INSIDER WINTER 2017-18 STARTING THE SCHOOL ADVENTURE OFF RIGHT!
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
For the past few summers, YOU have been funding a program that gets our littlest students off to a great start in school! The Issaquah Schools Foundation’s Pre-K Summer School program served 126 students in the summer of 2017, with six teachers, six EAs and one coordinator to implement the program at three elementary school sites, Apollo, Challenger and Issaquah Valley.
In this season of gratitude and giving, I want to express my sincere thanks to you for your extraordinary commitment to the Issaquah Schools Foundation. Liz Swanson Your gifts fund numerous programs which offer students the opportunity to build academic foundations, explore limitless opportunities and launch successfully into their future. Truly, your gift changes lives. Let us show you how. In this issue, we’ll take you inside to some of the exciting programs YOU make possible through your contributions. You’ll read about the Pre-Kindergarten 4-week summer school program that helps some of the youngest members of the district enter kindergarten ready to learn; and we’ll take you to the other end of the school career to our Career Cruising/ FutureMap programs, which ensures high schoolers are on the path to shape and determine their future after high school. For 30 years the Issaquah Schools Foundation has been relentless in its mission to drive resource to help students reach the promise of their potential. As your new Executive Director, I’m honored and excited to be part of this community treasure, and work together with you in fueling the success of every student and every school. With holiday greetings, Liz
Sitting quietly in circle/reading time
This program provided four weeks of intensive instruction in the areas of school readiness and reading for targeted prekindergarten students. Instruction included immersion of students in language development, vocabulary, and development of student’s background knowledge through best instructional practices in reading. School readiness focused on the basics of “how to do school.” Here is what one teacher had to say about the program: “This summer during our Pre-K program, we focused our instruction on giving our students a positive, unique and encouraging school experience. One favorite activity among teachers and students was Story Time Stem, which incorporates literacy, mathematics, engineering and science all while capturing the attention and hearts of our young students. I truly feel that all 21 of my students benefited greatly from the program. Each student left after four short weeks with a better understanding of school expectations, basic reading skills, an inquiry for science topics, a book bag full of books to read at home, and most importantly they learned how to be a learner.” (Continued on Page 2)
Building Academic Foundations Issaquah Schools Foundation
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