Simpler times: This photo was taken in 2019, well before social distancing protocols were in place.
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Dear Friends,
The Education Foundation, in partnership with the school district and with the support of our donors, continues to work on meeting the most urgent needs of our students. We are focusing our efforts on making sure school families in need receive weekly grocery gift cards and supporting the district’s efforts to ensure all students have access to online learning. Thank you for being so responsive and amazing in providing support to our school families!
With the recent information that on-campus school will be suspended until the end of the school year, we’re faced with the challenge of providing grocery gift cards for an additional eight weeks. If you have the ability to help, please consider a donation to the gift card program today.
As a former math teacher and homeschool parent myself, I’m very sympathetic to the challenges faced by parents in this new at-home educational environment. Check out the helpful “homeschool” resources for students below…and consider learning a new skill yourself! Some of these resources are well-established national programs, while others are being offered by local organizations, ranging from core school subjects to art, music, comedy and theater. We are adding a homeschool resource page to our website this week…you can check it out starting on Monday at www.svgreatschools.org.
We’ll be continuing to update you as programs evolve over the next weeks. Stay well, and let us know if there is any way we can support you!
Mary Favaro
Executive Director
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GROCERY GIFT CARD PROGRAM CONTINUES AT FULL SPEED
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Sonoma Valley school district food services distributed 9,080 breakfast and lunch meals this week! Demand is steadily increasing every day. Our grocery gift card program enables school families to supplement these meals with other food items and essentials each week.
This week, you enabled us to put over $15,000 in grocery gift cards into the hands of school families, and we are set to distribute another $15,000 next week.
To continue to meet the needs of families throughout the entire school closure, we need to raise another $100,000 over the next month. Your donations and support are vital to keeping this valuable program going.
Thank you!
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SVEF PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT:
VALLEY VIBES ORCHESTRA (VIVO) OFFERS
ONLINE PROGRAM AND PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS!
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Valley Vibes Youth Orchestra (ViVO) has launched an online music program this week, offering instruction for violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and saxophone.
Students meet with music teachers via Zoom twice a week for group music sessions and once a week for an individual session. Teachers also record instructional videos available to students for at-home practice in between sessions. For second and third grade students, ViVO is offering a recorder and ukulele workshop. And for our youngest students, ViVO is launching a Music & Storytime Pre-Orchestra program. All kindergarten and first grade students are welcome to tune in.
Current students had instruments delivered to their homes last week so they can continue with the ViVO program.
The ViVO program is open to all students from Sonoma Valley, and teaching artists are available for private lessons for all levels and ages. If you would like to join the program or take private music lessons, please email
kcrean@vivosonoma.org
, or check out
www.vivosonoma.org
.
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WI-FI DISTRIBUTION UPDATE
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Another big challenge for all public school districts is implementing online distance learning when many students don’t have access to reliable internet service.
Through some very generous donors, the Ed Foundation is funding the first 200 Wi-Fi hotspots to give every high school and middle school student internet access.
The first Wi-Fi devices were distributed this week, and online instruction is underway for the high school students! A program addressing elementary school students is also in place and will be rolled out over the next several weeks.
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PRESTWOOD TEACHERS SEND VIRTUAL LOVE TO STUDENTS
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In an effort to stay connected to their students, the Prestwood Elementary teachers posted a warm hearted video on YouTube, in which they sent messages of encouragement, virtual hugs and even a Tik Tok dance!
Sure to make you smile as well:
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LATEST SVUSD COMMUNICATIONS
"SVUSD Corona Community Communications"
(April 3, 2020)
"On-Site Classes Suspended for the 2019-2020 School Year"
(April 1, 2020)
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MEAL PICK-UP PROGRAM HAS TWO NEW LOCATIONS
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Community Information and Links
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Community Leaders Join to Launch Broad-Based Coalition For Food Security
Sonoma Valley Looking For Community Volunteers
For more, follow @SonomaValleyTogether on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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If you are looking for supplemental curriculum or programs for your students at home, below are links to a few high quality, comprehensive educational resources.
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The Second City Improv
The world famous improvisational theater troupe is offering online opportunities to keep a sense of humor in today's serious climate.
Becoming Bookworms - For All Kids in K-5th Grades
https://tinyurl.com/BecomingBookworms
Sonoma County Farm Bureau's Learning Resources
Spark Whole Student Learning
Spark is offering 1:1 tutoring in math, reading, and executive functioning, and support during the transition to distance learning.
Youcubed At Home For Math
Kid Scoop - Now Offering Free Online Access
This local non-profit offers literacy-for-all and provides kids with "stuff they want to read."
Outschool - Live Online Classes for Kids Aged 3-18
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Offers
ARTS@Hom
e for Art-Focused Lessons
Transcendence Theatre Company Offers TTC EDU Learn @ Home Online Arts Curriculum for Grades 1-5
Homeschool Buyers Co-Op
Khan Academy
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for supporting our students during
this challenging time!
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