At the close of the 2018-19 school year, Alpine Union School District had its share of challenges: Alpine Elementary School was permanently closed, two principals were being phased out, and Boulder Oaks Elementary School was being eyeballed for some major facility updates. Fast forward about four months and the district has received a strong infusion of funding, STEAM kits and supplies from Alpine Education Foundation, all of which was celebrated at the AEF President’s Reception held at the Alpine VFW post on Sept. 25.
Superintendent Rich Newman observed that the relationship between AEF and AUSD is a great partnership.
“I just want to take a few moments to say I couldn’t be more proud of the work that we do in partnership with the Alpine Education Foundation,” Newman said.
Alpine Education Foundation Board President Jessica Manning opened the evening’s formal presentation with a video illustrating foundation contributions to AUSD last year that included supplies for gardening programs, funding for school camps at Wright’s Field, and $27,000 in block grants that were given to enhance educational programs over the 2018-19 school year.
In between rounds of applause for the science programs, attendees chuckled at the mention of the Punkin’ Chunkin’ project where students learned the mechanics of a trebuchet while studying medieval history by launching the orange gourds as far as they would go.
VFW Quartermaster Carl Silva said that programs like that are what make school fun.
“I wish I was a kid growing up here,” Silva said.
After donors were invited up in groups of Granny Smith, Fiji and Golden Delicious levels of sponsorship and thanked for their contributions, Manning announced upcoming foundation plans.
According to the board of directors, more than $100,000 in donations has been raised for the 2019-20 school year, a $40,000 increase from last year.
The new funding has already been applied toward fulfilling AEF’s vision for this year: 1,000 STEM lab kits donated to assist with lesson plans in microscopy, biology and chemistry, programs connecting music to math, and a newly announced partnership with San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum.
Additionally, 25 laptops and an accompanying grant for MobyMax, Raz Kids and Rosetta Stone software programs were listed among the donations for Creekside Early Learning Center, as well as flexible seating for the wiggliest of little learners.
Boulder Oaks Elementary school received funding for learning software to include RazKids, and incoming principal Casey Currigan of Joan MacQueen Middle School was given new sets of two-way radios to assist with communication on the largest campus in the district.
“Our campus is huge and this helps out so much,” Currigan said.
Following the formal presentation of awards, local rock band Anesthetix, a group of 16-year old musicians added some teenage styling to the event by playing loud tunes with long electric guitar solos.
“The bottom line is our children’s education: we need to maintain standards here as well as throughout the county. I think if you take a look around our country nowadays, you’ll find that some things are challenged and I believe that this community can provide a very strong foundation for families to grow and prosper,” said AEF Director Victor Woods.
