Sunnyvale Education Foundation pledges $2,000 for science-camp supplies, announces Oct. 28 roundtable

Michelle Eugenie, president of the Sunnyvale Education Foundation, thanked the district for including the foundation in the State of the District and described outreach efforts to reduce cost barriers to science camp. She said the foundation surveyed fifth-grade teachers and outreach coordinators, received responses from more than half of contacted teachers, and identified essential needs such as sleeping bags, warm jackets and toiletries.

"We have approved $2,000 from internally from our special projects fund, which we're going to use for an initial purchase of items that will be available to schools to distribute to students and families who struggle to provide science camp supplies starting with Bishop," Eugenie said. She also reported that the foundation has contributed to more than $100,000 in school grants this fall across 10 schools and left a check at the district office supporting enrichment programs at four sites (Bishop, Cumberland, Vargas and Columbia Middle School).

Eugenie invited trustees and the public to a roundtable titled "Beyond the classroom, the magic of gardens, field trips, and touching grass" on Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom and encouraged public dissemination of the event posted on the foundation's Facebook page.