceremony, each student received a new laptop through a donation from Pleasanton Partnerships in Education Foundation and the parent-teacher-student associations from Amador Valley and Foothill high schools.
“This year we had a 99% success rate with 18 seniors graduating,” said Brenda Montgomery, a youth development specialist with the district and the program’s coordinator. She cited statistics showing that two-thirds of youth who grow up in foster care never graduate high school, and said the students being recognized had “incredible resilience.”
“To end their two years of arduous college preparation with a celebration luncheon and a plethora of college needs just added cream to the crop,” she said. “I feel like a proud mama.”
Local partners that provided funding and resources for the program and its students include the Pleasanton Youth Commission, Blue Oaks Church, Valley Community Church and Keller Williams Realty. Any organizations interested in participating can contact Montgomery at 519-3864.
