A big THANK YOU for saying yes to KIDS and passing our February 8, 2022 renewal levy! You said YES to providing critical funding for our public schools.
Our schools are one of the island’s best assets and benefit the entire community. During this season of gratitude, we are thankful to the individuals and organizations that provide unique education opportunities for our kids. Programs such as the Vashon Nature Center, Sisterhood and Journeymen, and Artists in the Schools. Programs created by islanders to create transformative experiences for students.
Since 2010, Vashon Schools Foundation has been an important partner to our island’s public schools by providing access to these exceptional programs.
And our children’s school experience is special because of families like yours. Your tax deductible gift today to the Vashon Schools Foundation will provide the necessary funding for these donor supported partner programs. Community makes everything possible.
During the past two years, the pandemic has made many of us realize how much our families and the community rely on the school district for basic needs as well as high quality education. Your grass roots monthly support is absolutely critical to the mental health of our kids and fiscal health of our schools!
As the 2021-22 school year begins, the Vashon Schools Foundation implores you to make a monthly investment in our educational community. When you invest in students, and in YOUR student, you are also investing in teachers, investing in programs, investing in the arts, and investing in mental health.
What can you afford to invest? It doesn’t have to be a large amount of money. Every little bit adds up to great big things for all. Can you give $5. per month? $15. per month? $25. per month? Your monthly donations provide reliable funding that allows the Schools Foundation to partner with the district to bring our students enhanced experiences like Journeymen, Sisterhood Circles, Vashon Nature Center Citizen Science, Vashon Artists in Schools, Vashon Youth & Family Services Counseling and FACE (formerly Vashon PTSA). In this way, your Vashon Schools Foundation financial gift stays here, on the island. It goes directly to these local partner programs and curriculum in each of our 3 public schools.
Without financial support from everyone who uses these services, they may not survive in the long run. The State does not pay for enhancements like these, which the Foundation believes are actually critical needs for our kids.
Since 2010, VSF has been an important partner to our island’s public schools, providing access to exceptional opportunities and programs that help all students thrive because of families like yours.
The question may really be, can you afford NOT to invest in students?
Vashon Island School District school board member Toby Holmes, plans to celebrate his 50th birthday by walking around Vashon’s shoreline in under 24 hours on Saturday September 4 to raise funds for island non-profits including the Vashon Schools Foundation.
Toby will be joined by his wife Amy, who is a science teacher at McMurray. Toby was born on Vashon in 1971 and his mom, Shirley Ferris, was a long time educator at Vashon High School. Toby was inspired by the March 23, 9138 story of George McCormick, supported by Deputy Sheriff Shattuck, and a $67 bet at The Alibi. The walk is intended to inspire others to appreciate the connectivity of island life.
They have an audacious goal of raising $50,000 in the form of either flat donations or per-mile challenges – $10,000 each for the 5 island charities they will be supporting: Vashon Schools Foundation, Vashon Maury Island Land Trust, Vashon Heritage Museum, Vashon Rowing Club and the Vashon Food Bank.
Donate today at go.rallyup.com/vashon/Campaign and help Toby and Amy support these incredible island charities!
Each year, since 1998, The Doors of Opportunity honors a VISD educator who exemplifies by deed, a true spirit and grit that goes beyond their job description, opening doors and maximizing a student’s potential. Recipients are nominated by their peers and the award winner is determined by input received from district staff, school families, and the community.
The Doors of Opportunity Award was created and endowed by Benita and Charlie Staadecker. Charlie served many years on the VISD school board. Award recipient receives $1,000 for their personal use and $1,000 for their field of work or department.
Vashon Schools Foundation is happy to announce that this year’s award recipient is school nurse, Sarah Day. Sarah started working for the school district in 2011 after spending many years working for Seattle King County Public Health working with the immigrant and refugee populations.
Sarah’s expertise, experience and guidance was especially crucial this school year as the district navigated the COVID pandemic. Here are some of the nomination comments that were received:
- “She is fierce in her protection of our safety. She is the reason our schools are open today and why we have had 0 transmission between staff and students.”
- “She lifted this district to heights unimaginable during the darkest days of the pandemic.”
- “She led her flock through the Covid gauntlet with honor and knowledge. “
- “She has been instrumental in shifting us from being a headline of vaccination avoiders according to the (Ny Times) to actually ahead of the curve in Washington State.”
- “Over the past year she has been the glue for all of us. She has been our voice of reason and she holds our community’s health like a big warm hug.”
- “She is our resident mask guru–she must have personally tried 50 different styles in order to find the perfect mask for our staff.”
- “For years she has created a health room for students to go to avoid being in class while they deal with physical symptoms of fear, anxiety, or depression.”
- “She is a wonder woman, and she has been a guardian angel for our island.”
Congrats Sarah! We are so grateful for all your work on behalf of our students.
Vashon Schools Foundation is grateful to this community and its support for public education! If you missed GiveBig but would like to donate in support of public education students enrolled at VISD, you can still give at the Foundation’s Donation Page HERE
This past year it has become clear that our schools are much more than just institutions of learning.
Vashon’s public schools provide a sense of community and belonging, they make sure our kids know they matter. Your gift to the Vashon Schools Foundation will support vital school programs and services our students rely on.
Please consider making a contribution today. Your gift will support:
Counseling in partnership with Vashon Youth and Family. VYFS staff will work with school counselors, staff and VISD Latino Family Liaison to provide families with case management and supportive interventions to address anxiety and depression, LGBTQ, and mental health self-care.
Increase capacity for prevention programs such as Sisterhood, Journeyman, Circles, and Sources of Strength that provide for the social and emotional needs of students. This funding also is directed to additional programs/strategies to support vulnerable students throughout the school district.
Citizen Science partnership with Vashon Nature Center. Provides 6th grade science students and high school biology students with significant hands on, community based experiences in the sciences.
Spanish speaking intern program. Provide CES students with exposure to Spanish language and culture, spark interest in continuing in world languages, support English Language Learners (ELL) students by having adult heritage speakers as teaching assistants and primary language support, helping all our students engage in their learning.
Racial Equity Initiative – deconstructing institutional racism, providing access and opportunity for students and families of color.
Vashon Artists in Schools program – a collaboration between Vashon Center for the Arts and VISD bringing art education to classrooms that enhance and expand current art education at each school. VAIS began in 1987 and typically provides 20 or more programs in the school each school year
Our GiveBIG goal is to raise $30,000 – which will be matched, thereby DOUBLED, by the generosity of a Vashon business owner! With your donation you are providing a more certain future for our students and investing in thriving public schools that teach and empower our students. Thank you for your support.
On our island, we look out for each other. We know we’re in it together. And we know we can get through it together.
We deeply appreciate your support for our students, families, and staff. While they’re not meeting in person now, they will again. Today, our community is supporting critical programs that keep us together even while apart. And when we are done with all this distancing, we want to make sure our schools and associated programs have the resources they need to face the future stronger than ever.
Out of respect for parents and other community members who are balancing so much–and for those whose financial situation has changed as a result of the pandemic–we scaled back our annual fall fundraising campaign. Now, we find ourselves short of our fundraising goals. For those who still have the means, we ask that you consider a contribution to our year-end campaign. Your gift would mean so much, especially this year.
With gratitude,
Vashon Schools Foundation Board of Directors
Vashon Island Public Schools is teaming up with Vashon Nature Center to provide a new science program called Everyone Counts. Students will be participating in a 12 week field project in their own backyard that will also be contributing to the international science community’s biodiversity survey. Please visit the Vashon Nature Center for more information here: vashonnaturecenter.org/everyone-counts.
Vashon Schools Foundation and Windermere Vashon Island want to make sure this outdoor science opportunity is available to all students. Our goal is to raise $5000.00 by October 9 – and Windermere will match each dollar raised!
We understand these are challenging times but if you are able to contribute, please make your donation today at vashonschoolsfoundation.org/donate.
