We raise funds, leverage resources, and act as a catalyst to involve our entire community in our kids’ education.
PLACE BASED SCIENCE EDUCATION
Vashon Schools Foundation has provided $227,000 in funding for STEM programs such as Scientists in Schools lead by the Vashon Nature Center. Scientist in Schools programs utilizes the extraordinary Vashon ecosystem for place based access learning. The program started in one classroom and with funding from Vashon Schools Foundation has expanded to serve close to 700 students in Grades 1-12 each year, engaging nearly half of all students enrolled annually. Vashon Nature Center also spear heads the Science Advisory Board, connecting high school students with working scientists in the Vashon community.
RACIAL EQUITY
Racial Equity became a focus priority for our school district six years ago. The founding movement began during the 2015-16 school year in coordination with the community group Parents and Friends for Racial Equity. The district leadership team began a racial equity consultancy with Dr. Nikum Pon, a regional educational leader, and reached out to the Vashon Schools Foundation to help develop a budget for moving forward with the work.
In September 2017 the VISD school board adopted the district’s first educational and racial equity policy. Subsequently instructional staff and ALL district work group employees have received regular equity sensitivity training each year. Vashon Schools Foundation donors provided over $50,000 in funding to enable the district to implement this training. VSF resources also supports the work of school building-based equity teams, Racial Equity Pact Club Advisor, and continued professional development.
SOCIO-EMOTIONAL, ANTI-BULLYING, AND MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES
Community financial support to the Vashon Schools Foundation has provided the school district with critical resources for additional counseling support in partnership with Vashon Youth and Family Services, student access to resiliency programs such as Journeymen and Sisterhood, class room based curriculum such as Second Steps, and the student lead Sources of Strength.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In 2019, the Vashon Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) merged with VSF to help ensure the longevity of a strong and impactful connection between families and our island’s schools. The former Vashon PTSA is now known as FACE (Family and Community Engagement). FACE provides parent education and resources, enrichment activities such as ORCA Readers and Chess Club, community events such as the Harvest Festival, along with annual staff recognition Doors of Opportunity and year-end luncheon.
Up-to-date CURRICULUM
Vashon Schools Foundation provided needed funds to ensure updated curriculum is accessible to educators and students and helped the district to align a regular curriculum review and update cycle for math instruction, reading, and middle and high school humanity courses.
INDEPENDENT LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
VHS Student Link connects with students individually to help meet the twenty four Washington State high school course requirements. Through an annual $25,000 designated grant, VSF has supported the expansion of these program to help meet the need of students seeking an alternative to traditional class-room based learning – increasing students’ course completion and VISD’s graduation rates.