A note from Gary Alpert, President

SRVEF Board of Directors

I am excited to announce the launch of our first Happenings Under the Tree newsletter. 


This periodic publication is part of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation’s (SRVEF) commitment to keeping you informed of the many programs, activities, and events SRVEF is doing to help our schools improve the quality of education in the San Ramon Valley. 

 

We all know that the quality of our schools plays a major role in why our valley is such a popular place to live and we all benefit from a well-funded school district. We are all better off by having quality schools – whether we have school-age students or not. And we all know that local donations make a significant difference in improving the quality of education – state funding alone is not enough. 


Our educators are being challenged to think in new and different ways to deliver quality education to our students. And SRVEF is being challenged to think in new and different ways to reach out to our community. We will continue to do that. Our students and educators deserve the very best from us.


On behalf of the Board of Directors of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of the SRVEF staff – Donna Browne, Alicia Gee, Leslie Grgurina, Karen Robman, and Jeanne Won, led by Executive Director, Vanessa Berastain. 


We hope you enjoy this newsletter and invite you to share your comments and ideas for future newsletters at info@srvef.org

Congratulations Science Alliance Participants!

The 2020-2021 Science Alliance program has come to a close and we are grateful for the 140 5th graders who registered across the district and over 140 high school mentors and high school club officers.


We are excited to announce the finalists and winners of this year's Science Alliance Fair. You can see the complete list of students and their projects on the Science Alliance webpage.

Announcing the 2021 Run for Education Logo

We are pleased to present the winning logo for the 2021 Run for Education.


Congratulations to Zoe Ravinutala, a 4th grader at Live Oak Elementary School! Zoe will be awarded $100 worth of gift cards from local businesses.


Thank you to everyone who participated in our contest!

The 38th Annual Run for Education is Virtual for 2021

Join us by October 10th to support your school!


What is a Virtual Run? 

A virtual run is a race where you can run, jog, walk or roll for the distance of your choosing. Whether on the road, trail, treadmill, or track, you decide when you do it - between September 10-October 10 - and you pick the finish line! Complete a virtual 1K (Friendship or Mini Run), 5K, 10K, or create one of your own. Should you choose to time yourself, you can upload the results and even print a certificate of completion!

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Why should I sign up for this Virtual Run?

To earn money for YOUR school! This event will be a fundraiser for the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation and each school; with 30% of your registration net proceeds going directly to the school of your choice. Additionally, the Run for Education is setting up pledge pages for every participant that will allow schools to raise even more money with 70% of those donations going directly to the school. 


When should I sign up for this Virtual Run?

Soon! Registration opens May 1, 2021, at www.srvef.orgThe low registration price of $25 includes swag! You can still order a shirt to keep your collection up to date - just order a t-shirt in your registration form.


We are excited about offering this fundraising opportunity to our schools! This is a healthy and fun family activity we can all enjoy while observing local guidelines AND raising funds to support our programs and people! Questions? Contact Karen Robman at karen@srvef.org

Join our Newly Launched Real Estate Program

Our Real Estate Partner Program is an opportunity for realtors to give back to our students and schools. By investing in SRVEF, you demonstrate your commitment to public education and our community.

 

As a leader in the real estate industry, you understand that a dynamic and successful school district helps attract families to the San Ramon Valley, and that these families are vital to sustaining a healthy community. We are fortunate to be surrounded by top-ranked schools, great neighborhoods, and thriving businesses.


We have developed a special package specifically for those in the real estate community: Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Title Agents, Accountants, Attorneys, and more.

Contact SRVEF to learn how these organizations can receive recognition in the quarterly newsletter, For Sale sign riders for a house listing, your logo/name on our website, social media posts, and great community recognition.


SRVEF is grateful to our Realtor friends for supporting us and local schools. A major reason that families choose the San Ramon Valley is our A+ schools – visit www.niche.com to see our top rated ranking!


Partnerships start at $750. Yearly Benefits run from July through June, but this year we will include April, May, and June if you sign up now. To learn more about our Real Estate Partnership levels, please contact us at sponsors@srvef.org

Imagineering is a beyond school enrichment program for SRVUSD students. Our goal is to spark student interest in choosing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) classes in middle and high school with the goal of identifying more STEAM majors who will become highly sought after talent in the US corporate workplace. To achieve this goal, we offer engaging and innovative classes for students grades 3 through 12 taught by outstanding teachers. We offer classes during the summer and school breaks, typically in person, and most recently virtually. 


To learn more about Imagineering, please visit our website or click here to see our upcoming classes.

Sean Raser - Featured Instructor

One of our most dedicated Imagineering instructors is Sean Raser, an AP Computer Science teacher at California High School in San Ramon, Sean Raser exemplifies the engaging teaching that turns learning into passion for our students. He joined the SRVEF Imagineering teacher corps in 2017 after two Imagineering student mentors recommended him as a SNAP! Coding Class instructor.

Mr. Raser’s ability to connect with students and effectively teach the fundamentals of computer science make him an incredible asset to our program. He has been instrumental at developing new computer science opportunities for our students and works hard to expand his own professional growth. 

Over the past year, he has expanded our Raspberry Pi curriculum adding an intermediate class that has given our Intro to Raspberry Pi a much requested next step in their coding education and experience. Mr. Raser has been named a CodeHS Certified Educator and a Raspberry Pi Certified Educator, and most recently was awarded the 2021 Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Educator Award, a program of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). Mr. Raser has written several Donors Choose projects over the years to obtain more resources for his students and is partnering with organizations to expand his program. Mr. Raser has helped SRVEF partner with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to bring Raspberry Pi Jams to students in the San Ramon Valley.


Follow Mr. Raser on Twitter to see the latest from this innovative teacher @sraser88



SRVUSD Stakeholder Engagement

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District wants to hear from our community! The SRVUSD Board of Education is in the process of developing a long-term strategic plan for the organization that will set goals and strategic priorities for our entire organization over the next three to five years. To help inform this plan, the Board of Education wants to hear the thoughts and ideas of our local business and parent community. 


The primary areas of focus for which we are seeking your input are Equity, Deep Learning and Innovation, and Social-Emotional Well-Being.  

Our Board of Education wants to hear from all members of our school community. Input is anonymous, so, please join the discussion. Add your voice. Be honest. The Board’s desire to align resources, including time, talent and dollars, to ensure we make SRVUSD education great for all students will benefit from your input.


To offer your thoughts online or to schedule a virtual presentation to your company, group or community organization, please visit our website at www.srvusd.net/StakeholderEngagement.

Celebrate Innovation in Education

The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation Major Gifts and Endowment Fund hosted its first Virtual Celebrate Innovation in Education event on Thursday, February 25, 2021. 


Every year at this event, we honor a community leader or organization for their outstanding service and support of education in SRVUSD. This year's honoree is Michael Barnard, owner of Rakestraw Books in Danville. Michael is a community champion for reading in the San Ramon Valley and beyond. His iconic independent bookstore serves as a beacon for readers and authors who regularly come to share their writing experiences and new ideas.


Click here to learn more about this event.

Your Gift is Important!

Would you consider making a donation to support public education in the San Ramon Valley? We welcome you to become a Friend of the Foundation. SRVEF accepts donations via check, through PayPal, or our website. Thank you for your support!

To donate via check, please mail a check to:

SRVEF

3280 Crow Canyon Road

San Ramon, CA 94583

To donate through PayPal (no extra fees for SRVEF), please click the picture above

To donate through our website, please click the picture above

Our Mission

The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation invests in education, supports parent organizations and engages our community for the benefit of and in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

Thank you to our 2021 Run for Education Sponsors!

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