Northshore Schools Foundation raises $120K for students

 “One year ago I didn’t know what STEM was and I had no idea that I had been the recipient of any of the grants from the Northshore Schools Foundation.  Today I am inspired to pursue a career in Sustainable Engineering and Design, and grateful for the 9 different grants that have supported me in my education,” said Spencer Lane, a junior at Inglemoor High School and the featured student speaker at the 10^th Annual Northshore Schools Foundation Luncheon held April 28^th at the Lynnwood Convention Center.

 The event, attended by more than 300 people, raised more than $120,000 to support Foundation initiatives and programs that prepare K-12 students to be successful when they enter the colleges or career of their choice. 

 photos by Shelly Oberman Photography

Northshore Junior High student Anthony Ramos, Cristian Flores-Torres, Bainbridge Garcia, shared how the Hang-Time homework support program helped them increase their grades and inspired them to go to college.  “If I didn’t have Hang -Time, I would probably be failing school and could not achieve my dream of being a Marine,” said Flores-Torres.  Hang-Time is a Community Schools program funded through a partnership between several local and regional partners including the Northshore Schools Foundation, The Northshore YMCA, the School District, the Seattle Foundation.

Keynote speaker, and Seattle Foundation President, Norman Rice emphasized the value of community involvement in education and industry participation in K-12 education to expose students to the careers of the future.  Rice was joined by Northshore & Eastside leaders Supt. Larry Francois,  Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler, Foundation President Sherry Krainick and Cascadia Community College President Dr. Eric Murray who all made the case for the importance of increased commitment from community members in support of local education. 

The event also featured students from Northshore Junior High’s award-winning Symphonic Band, Kenmore Elementary School’s drumming group and Wellington Elementary School’s Helping Hands service program.  Each of these programs received Northshore Schools Foundation grants in 2012-13.

 “We wanted to highlight how these programs help grow confidence and provide relevant learning opportunities for students.  The student speakers really hit home how the right programs can be the motivating factor between just graduating, and graduating ready to be successful.  Everything from a 6^th grade student singing out a cappella to a room full of adults, to three young men sharing just a piece of their educational journey all builds success on success.  These students are the ones that do the hard work but I believe it’s our responsibility to give them the opportunity,” said Dalziel. 

 The Foundation is  sponsored by more than 65 local and regional companies. Title Sponsors for the event were  Cornerstone General Contractors and Evergreen Medical Supply.  Molbaks and the Windermere Foundation were honored as Premiere Sponsors. Major Sponsors included Northwest Totem Cellars, Puget Sound Energy Foundation, BioLife Solutions and Brent Planning Solutions.  Microsoft , McKinstry, Boeing, and the Friends of the Foundation provided $39,000 in challenge match funds for people making gifts of more than $200 at the event.

Other Sponsors included: Banner Bank, Statefarm-Barry Glenn, Barrage Cellars, BECU, Beresford Company, Dykeman Architects , Elevation Cellars, Fairwinds-Brittany Park, Kiwanis of Northshore, Picolla Cellars, Shelly Oberman Photography, Sparkman, Starline Transportation, Ontra Marketing, VoiceFlix, QBSI, Bonefish, Obelisco Estates, Body Fat Testing, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union, Alexa’s Café, La Petit Terrior, Pen Thai, Patterson Cellars, Project V Distillery, School Employees Credit Union, Studio Meng Strazaara Architects, Symmetry Electronics, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Educational Data Services, Evergreen Karate, Walgreens, Rainer Investment Management, Country Village, Alaska Airlines, Orange Credit Union, Wellington Chocolates, Italianissimo Ristorante, Law Firm of Johns Monroe Mitsunaga Kolouskova, Knight Visions Gallery, NAC Architects, NSEA, New Ventures Group, Rely Local, Bothell, Woodinville Kirkland, Russell’s, Snapdoodle Toys, Travis Fitzmaurice & Associates, Susan Fyall Property Management, Lynnwood Convention Center and Bothellblog.com.

The Foundation will welcome 500 guests to celebrate the collaboration between schools, community and industry, to ensure that all Northshore students graduate career and college ready, and able to fill the jobs of our future.  The goal of the luncheon is to raise more than $120,000 in order to continue funding Foundation initiatives to support Teacher Excellence; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education; Support for Advanced and Disadvantaged Learners; Health & Enhancement and; Literacy & Arts Support in all thirty-one Northshore schools.

The Foundation is honored to host Norm Rice at this year’s luncheon, their tenth annual. From 1990 to 1997, Norman Rice served as mayor of Seattle where he championed for an improved public school system and earned national acclaim for strengthening neighborhoods through public-private partnerships.   As former president and chief executive officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, Rice worked with more than 375 financial institutions to make their communities better places to work and live.

Rice is the recipient of numerous professional and community awards, including the National Award for Leadership on Behalf of Neighborhoods from the National Neighborhood Coalition, the Isabel Coleman Pierce Award from the King County Chapter of the YWCA, and the American Association of Community College Students’ Outstanding Alumni Award.

Along with Mr. Rice’s presentation, the Luncheon will feature Northshore student presentations; Andy Wappler from Puget Sound Energy; Dr. Eric Murray, President of Cascadia Community College; and Northshore Superintendent Larry Francois.

The Lynnwood Convention Center is located at 3711 196th Street S.W., Lynnwood, Washington 98036. To register for the Luncheon online, visit www. NorthshoreSchoolsFoundation.org or facebook.com/northshoreschoolsfoundation. For more information please call (425) 408-7680.

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The funds were raised during the fall, “All in for Kids” campaign where over 2,000 district families contributed to the cause.   “We are excited about the success of the “All In For Kids” campaign because it combines and multiplies the efforts of thousands of families and community members that go above and beyond for our students. Families gave gifts of between twenty and a hundred dollars, sometimes more, and that added up. Every gift counts and the impact is significant,” said Carmin Dalziel, Northshore Schools Foundation executive director.

Funds granted will impact over 2,000 students this year and are anticipated to impact 10,500 students collectively over the life of the projects funded

The grant distribution is as follows: 

$2,400 for a pilot 8th grade College Board test to help students identify their interests and aptitude for advanced studies.  

$2,000 to support the district auto tech program at Bothell High School where students are converting a gas vehicle to an electric one and then taking it on the road to show students district-wide how electric engines can be more powerful and sustainable than standard gas engines. Funds will also support a new composites manufacturing course to prepare students for current Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs at The Boeing Company and other local aerospace manufactures. 

$7,000 investment in textbooks for high school level International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) and College in the High School classes. These classes allow students to gain college credits while attending high school. 

$15,000 investment in elementary literacy.  Funds will build new teacher libraries and offer support for English and Spanish speaking students to improve student learning and reduce the opportunity gap.

$2,800 to support the elementary Math Olympiad teams.

Northshore Schools Foundation will continue its 2012–13 emphasis on career and college readiness at its annual Light A Fire for Learning Luncheon which will be held March 28 at the Lynnwood Convention Center.   To find out more please visit www.NorthshoreSchoolsFoundation.org.

These young adults have completed their high school careers and are now participating in a community-based program focused on developing vocational, life and community participation skills.

Our students participate in vocational training sites within the Northshore School District and the local business community and utilize nearby restaurants and stores for their community access program.

 As part of their vocational skill development activities, many students of Pathways recently participated in labeling approximately 1600 water bottles with the Northshore Schools Foundation label. These water bottles will then be provided by the Foundation to the teachers participating in their January 2 NSD workshop. Two of the young ladies from Pathways working on the project pictured here are Kumiko Gilbert and Rebecca Pan (the young man wishes to remain anonymous!)

Thank you Schools Employees Credit Union for making the gift possible and thank you Pathways Students!  You ROCK!

The Northshore Holiday Showcase was coordinated by NSD’s Event Management & Hospitality Class, and featured student performances, art displays, student decorated table displays and activities for kids of all ages led by NSD’s teaching academy students.  Fourth graders from Crystal Springs Elementary made the weekend special with a performance and tribute to Veterans during the event.

The $4200 donation from Molbak’s will be used to support district-wide Career and College Readiness programs as a part of the Foundations mission to support academic excellence for all Northshore students.

“I love this event!  It is such a great opportunity for the community to get a sneak peak on the best Holiday displays around and see the amazing skills of some of our Northshore students,”  said Carmin Dalziel, Northshore Schools Foundation executive director.  ”Molbak’s generosity demonstrates both a commitment to community and our students.  In the 17 years since Egon Molbak helped start our Schools Foundation, we have funded programs that insure that every student is impacted by Foundation dollars as they progress through their school careers.  Business sponsors like Molbak’s are an

Mention Northshore School District or the Immunity Community Campaign & Ostroms will donate $5 to the Northshore Schools Foundation!