Sonoma Valley Education Foundation

Causes: Philanthropy, Public Foundations

Mission: Sonoma valley education foundation (svef) enriches the student experience, partnering with the sonoma valley unified school district (svusd), as the primary fundraising and volunteer resource for innovative programs.

Programs: Early childhood literacy advance parent-child education - advance offers low-income spanish-speaking parents of children ages 0-3 parent education on their role as their child's first teacher. Lessons include learning through play, school skill, discipline, nutrition and much more. The children participate in pre-literacy and school readiness activities in separate classrooms. Additional community resources are also available for the parents to support their family needs. Preschool for all - preschool for all provides a high-quality learning environment for children ages 3-5 to learn the social and academic skills necessary to be successful students: how to listen well, share, participate, compromise, be respectful to others, and problem solve. Children who receive this high-quality preschool education also enter kindergarten with pre-reading skills, rich vocabularies, and strong basic math skills. The program also supports parental involvement. Summer literacy academy jump into reading! - jump into reading! Is an intensive summer intervention program designed to improve reading skills for transitional kindergarten (tk)to 2nd grade students. Students who are more than two years below grade level participate in this summer program focused on developing critical foundational reading skills of phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency. Once students have mastered these skills, they move on to vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Summer reading & writing academy - the summer intervention program provides support for students exiting grades 1-3 who are below grade level proficiency in reading skills. Srwa was implemented as a response to the reality that many students slip further behind in their reading and writing skills during summer months if there is no intervention. Srwa provides professional development for teachers with the opportunity for teachers to practice the strategies in a real-time setting in the academy. Grade level proficiency project - the grade level proficiency project is an innovative program that uses a combination of game-like computer software and classroom coaching for teachers to bring elementary students to grade level proficiency in match and literacy skills. The program provides individually paced learning addressing the individual needs of the students. The project also includes a professional development model that includes real time, in class teaching and coaching educators. This program is a direct response to the paradigm shift in education today, using technology to help guide teacher instruction and engage all students.

enrichment & school support valley vibes orchestra (vivo) - an el sistema based orchestra program - a daily, two-hour per day after-school music program for students in grades three to high school. Kindergarten -2nd graders participate in a pre-orchestra program (pop) three times a week, 1 hour per day. Student musicians participate in a minimum of one performance per month and learn crucial social-emotional and cognitive skills in addition to basic music skills in string and wind instruments. Classroom grant program - provides funding to educators for small innovative and creative projects or school supplies that support classroom instruction and enhanced learning for our students. We love to support our teachers! The school garden program - school gardens are used as an outdoor classroom for teaching nutrition, horticulture, science, math, art, and simple cooking lessons. Students participate in lessons on how to grow and harvest vegetables and fruit and receive monthly visits by local chefs who teach students how to cook healthy meals based on the food grown in the gardens. The elementary school gardens create a ramp to the middle school horticulture classes, then to the agriculture classes at sonoma valley high school. Parent teacher organizations support - the foundation provides support to parent teacher organizations. Sonoma valley education foundation interns - students from sonoma provide support to the foundation on summer projects. Support our schools - the foundation provides support in schools wherever needed. School news project - school news project provides "kidscoop news" to students in classrooms. Scholarships - sonoma valley high school graduating seniors receive scholarship support towards their postsecondary college career, based on performance and qualifications in high school.

college and career readinessengineering, design & technology academy (edt academy)sonoma valley high school students in grades 10-12 who choose this path participate in rigorous coursework, hands-on projects, and work-based learning experiences in the engineering field. The academy uses the project lead the way (pltw) curriculum. Sustainable agriculture academy (sa academy)sonoma valley high school students in grades 10-12 who choose this path partcipate in coursework, hands on projects, and work based learning experiences in the sustainable agriculture field. The curriculum includes sustainable agriculture practices in plant and vegetable production, the viticulture industry, and the business/marketing practices of sustainable agriculture products. Bridge to algebra - a summer program designed to support rising 9th grade students who are at risk for failing algebra i. Students receive instruction in algebra concepts, group problem solving, individualized support and additional lessons to increase their confidence in their ability to try and succeed at math. The lessons are based on stanford professor jo boaler's research. Middle school writing centers - students receive writing support in class and in designated middle school writing centers at adele harrison and altimira middle schools. Students learn writing strategies and receive help in planning, drafting, revising and editing their compositions. Includes support for class assignments, student published writing projects, and lunchtime and afterschool activities. Teacher support network - the foundation recruits and trains volunteers to assist in middle and high school classrooms. Students receive direct support and individual attention from positive adult role models with the goal of supporting higher student achievement. Volunteers also engage in review boards for senior projects and help in the college and career center at sonoma valley high school.