Southington Education Foundation, Inc.
Our Mission

The Southington Education Foundation is committed to instilling a love of learning in our children through innovative and creative initiatives that expand existing educational opportunities. The Foundation will reach out to the community to help secure and inspire excellence and overall achievement in our already outstanding school system.

Upcoming Events
Apr. 8: Exec Board Mtg.
Apr. 23: Spelling Bee
Jun. 5: Board at Large Mtg.
Oct. 24: Fan of the Foundation
Join SEF 
We're always looking for members to help us achieve our mission of instilling a love of learning in our children. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Jan Galati.
Consider donating to SEF
APRIL 2014
What's the Buzz? The Bee is Back!
 
FAST FACTS:
WHAT:
   SEF Spelling Bee
 
WHEN:
   Wed. Apr. 23, 7pm
 
WHERE:
   SHS Auditorium
ENTRY FEE:
   $100 Per Person
   $300 Per Team
ENTRY FORMS:
   Click here 

We're still looking for teams to join us Wednesday, April 23, at 7pm, for our 4th Annual Community Spelling Bee. Teams made up of local citizens, politicians, businesses, educators, police, fire, and other public officials will compete to win the coveted title of SEF Spelling Champion


The event will be held at the Southington High School Auditorium and the proceeds will help foster educational excellence for our town's public school children.

Our Beemaster, Joe Furey, Chief Meteorologist of Fox CT, will help the Southington Education Foundation spell "excellence" for the community's school children. Our corporate sponsor this year is The Hospital of Central Connecticut. We are so pleased to have them join us with their financial support of $1,000!

Participation is $100 per person or $300 per 3-person team. Costumes, themes, and mascots are encouraged! Audience admission is free; however, we ask that you bring a nonperishible food item as a donation to Southington Community Services.

 

Entry forms can be downloaded from the SEF website

SEF Funds Nature Center at Sloper
drawings by Monique Morin
At last month's Executive Board meeting of the Southington Education Foundation, the Directors approved a $20,000 donation, the remaining funding needed to complete the YMCA Camp Sloper Nature Center
 
The 750 square-foot building, previously a pavilion, will be enclosed for year-round use. Additionally, the Nature Center building has the potential for expanding the Science at Sloper initiative. 
 
Currently, all fourth graders are bused to this site in the fall and spring; in the future students may be able to participate in winter enrichment activities. 
 
The SEF Board approval of the Nature Center brings a type of closure to the STEM Center Project launched in 2010. Needless to say, the Executive Board is very excited about this endeavor which allows for continued enrichment opportunities for Southington Public School students.
 
A huge shout out to Dawn Miceli who has worked diligently with Mark Pooler to make this project happen!

Panera Raises Dough for SEF
Thanks to all who supported our SEF fundraiser at Panera Bread on Feb. 15. Despite the wintry weather, the event garnered nearly $2,000 for our organization! A huge shout-out to Panera Bread for its generosity to the SEF, Bread for Life, Foodshare and Southington Community Theatre.
Hospital of Central CT Partnership

The Hospital of Central Connecticut recently began collaborating with the SEF to provide Southington students experiences in the medical profession. In a meeting between SEF representatives, Dawn Miceli and Jan Galati, community outreach coordinator Linda Tipping of Hospital of Central Connecticut suggested field trips to robotic surgery centers and mentorships as a couple of ways the two organizations could work together to provide career exploration opportunities and educational enrichment for middle and high school students.  Stay tuned for further information as this partnership unfolds.

SEF Leadership Changes
The following Executive Board officers were appointed at the April board meeting: Jan Galati, Chairman; Kim DeFusco, Vice-Chairman; Beth Hosmer, Secretary; Alan DeBisschop, Treasurer.

Rounding out the Executive Board are the following directors: Jerry Belanger, Michelle LeBrun-Griffin, Stephen Proffitt, Anthony Sheffy, Richard Veilleux; ex-officio director is Dr. Joseph V. Erardi, Jr.

Jan Galati extended thanks to outgoing chairman Dawn Miceli, secretary Beth Pestillo and director Steve Giudice for their years of service and dedication to the SEF. They have been instrumental in driving the SEF forward and leave it in good hands to continue the momentum.

Officer bios will be available soon on the SEF website. 
Joe Erardi, Ex-Officio Director, Exits April 11
Dr. Joseph V. Erardi, Jr. promoted the idea of establishing an educational foundation in Southington more than five years ago. He reached out to community members who he thought might be interested in developing a nonprofit educational organization that could develop BIG ideas and provide funding for programs that would go beyond the Southington Board of Education's responsibilities.  Since then Dr. Erardi has been a very active part of the goings-on of the Southington Education Foundation providing his time, talent and treasure. He has reached out to many town businesses and civic organizations and in so doing assisted SEF members to lift a fledgling educational organization to a level where significant impact is witnessed in the Southington community. The Southington Education Foundation will miss his guidance, enthusiasm and his "I'm in!" attitude.  Nonetheless, he has planted the seed for our mission - to instill a love of learning - and the SEF is committed to continue his work.