The Office Depot Foundation donated 2,100 sackpacks to children to benefit area non-profit organizations and schools including The Education Foundation of Collier County. Since 2001, The Office Depot Foundation has reached 2.5 million kids through its National Sackpack Program. Visit Office Depot at www.officedepot.com
East Naples Fire Department is holding its annual Back-to-School Sneaker Drive. Sneakers are needed for boys and girls ages 5 through 11 with shoe sizes ranging from 12 to 7. All sneakers will be distributed to the students through the guidance offices at various Collier County elementary schools. Newly purchased sneakers can be dropped off at any Fire Station. Please contact the East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District at 774-7111 for additional information or visit www.enfd.org
Communication is an essential life skill. Good communication skills provide the opportunity for learning, jobs, and success. The English-Speaking Union strives to improve communication and understanding through the use of the English language. The English-Speaking Union has been providing financial support to The Education Foundation of Collier County for ten years, funding over $55,000 in classroom grants. Herb and Ann Rowe are active members of this organization and are the reason that this group began to provide this support.
The philosophy of Herb and Ann Rowe is to educate the educators so they in turn can pass on their knowledge to others. They learned from teachers that the resources they needed for the classroom were not available from state funded programs. The English-Speaking Union helps teachers meet their needs to be able to teach children and they do this through the use of five main programs: Connect With a Classroom grant program, the Shakespeare Competition, Summer School Abroad, the Reading is Fundamental program at Naples High School, and the Adaptation of Shakespearean Plays.
Connect With a Classroom is the support and funding of the teacher requested grants. All grants submitted must be approved by the school principal before it is eligible for funding. The teacher has to explain how this grant will enhance the process of education in that school. The English-Speaking Union selects proposals based on promotion of the English language and will fund $5000 this coming year. Past projects have included funding for students to publish their own hard cover books. Ann Rowe fondly recalls how proud the students were to become published authors.
The second program is the Shakespeare Competition which is a regional performance contest in Collier, Charlotte and Lee counties. The winner of these competitions go on to compete in the state and national competition held in New York City. The winner of the national competition gets to attend summer school at the Globe Theater in London, England.
The third program is Summer School Abroad scholarship for teachers at their choice of either Oxford University or The Globe Theater in London. Teachers are selected by a committee based on whether they are likely to bring back what they have learned to benefit the teachers in Collier County. Several tours through Stratford-upon-Avon and other historical places in England are also included with the scholarship. Dr. Maria Torres, who is now the Executive Director of Federal and State Grants & English Language Learner Programs, was the recipient of the first grant. Dr. Torres explained that her scholarship, “… has been the highlight of my English-teaching career. I want to thank the English-Speaking Union for affording me such an opportunity. That experience allowed me to grow educationally and professionally and I am positive it has been the same for other teachers who were as fortunate as I was by attending Oxford University.”
The fourth means of support is the Reading is Fundamental program held in the library at Naples High School. This program supports about 100 students per year and each student is allowed to select 3 books a year to keep for their own.
Finally, the latest program that began this past school year is the Adaptation of Shakespearean Plays. This program will be presented by local actors who will perform a Shakespearean play to all public high school students in Collier County.
“We appreciate the fact that The Education Foundation has a program that we can participate in to promote the use of the English language,” remarked Herb Rowe. The dedication of Herb and Ann Rowe and The English-Speaking Union is another remarkable example of how to “Get on the Bus” to help Collier students. The result – students who are well-prepared for success.
Preschool students at Precious Cargo Academy, located at the Naples United Church of Christ, collected school supplies to benefit The Education Foundation of Collier County’s Back-to-School Supply Drive. The Education Foundation will work with Collier County schools to distribute materials to students in need. Thank you Precious Cargo Students for “Getting On the Bus”! Visit Precious Cargo Academy at www.preciouscargoacademy.org
It’s that time again, Back to School! While you are busy getting your children equipped with supplies, clothes and backpacks, several businesses are “getting on the bus” to help children in need with their back to school preparations as well. Fifth Third Bank holds its Third Annual Back to School Supply Drive from August 8 – August 26. Whole Foods market Naples is holding two events, The 5% Community Giving Day on August 15th and a back to school event and supply drive, Celebrating Back 2 School Safely and Naturally, on Saturday, August 20th. Please read on for information on these events and more.
From August 8 – August 26, Fifth Third Bank will accept donations at all of their Collier County locations. The Education Foundation will collect the supplies along with the backpacks generously provided by Fifth Third Bank and will work with Collier County schools to distribute materials to students in need.
“Through this partnership, Fifth Third Bank hopes to equip children — who might otherwise go without these essentials — with all of the tools and materials they need to go confidently in the direction of their dreams,” said David Call, President and CEO, Fifth Third Bank (South Florida).
Suggested items for donations include new uniform clothing, #2 pencils, spiral and composition notebooks, pocket folders, glue bottles and sticks, pink erasers, tissues, and hand sanitizer. Contributions to The Education Foundation Back to School Supply Fund will be gladly accepted. For the nearest Fifth third location, visit www.53.com
In addition, Whole Foods Market Naples is also hosting two events to help our local children. On Monday, August 15th, Whole Foods Market Naples will donate 5% of the day’s net sales to The Education Foundation of Collier County. Customers are encouraged to shop for all-natural and organic products to help raise funds that will support the foundation’s commitment to ensuring a quality education for every child.
“At Whole Foods Market we feel so strongly about our commitment to local communities and the environment that that we’ve made supporting them of our core values. This is just one example of how we give back to the non-profit organizations that help strengthen our community,” says Jessica Varnes, Marketing Team Leader.
In addition, Whole Foods will also hold a back to school event and supply drive, Celebrating Back 2 School Safely and Naturally, on Saturday, August 20th. Examples of items that could be donated include solid color polo shirts, athletic shoes, and lunch boxes as well as pens, pencils and notebooks. For more information, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/naples/
Other local organizations are hosting back to school events as well. Support education and see CenturyLink’s Prism TV in action. Visit the CenturyLink at 6438 Naples Blvd., donate school supplies for students in need, and enter to win a drawing for an iPad. August 12 (11 am – 1 pm) and August 19 (Noon – 2 pm). Visit CenturyLink at www.centurylink.com/?pid=p_76131788
Laces of Love is an organization that provides new shoes for the Back to School season. Donations are accepted at several locations. Go to http://www.lacesoflove.org for more information.
Catholic Charities is hosting its 15th Annual Undy Sunday to provide children with new underwear. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesdov.org/News_Articles/undy_sunday
Another annual event is The East Naples Fire Department shoe drive starting in August which accepts new shoes or donations for children at their Headquarters located at 4798 Davis Blvd, Naples, FL 34104. For more information call (239) 774-7111 or visit www.enfd.org/index.html
Finally, If you would like to make a donation to help provide uniform clothing, shoes, socks, underwear or other essentials to children in need, you can make a donation to The Education Foundation’s Back to School Fund. Click here: http://www.educationforcollier.org/donationform/ and enter “Back to School Fund” in the gift designation field.
These are just some of the wonderful organizations that help provide our local children with the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn. Thank you to all of you who give so generously and “Get On the Bus”.
“I don’t know if it is the teacher or the books, but I really like reading now!” exclaimed one of Dana Tracy’s East Naples Middle School students after enjoying high interest books that were funded by The English-Speaking Union through a Connect with a Classroom grant.
Because every child is unique, teachers face the challenge each day of coming up with new and different methods of teaching in order to meet individual student needs. Teachers are brimming with creative ideas for student projects and activities to accomplish this, but need the help of our community to bring these learning opportunities to life in our classrooms. Connect with a Classroom does just that! This online program allows teachers to post funding requests (varying from $25 to a maximum of $2,000), materials requests, or time and talent requests for creative, innovative learning experiences for their students.
The Connect with a Classroom program has been in existence since 2003, but was recently launched on our new website with enhancements and teachers are now submitting their requests for the 2011-2012 school year. These requests are for classroom projects which cannot be funded by the school budget or tax dollars and will ultimately improve student learning and performance. There are also opportunities to provide materials needed in classrooms or volunteer your time and talent.
The Education Foundation of Collier County funds these classroom grants through the proceeds from the specialty Florida Educational License Plate, along with contributions from clubs and organizations to the Connect with a Classroom grant fund, and through individuals in the community who visit our website and fund grants for which they have an interest. This grant program provides remarkable opportunities both for teachers in the Collier County Public Schools and for community members who want to play a part in improving the quality of instruction in our schools. Right now, the community can fund requests like “Put Me In, Coach!” or provide materials for “Order in the Court.” Please click here to view these requests and more which are currently posted. Visit often to see what is new!
Parkside Elementary School, home of the “Bullfrogs” has already gotten a jump on school by piloting an “extended year” model for the first time.
Parkside began the school year on July 11th ( see the Naples Daily News article) with a format designed to combat the “summer slide” that so many students, particularly those who come from homes in which English is not the first language, struggle with. Eighty-six percent of the kindergarten students are English Language Learners, which is the highest percentage in Collier County.
This pilot is already making a difference for students. In just the last few weeks, Parkside has whittled the number of third-graders who faced the threat of retention based on FCAT Reading performance from 68 to 13 students. This is an initial result of the extended year model being built at Parkside, and as the year unfolds we hope there are many more good stories about student success.
This modified format focuses specifically on the core academic subjects from 8:25 am – 1:25 pm Monday – Thursday so that students are getting that ongoing support and practice. Students go for the rest of the day to do enrichment and other activities in a partnership with the Marco Island YMCA and Boys and Girls Club.
After the students leave for the afternoon, teachers work together to examine individual student progress and to devise strategies to help students improve. Teachers work in grade level teams as well as working to ensure smooth transitions between grade levels. Not only do the teachers have this time to really focus on the success of each child, but they are building a collaborative structure and relationships that will continue to serve them when the regular format begins in August.
In addition to piloting this instructional and professional development model, another key component is reaching parents. Dr. Jan Messer, principal at Parkside, is setting her sights high—100% parent participation in student lead conferences. The Education Foundation and many other partners, including East Naples Kiwanis, Literacy Council of Southwest Florida, Marco Island YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Collier County, the Haitian Pastor’s Association, Collier Sheriff’s Office are working with the Parkside staff team and parent volunteers to help devise strategic ways to reach parents and to engage community volunteers to help achieve this goal.
A recent coffee hour for parents at the school brought 100 committed moms and dads to brainstorm ways to reach parents.
Congratulations to the Parkside school community—staff, students, parents, and community partners—for getting on the bus in a variety of new ways!
