Happy New Year!
Issaquah Schools Foundation donors made 2011 a year to celebrate. They helped us surpass the million dollar mark and invest more than ever before in our students and schools. This fall we had the pleasure of seeing the impact of many of these investments including the Financial Literacy Program, Elementary Science Curriculum adoption and After-School Homework Labs. Each of these program investments elevate and enhance our students’ education. None would be possible without your support. Thank you and best wishes for a terrific 2012.

Finding Kind
The Foundation is pleased to partner with middle and high school PTSAs to present Finding Kind, a documentary created to bring awareness and healing to the effects of meanness within “girl world.” The critically acclaimed, 77 minute film will be shown twice— on January 31 at Skyline High School and February 1 at Issaquah High School. Both screenings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by post-film discussions with filmmakers Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson. Finding Kind presentations are FREE and open to the public. Please help spread the word.

Need Help with College Applications? Try College Corps
Now in the pilot stage at Liberty High School, College Corps is an extension of the VOICE Mentoring Program. Amy Howard, a professional editor, visits Liberty every Thursday during lunch to work with students on college applications. Once college application season ends, Amy will concentrate on scholarship essays. Liberty parents and students may contact the counseling office or the VOICE Mentoring Program (VOICE@issaquah.wednet.edu) for further information.

All in for Kids Pledge Reminder
If you made a pledge and/or indicated an employer match during the All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign, please follow through. Respond to your pledge remit letter and fill out any required matching gift forms to ensure every one of the $307,227 anticipated dollars can benefit our students.

Grants Alert
Applications for Academic Enrichment Grants are due by 8:00 pm on Thursday, January 12. Grants are awarded in amounts from $100 - $10,000 for projects that advance academic achievement, support struggling students, promote professional development, display innovation and excellence in teaching and/or fund basic classroom needs. District staff may begin an online application at http://grants2011.issaquahschoolsfoundation.org/

Thank you PTSA parents! You gave the Issaquah Schools Foundation and our students the best possible holiday gift—a successful All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign. You clicked, mailed and answered our calls to the tune of $325,000. Because of your generosity, our students will continue to benefit from investments that elevate the BASIC education funded by the state to the COMPREHENSIVE, 21st century education they deserve and the global marketplace demands. You have secured support for programs that reach students of all ages and abilities including, VOICE Mentoring, Academic Enrichment Grants, Free After-School Homework Labs, PSAT Testing, National Board Certification scholarships, Financial Literacy and so much more. All in for Kids donations will also help fund the District’s upcoming Elementary Literacy Curriculum adoption—a $1 million plus purchase that can only be completed with community assistance.

IMPORTANT REMINDER—Pledges and matching gifts are included in the All in for Kids campaign total. If you pledged and/or indicated an employer match, please follow through. Respond to you pledge remit letter and fill out any required matching gift forms to ensure every one of the $307,227 anticipated dollars can benefit our students.

Amazon.com + Holiday Shopping = More Money for Kids

Planning to stop by Amazon.com for your holiday shopping? Please remember to use the ISF website to get there.
From now through December, Amazon.com will donate up to 15% of your total purchase price to the Foundation.
Here’s how to do it. Visit isfdn.org then click on the Amazon.com box on the top left of the page. You’ll be directed to the Amazon site. Once there shop as usual. Amazon will automatically apply the donation to the Foundation. Better yet, add this link Shop Amazon for ISF to your bookmarks so you’ll remember us all year long. Happy Shopping!

Searching for more great deals? Check out the Foundation’s other business partners for your local shopping. There are great deals on yoga, copy and mail services, massage, storage, real estate and auto purchases. Click Here for More Info

As we start the new year, I want to help ‘spread the word’ about a partner that helps make possible so much of what makes our schools special—the Issaquah Schools Foundation. The Foundation is a community-supported non-profit that works year-round to raise funds to bridge the gap between the dollars the state provides for basic education and the money our schools require to give students the comprehensive 21st Century education they need for success. With parent and community support, the Foundation is able to fund programs and investments that advance academic achievement, support struggling students, and promote professional development.

From 2009 to 2011 Foundation funded investments at Pine Lake Middle include:

• Multimedia with Macbooks: The Classroom and Beyond – Six Apple Macbook Pro laptops to use for video, podcasts and digital images in combination with community service/technology classes and Language Arts/Social Studies. (2010-2011 / $5,800)
• Digital Video in Community Service Documentaries – Using digital video cameras, 6th-8th graders create documentaries about service learning projects they perform, posting videos to a class website they create. (2009-2010 / $886)
• Culinary Kids 1 – promoting academics for students adrift – Culinary Arts promotes life skills, healthy eating, and provides active, hands-on experience for unmotivated middle-schoolers to feel successful at school. (2009-2010 / $992)
• "Shoot & Print" Pictures for FRCII Students – The digital camera and printer aids Pine Lake LRCII staff in programming augmentative communication devices, creating student schedules, personalizing behavior scales and much more. (2008-2009 / $518)
• Financial Literacy Program which culminates in a Junior Achievement Finance Park Field Trip (all 8th Graders) – Teaches students important lessons in budgeting, investing, avoiding debt and living within your means. Many students cite this program as one of their most memorable aspects of middle school. $5,000/yr
• VOICE (Volunteers of Issaquah Changing Education) – a mentor/tutor program that pairs caring community volunteers with struggling students to improve academic performance, boost self-esteem, and help curb the high-school dropout rate. At Pine Lake Middle, nine students are presently being served by nine mentors.
• National Board Certification Scholarships that give teachers access to the ‘pinnacle’ of professional development programs; equipping them with the tools to develop inquisitive, engaged learners. Pine Lake Middle currently has two National Board Certified teachers.
• GLAD - a ‘best practices’ professional development program helps teachers reach children of every learning style and help them excel. Pine Lake Middle School has two GLAD trained teachers.
• An After-School Homework Club that provides a safe place for middle school students to study, work on group projects, receive tutoring from staff or enjoy ‘down-time’ before heading home. Homework Clubs may also offer nutritional after-school snacks. $5,000/yr
• Robotics Club that gives students access to fun and engaging real world applications in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) $1,500/yr
• Nurse’s Fund – Funds for all schools to provide necessary essentials for student learning such as eyeglasses, prescriptions, breakfast foods, etc. $5,000/yr

The Foundation needs your help to continue providing these programs—and more, to our students. Please consider donating to their All in for Kids Annual Fund campaign this fall. Your gift, whether $5 or $500 will make a tremendous difference in the quality of educational resources Pine Lake Middle school can make available to your student. Flyers and information were distributed during Back-to-School Business Days and are available in our office. You may also donate online atwww.isfdn.org.

The Foundation is asking every parent to participate and we hope that you do. Together, we can prepare our students for the challenges they will face upon graduation. Thank you for partnering with PLMS and the Foundation.

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Michelle Weldon | Office Administrator
Issaquah Schools Foundation
Helping Students Achieve the Promise of Their Potential

425.391.8557
P.O. Box 835 | Issaquah, WA 98027
mweldon@issaquahschoolsfoundation.org | www.isfdn.org

Calling for Kids is now, the All in for Kids Annual Fund Campaign. The emphasis is on ‘ALL IN’—that means you. Learn more and donate today at www.isfdn.org