The Outlook

ANNUAL REPORTJanuary 2019

SARATOGA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Together We Bring Excellence to Education!

www.sef-ca.org

The Outlook

SEF was started in 1982 by a small group of parents concerned about declining funding in public schools. Since then SEF has collected millions of dollars in donations from parents and the community to fund programs that extend beyond the standard curriculum and help put Saratoga's public schools among the best in the country.SEF supports programs in the areas of Art, Music, Enhanced PE and STEM (Science, Technology and Engineering)SEF is completely funded by and dependent on donations. The goal is 100% family participation.SEF is run by volunteers and the full donation amount goes directly towards the yearly grant.SEF's programs benefit every child in the district every day!SEF's committed grant to SUSD for the school year 2017-2018, based on 2016-2017 fundraising results,  was $780,000. Your continued participation is essential to fund our valuable enrichment classes at the same level in future years.SEF's suggested donation amount (Leadership Level) is $1000 per child but we recognize that every family's situation is different and can't stress enough that YOUR DONATION COUNTS, WHATEVER THE AMOUNT!SEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and your donation may qualify as a charitable donation.

SEF Facts

Thank you, parents and business sponsors who donated in the last and current school years. Without your help SEF would not be able to keep all of our programs which helped earn two of our schools US Dept of Education Blue Ribbon awards in 2018! Across the years our school district has topped national polls. These programs are crucial for our children to receive an education that exceeds national standards, putting them in a significantly better position for the future. Ever progressing and working hard, we are also proud to announce that we are now rolling out a comprehensive and structured coverage of art for K-8 starting this month through CSMA and Starting Arts. At Redwood, SEF is funding more STEM programs which include the expansion of Project Lead The Way by instructors Due Hoang, Manny Steffen and Jason Robertson for grades 6-8. Brand new to the school starting in mid-January are art classes taught by highly qualified instructors from Starting Arts. Taking after the previous docent-volunteer model, the classes will still be studies relating to topics covered in core classes but the students will benefit by having trained teachers now working with them in the classroom and leading the art projects in grades 7 and 8.  At the elementary schools CSMA is replacing the docent/volunteer program (K-2) and district art teacher Mrs Bauguil's classes (3-5) who is moving away with courses aligned with state standards grades K-5. For music, Barbara Jones teaches grades 3-5 while Stephanie Gelman covers K-2 and SDC. Doris Watson continues technology instruction. PE continues with Rhythm & Moves instructors Sydney Field (Argonaut), Lauren Evanoff (Foothill), Cheryl Hrstich. Science aides Kathleen Bailey (Foothill), Bridget Parr (Argonaut), and Jennifer Norris (Saratoga) have been bringing scientific concepts to life through hands-on projects and thought provoking experiments. 

Upcoming Special Event!

A Year of SEF

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The SEF Board

As part of SEF’s mission to aide in the provision of excellent education and resources to the Saratoga community, we are delighted to host an all SUSD family event at The Tech Museum of Innovation, this February 2, 2019. The Tech is an engaging environment where people of all ages can discover, create, and explore technology. This event will be an amazing opportunity for our district families to access the entire museum with fully manned activity stations by trained docents after it closes to the public. Additionally, this event will provide our students with a unique opportunity to display & share their art, course work presentations, and demonstrations from their SEF related courses. We are very excited to share with all our district families, what is sure to be an entirely enjoyable night for all.  Early bird discounted tickets available NOW online: www.sef-ca.org. See you there!

The Outlook

art-making and other types of creative expression. She taught art in a San Francisco public elementary school for two years before returning to graduate studies. More recently, she has taught art through Go Girls Camp and in multiple schools through the San Jose Museum of Art, as well as in her home studio, Big Circle Art Studio. Jessica has an MA in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Over the years, she has studied art at the California College of the Arts, City College of San Francisco, Pacific Art League, and with individual bay area artists. “I emphasize process and problem-solving in art while encouraging students to explore materials, to make room for mistakes, and to express their own individuality through art expression and technique.“

Also in January 2019, Starting Arts began providing hands-on experiences in the visual arts for all seventh and eighth-grade Core classes at Redwood.  Standards-based art instruction will be integrated with the social studies content of each grade. The art classes are taught by skilled professional artists eager to share their expert knowledge and passion with students. Initially, each seventh and eighth grade student will participate in three 90-minute lessons from January - March 2019. The Starting Arts teachers will collaborate with Redwood’s Core teachers to develop and refine projects that convey artistic concepts within a social studies context. The idea is to make the instruction interactive and relevant to other aspects of the students' daily lives. These lessons are replacing the parent volunteer based art docent program that ran until the end of the last academic year.  SEF continues to support STEM programs at Redwood which include the expansion of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) by instructors Due Hoang, Manny Steffen and Jason Robertson in grades 7-8. From RMS special grant some components for the robotics classes led by Mr Hoang were also purchased to support this program.  SEF programs are enjoyed by every one of the students of the district. Our teachers aspire to bring new developments in their respective fields to the classroom, while collaborating with other educators to help our students prepare for life with a positive attitude towards learning. In a rapidly changing world, our students need the requisite skills to find the best opportunities in an increasingly competitive job market while also discovering paths to happiness and fulfillment that will continue for the rest of their lives. 

What SEF Supports

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In January 2019, Jessica Richter, from the Community School for Music and Arts (CSMA), took over the art schedule from our previous district art teacher Marie-Helene Bauguil for grades 3-5. Jessica has worked with children, teens and adults from ages 2-70. She loves to engage kids in playful and spirited 

New Art TeachersSEF welcomes these new art teachers to our schools. Our Program Advisory Committee worked hard to address the results from the last SEF survey to teachers and parents about their top concerns and what they wanted most for their students. We are fortunate to have gained new highly qualified instructors to present art classes to cover year round progressive instruction for everyone. Thanks to the SUSD administration, SEF board and PAC members who devoted countless hours and energy to make these a reality for our students! 

illustrations as well as computer generated artwork. He has taught students from age 5 through 18 and enjoys covering a rich diversity styles using different mediums to students of all ages and backgrounds.

Philip Nagai holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design from Academy of Art University. After 10 years in graphic arts/advertising, Philip started teaching art in schools in 2004. He now teaches at CSMA and Philip’s artwork consists of pen and ink illustrations, color pencil

in depth skill-building and sequential art lessons that meet the California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards for Art. The program emphasizes four major areas: ● Creative expression ● Appreciation of the cultural and historical foundation of art ● Understanding of the language of art ● Development of technical skills. Each K-2 class will have 12 lessons focusing on drawing and painting with an introduction to ceramics, sculpture and basic three- dimensional concepts. Students develop basic technical skills, as well as learning concepts such as line, shape, value, form and color. Lessons often focus on a master artist or a cultural/historical context that encourages students to explore topics from other perspectives.

Philip's introduction of CSMA's award-winning Art4Schools program to our K-2 classes as a new program this school year should go a long way to meeting SEF's long standing ambition to increase the strength of art education in our schools. The Art4Schools program consists of 

Redwood Middle School

"When students have fun with creating art, it fills me with joy!”

The Outlook

District technology instructor Doris Watson supports the MakerSpace program, and teaches 3rd grade computer applications at the three elementary schools. This year is the first year to have the MakerSpaces up and running at all three sites. Students participate in either exploratory rotations or engage in various teacher-led projects to challenge their inner engineer. The MakerSpace/Innovation Lab is a place that empowers students to see themselves as inventors, builders and creators. It allows learning new skills through trial and error: experiencing failure of an initial idea, will often lead to the exploration of possible alternatives and then problem solving to improve on new approaches. The 3rd-5th grade computer program are year-long programs that include skill development in keyboarding, Google Suites, multimedia, computer programming, an introduction to robotics and incorporate the MakerSpace mindset through engineering and design thinking projects. These programs supports the K-12 Computer Science Framework, 21st Century Learning, and NGSS Science Standards. 

Elementary SEF Programs

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Foundational MusicOur elementary music teachers are Stephanie Gelman (K-2) and Barbara Jones (3-5). In an increasingly technological society, the pedagogical power of music is sometimes woefully neglected and yet it is known to be an important way to help develop our critical senses. Through the processes of singing, playing and listening, young students are introduced to the elements of music theory, while gaining a fundamental appreciation for music. TK: Students begin to follow directions, acquiring listening skills as they sing and play songs. K: Students extend their musical vocabulary with beat and rhythm. They sing the way the words go and move to the beat. 1st: Students learn to read musical rhythms and play them on tambourines, maracas, drums, chimes and wood blocks. 2nd: Musical expression is extended by playing Orff instruments (xylophone etc) and writing musical rhythms, creating ostinatos and singing in two parts. 3rd:  Exploration of writing simple rhythm patterns and adding pitches in a structured format opening the way a hands-on approach to how music composition works. 4-5th: In weekly music classes, students sing songs that reflect a variety of musical styles including folk, traditional, jazz and musical theater. 

Next Generation Science is thriving in Saratoga Union School District’s elementary schools thanks to our three Science Aides: At Argonaut, Bridget Parr, Foothill, Kathleen Bailey, and Saratoga, Jennifer Norris. They facilitate 4th and 5th grade hands- on science labs using STEMScopes curriculum meeting monthly to empower the district's science needs by supporting a rich science curriculum for all students. Just recently they met with district MakerSpace Teachers on Special Assignment, Doris Watson and Julie Orlando, to brainstorm ways to extend STEMScopes labs and the engineering strand of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) by means of our MakerSpaces. This year our Science Aides have also been focussing on life sciences in each of the school's gardens. 

potential to embrace physical activity and life-long health and fitness. Health and fitness concepts are introduced throughout each unit, focusing on individual health and fitness that will enhance performance of the specific movement or sport being taught. The foundation of our curriculum is based on Laban’s Movement Education and the TGFU (Teaching Games for Understanding) Model for teaching sport skills and concepts as noted below: ● Invasion Games: Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse, Football and Handball ● Net/Wall Games: Volleyball, Racket sports, Pickleball ● Striking and Fielding Games: Softball, Cricket, Kickball, Baseball ● Target Games: Bowling, Frisbee ● Individual Pursuits: Tumbling, Dance, Fitness and Track The general objectives of each lesson are based on the SHAPE National Standards for physical education K-8th grades. At the elementary level, our curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of movement by developing an appreciation for a variety of skills and physical activities. Students learn to feel kinesthetically confident and competent, increasing the likelihood they will continue to enjoy and look for more opportunities for physical activity later in life.

The Rhythm and Moves physical education curriculum teaches students successful ways of moving, so they enjoy physical activity while learning that being fit and healthy is good for their physical, emotional and social well-being. The highly qualified, professional and motivated educators engage each student–revealing their inner 

Science Aides

Physical Education

Technology & MakerSpace

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Donating to SEF is investing in your child's future!

SEF funds the salaries for the teachers and aides in these various programs:

Funding Distribution

Argonaut, Saratoga and Foothill Elementary: 2 Art Teachers 2 Music Teachers 1 Technology Instructor 3 PE Teachers from Rhythm & Moves Program 3 Science Aides Redwood Middle School: Visual Art Instructors 7-8th Grades 3 STEM Teachers 6-8th Grades

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REDWOOD

The Saratoga Education Foundation annual Jogathon will be Friday May 3rd at the Redwood Middle School field. This event is a lot of fun, great exercise for all and an important fundraiser for SEF, which will help fund SEF sponsored programs for next year. Prizes will be raffled for those meeting donation goals, and will be awarded to classrooms with the highest percentage donations. Awards will be given in each grade for the most laps.

SEF Jogathon at RMS Friday, May 3rd 2019

District Art Instructor, Mrs Marie-Helene Bauguil

After thirteen years of service, Marie-Helene Bauguil, our elementary art teacher, resigned from her position in January 2019. She is leaving to spend more time with her husband, who does special effects for movies, and who has been obliged to spend months at a time away for his work. She also hopes to find new career opportunities in which she can make use of her doctoral degree in arts education. During her time in our district, Mrs. Marie taught studio art to many of our children. She played a critical role in designing and teaching our district elementary art program. Always looking for something new to bring her students, she constantly refined her curriculum, and developed many cross-disciplinary lessons. Her main objective was to teach students how to see and think like an artist, and she was committed to fostering a learning environment in which each student worked at his/her own pace. Marie-Helene will miss Saratoga, which she calls “her second family.” She wishes the best of luck to her students and hopes they will continue to find ways to express themselves through the arts. We wish her the best for her next ventures.

2017-2018 Donor List 11 

Philanthropic and Business Sponsors

Gold Level $1000 - $1749 • Carol Burnett

Silver Level $500 - $1000

• Berg Software • Ketan Jashapara

DONATE NOW / sef-ca.org    Follow us on Facebook

Saratoga Education Foundation P.O. Box 2932, Saratoga, CA, 95070

Feb 2018 - Prominent entrepreneurs from across disciplines at McAfee for the 'Dream Big' event. Many students asked questions about priorities for their career paths and how to nurture the passions that will empower their lives. (L to R): Amy Williams, CEO Citizens of Humanity; Deirdre Lyell, Professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Stanford University; Holly Van Hart, Professional Artist; Randhir Vieira, Entrepreneur, Headspace Workplace Wellness; Shalini Govil-Pai, General Manager Android TV/Google, Tamami Honma Pianist, Conductor and Educator

2018 'Dream Big' Event @McAfee

Donor In-Kind • Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards

Platinum Level $3500

• Bill Gorman Group