More than 275 community members gathered at McNally School on May 12, eager to help kids get ready for learning, ready for growing and ready for life. In its second year, the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation hosted its annual fundraising breakfast, raising more than $200,000 for full-day Kindergarten programs in the city’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Like a garden in bloom, the Ready for Life Breakfast was a feast for the senses that planted seeds of hope. Director Sandra Woitas explains, “the Foundation is like the little engine that could – we’ve got to ‘think-we-can’ to make good things happen for our kids.” As guests arrived, they re-connected with their inner child by blowing bubbles and meeting new friends, surrounded by umbrella trees fastened with student messages.

Like the traditional Aboriginal gardening practice, where planting corns, beans and squash together creates an environment that boosts growth, children thrive when they learn as a group. For this reason, part of the morning included a success story from a Tipaskan School student and parent. For many, listening to the young hearing-impaired student voice her love of learning proved their contributions were having an impact. Within a year, she had blossomed into an inquisitive young reader.

For RBC, achieving meaningful, long-term change through corporate giving is a priority. For a second year, RBC gifted the Foundation $50,000, causing a loud uproar of applause. “At RBC, we believe in investing in education is one of the most important things we can do because it helps build future community leaders,” says Dave Majeski, RBC Vice-President Real Estate & Commercial Markets. “We are proud to support the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation and to help kids get the best start in life.” Click here  for a photo of Dave Majeski, Janet Mosier, RBC Relationship Account Manager, and Arbie, RBC Mascot, providing a cheque to Sandra Woitas.

Many other generous contributors also understand that it takes an entire community to educate a child. EPCOR gifted the Foundation $20,000 at the breakfast, for a total of $40,000 over the past year, and an anonymous donor provided a gift of $50,000. Additional early-bird donors included 100.3 The Bear Children’s Fund, Edmonton Twestival, Kingsway Mall and Ms. San San Sy, one of the Foundation’s Board of Governors.

As Woitas describes it, “if we give them the tools, kids have no limits to their potential.” In the meantime, the Foundation is working to enhance education opportunities for students in vulnerable situations. “Showing – and telling – kids that we believe in them is important. That’s why the Foundation is working to build and sustain the work we’ve started.” The community’s overwhelming response has shown that the Foundation’s message is taking root.

Click here for pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsb/sets/72157626713114652/

Click here to view the inspirational video:

At the September 14, 2010 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved using $125,000 of the $175,000 in donations realized by the District Foundation during 2009-10 to fund a full-day Kindergarten program at Tipaskan School during the 2010-11 school year.

To celebrate this occasion, the Foundation hosted a Mad Hatters Tea Party Wednesday, November 3 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Tipaskan School, which was sponsored in part by Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. Adorned in hats made by students from Dr. Donald Massey School and Nellie McClung Program students from Oliver School, approximately 60 Foundation friends and about 20 other individuals, including students, parents and staff members from Tipaskan School, were in attendance.

The event was emceed by two students from Tipaskan School and included greetings from Board Chair Dave Colburn, Superintendent Edgar Schmidt and the Foundation’s Board of Governor’s Chair Louise Hayes. In addition, Foundation Director Sandra Woitas shared brief remarks and Principal Lil Rueck spoke about the impact the full-day Kindergarten program will have on students and announced that students are planning their own pay-it-forward fundraising campaign. The intent is the funds raised by the students this year will be gifted to the Foundation to put towards another full-day Kindergarten program in the future.

Immediately after the formal program, guests were taken on a tour of the school and the Kindergarten classroom to visit with the students and teacher, Meghan Loney. The event concluded with a tea party celebration in the gymnasium, which included food and beverages donated by Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc.

The Edmonton Examiner covered the event and posted an article that same day.

• Article is available online at: http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2831255
• Complementary photo gallery is display online at: http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2831451

Shaw TV also interviewed Director Sandra Woitas, Principal Lil Rueck and Teacher Meghan Loney and videotaped the Kindergarten students. The interview can be view on Channel 10 starting Friday, November 12.

More than 250 community and staff members gathered at Jasper Place High School on May 20 for one purpose — to help young children get ready for learning, ready for growing and ready for life. Recently established, the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation held its first-ever fundraising breakfast, raising more than $175,000.

Like Cinderella’s carriage, the school’s gym was transformed into a hall bursting at the doors with energy and hope. Director Sandra Woitas explained to guests that “the more we enrich the learning experience for young students, the more likely students will achieve success in school and in the working world.” While guests enjoyed choir performances and success stories from an elementary and high school student, they learned about the importance of early learning intervention. By the time children turn six, 75 per cent of their brain growth has already occurred. In an ideal world, all children will learn the skills and attitudes they need for life. In reality, hundreds of children live in vulnerable circumstances without opportunities for healthy growth, challenging their future success. For many students, the achievement gap begins before they enter Kindergarten.

For those reasons, Woitas announced all funds raised at the breakfast will support early learning and full-day Kindergarten programs for Edmonton Public Schools’ most socially vulnerable citizens — those who represent Edmonton’s diverse student population and are at risk academically. An inspirational video showed how local, on-going research conducted by the University of Alberta proves the benefits of early learning programs. As early as age three, children develop the foundation for communication and social skills, positive attitudes, literacy, numeracy and physical health. The programs also help them develop positive behaviours, including independence, interaction and innovation. Most importantly, guests saw how it takes an entire community to help students blossom.

For RBC, providing contributions with lasting social impacts is a priority. Recognizing the importance of early learning intervention, it gifted the Foundation $50,000, causing guests to shake their noisemakers and spray confetti. “At RBC, we believe that by investing in youth and education we are helping to create stronger communities,” says Jeff Battershill, RBC Vice President Commercial Markets. “We are excited to be able to support the Edmonton School Board Foundation, and to help kids get off to the right start.”

According to Woitas, a more important investment doesn’t exist. “Today, I’m more hopeful than I’ve ever been,” said Woitas. “Since we launched this Foundation, I’ve talked to all kinds of people, from community leaders to parents, who want to get involved. I’ve talked to people who want to help students get a hand up, not a handout, in life. I’ve talked to people who recognize that public education has a profound impact on youth.” The breakfast really showed how Edmontonians can help transform today’s children into tomorrow’s leaders.

Click here for pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/paulletourneau84/EdmontonPublicSchoolsFoundationBreakfast?authkey=Gv1sRgCPzJnZ2UsovJVg&feat=email#

For the first time, 70 elementary students experienced a week at the University of Alberta to see and prepare for their future. 

The Foundation partnered with the University of Alberta, the University of Alberta Senate and the City Centre Education Partnership to give children learning opportunities tied to their school goals. 

During the week, children from Norwood, John A. McDougall and Parkdale schools completed hands-on activities in all subjects while developing social and critical thinking skills. And, like any university student, they experienced a real convocation with University of Alberta Chancellor Linda Hughes. 

The University Senate introduced this project to help young students:

• understand the world;
• improve literacy skills;
• learn about diversity; and
• build lifelong relationships with the university. 

Now Miranda says when she grows up, she wants to teach.  Samuel wants to act while Tanya plans to study law. And while many students will likely change their minds about their careers by the time they’re ready for university, they’ve learned that their future holds endless possibilities. 

Students and parents can look forward to future university projects and more information.