Ravenswood Education Foundation
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REF Updates

A Note from our Exec. Director

6/19/2019

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Dear Friends,

As important members of the REF community, I wanted to let you know that I intend to step down as Executive Director of the Ravenswood Education Foundation this summer. I will remain on the REF board and stay deeply involved in the community. I look forward to having a little more time to travel and visit family, improve my Spanish, and maybe perfect an omelet.

Being the ED of REF for the past eight years has been my dream job. REF has been an all-consuming passion and I've approached the role with the utmost sense of commitment and responsibility to the children, families, teachers and staff of the District. When I began, I was uncertain that I was up to the task. I had never run an organization, fundraised, managed a board, or worked in education. My overriding objective was to build a bridge in our community and create a shared sense of responsibility for educating all of our children. I am ever so grateful for volunteers, who lead with their hearts, donors, who open new opportunities for our students, Ravenswood educators, whose commitment and skill blow me away every day, and the families and students who deserve a quality education.

My transition is made easier by how much progress REF has made over the years and how much new hope and promise there is for the future in the District. Over the next few months, I hope to connect with you and thank you for your support of our community. I hope we can count on your continued commitment to REF, as your involvement has made a difference in the lives of thousands of children, and will continue to do so. Gina Sudaria, Interim Superintendent, is infusing everyone with her optimism and urgency to make improvements in our District. I am excited for the next chapter for Ravenswood.

The REF board has formed a Transition Committee to find a new Executive Director. As the board conducts its search in the coming months, it welcomes your input in identifying candidates. For more information please email here.

I know that together we will not only continue to do good work, but we can do transformative work. Please don't hesitate to reach out at any time.

Warmly,

Renu Nanda
650-380-0902
Rnanda@ravenswoodef.org
​

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Facing Homelessness as a Student

2/7/2019

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Homelessness is the brutal reality for many Ravenswood school district students in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. 

"Maddie told her friends what was happening when her family was staying in the garage and how it made her feel. Since many of them had been homeless themselves, they took it in stride. 'They told me it was fine,' she says. 'They said nobody has it easy.' In their world, homelessness is not a crisis. It’s part of life." -Mercury News Article

Read More...www.mercurynews.com​
Mercury News Article
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A Welcome Message from the Executive Director of the Ravenswood Education Foundation

9/10/2018

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RAVENSWOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Making a Difference

The Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF) is committed to ensuring equitable and high-quality educational opportunities for Ravenswood students by building on local strengths and engaging the entire community.
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Welcome back to the '18-'19 school year in Ravenswood. I am excited to see our school campuses once again filled with the bright and eager faces of our students.

With a record $3.9MM raised last year, this year the Ravenswood Education Foundation will continue to fund art and music teachers, Makerspaces, science labs, summer school, mental health counselors, a guidance counselor, professional development and teacher leader stipends. Additionally, we will build on last year’s successful pilot and fund a reading intervention teacher at every school to provide the intensive support needed to help more of our students read at grade level. We truly could not do this work without you.

During this coming year, there are many ways you can support our Ravenswood students:
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1) Donate to our Annual Campaign. Look out for our Annual Report mailed mid-September. Your donations help us provide grants to the school district to hire the necessary teachers, guidance counselors and staff for our initiatives. As always, REF holds the district accountable for the delivery and impact of all programs as we monitor progress and outcomes.
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2) Volunteer. We have many ways you can help. Please email Jazmin for more information on any of the items below.
  • Adopt-a-Teacher pairs volunteers with teachers to provide critical classroom supplies. Join us for coffee on September 6th at 9am to learn more.
  • Adopt-a-School is a meaningful way to support teachers with staff appreciation meals twice a year.
  • Our libraries, science labs, and Makerspaces always need volunteers and corporate partners to provide our students with exposure to experiences and connections.
  • We welcome one-time volunteer efforts, and drives for specific needs in our community.
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3) Attend our Gala. Our signature fundraising event of the year will be held at the Four Seasons on Saturday, March 2, 2019. If you would like to host a table, donate a live auction item or wines, or support the event in any way, please email our Gala co-hosts, Emily Lopez and Sarah Speakman. There will be an informational coffee for potential new table hosts on October 17th at 10am.
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​4) Attend an Informational Gathering. Throughout the fall we will host some insight events to share our successes and challenges, and offer you a chance to hear from people on the ground who are impacting student lives each day. Please let Jazmin know if you are interested in attending or hosting one of these smaller events.

While the district faces challenges, we at REF remain wholeheartedly focused on students. These children do not access Tinsley, charters, or private schools, but they deserve art, music, science, specialist literacy instruction, mental health support, and technology opportunities. We cannot let them down.

Here’s to a great year ahead!
Warmly,
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Renu Nanda
Executive Director, Ravenswood Education Foundation
rnanda@ravenswoodef.org
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Focus on Education Showcase

8/13/2018

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Thank you to Oracle for inviting the Ravenswood Education Foundation to be a part of its Focus on Education showcase! Oracle employees were happy to learn about REF and our exciting volunteer opportunities. 

If you're interested in volunteering with REF, please check out upcoming volunteer opportunities at our Volunteer page.
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Reading Intervention Teacher Initiative

4/6/2018

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May 2017 CASSPP test scores reveal that 15% of Ravenswood 3rd graders read at grade level. Why are so many children not reaching this milestone? Ravenswood students face greater challenges than students in surrounding communities that make it hard for them to perform at their best in school.
 
In partnership with the Ravenswood City School District, REF is investing in reading intervention teachers. In 2016, REF introduced reading intervention teachers for third through fifth grade students. REF committed $200,000 to support two reading intervention teachers for the 2017-18 school year. The school district matched this investment with two additional teachers.

The teachers spend 50% of their time working with small groups of 3rd - 5th graders - about 50 students per year per teacher - to pinpoint problems and provide interventions for struggling readers, with the specific goal of raising their reading levels to meet grade level standards. The other 50% of their time, they coach English teachers to improve instruction the first time around to all students in a school.

​Thus far in the 2017-18 school year, results are promising. The reading levels of students who received small group instruction grew at a faster rate than students who did not participate in small group instruction. These results demonstrate a step in the right direction!

For the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, REF will support an additional three reading intervention teachers, for a total of seven in the district.

Join us on this important mission to ensure that our students are prepared for high school and beyond with a strong foundation in reading. Contact us at info@ravenswoodef.org. 
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End of the Year Thank You

1/2/2018

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Dear REF Community,
​
We are deeply grateful to our entire community for what we have achieved together this year!


Because of you, the Ravenswood Education Foundation . . . 


Met our incredible $100,000 matching gift, and raised more funds than ever during this year's fall campaign.

Transformed the school day for all of our 2900 kindergarten through eighth grade students with time for teacher collaboration, 14 art and music teachers, a high school transition initiative, and middle school science labs.
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Helped meet the needs of our displaced and homeless families with washers and dryers at schools, basic supplies for families, and mental health counseling for students at each site.

Encouraged innovation with Makerspace funding for Tinkerers and tech materials at all school sites.
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​Supported eight schools and principals with a new SchoolLink program, teacher appreciation events, funding for school community events, and over 250 adopt-a-teacher, science lab, Makerspace, and library volunteers.
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Promoted reading proficiency with funding for new literacy intervention teachers at four school sites and support for summer school for 600 students.
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Thank you for being part of our wonderful community and in the words of Gregory Boyle, author of Barking to the Choir, "widening your 'loving look' at what's right in front of [you]."

Best wishes for you and your family,
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Renu Nanda
Executive Director
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Volunteers Needed for Adopt-a-School and Adopt-a-Teacher Programs at the Ravenswood School District

9/6/2017

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Be a part of the exciting new things happening in Ravenswood! The Ravenswood Education Foundation is kicking off its annual Adopt-a-Teacher program for the Ravenswood City School District! The program offers the opportunity for individuals or small groups to help teachers in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park purchase much-needed supplies. REF is also launching a new teacher appreciation program with an opportunity for volunteers to set up and provide food for two meals honoring faculty and staff at a school. If interested in either of these programs, please contact Jazmin Sosa at jsosa@ravenswoodef.org  or visit REF's website to learn more about other volunteering opportunities at www.ravenswoodef.org.

​Check 
out our article on the InMenlo news website below!

inmenlo.com/2017/08/25/drive-to-adopt-a-teacher-in-the-ravenswood-school-district-is-underway/
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Willow Oaks Library Needs Your Help

3/13/2017

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Another way to donate to Willow Oaks library is to go to their donor choose link by clicking here.
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Calling all Volunteers!

2/15/2017

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Our schools need volunteers!  If you have some time and want to help Ravenswood School District, check out these immediate volunteer opportunities:
  • Belle Haven Library needs volunteers to help students find and check out books Monday-Friday 11:15am - 3:15pm
  • Cesar Chavez has a few opportunities:
    • Biology dissections on Mondays for the month of March
    • Speak to AVID students on Fridays in March and April from 10:09-10:49 am. Inspire.Motivate!
    • Art classes on Fridays could use some extra hands
  • Willow Oaks needs help purchasing specific non-fiction books for its library
If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Pamela Benson at pbenson@ravenswoodef.org
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Ravenswood STEM Fair

2/15/2017

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Students in Ravenswood School District have been busy with their STEM Fair projects. Read all about it here.
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Ravenswood Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 (nonprofit) organization and donations are tax deductible.

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  • Home
  • Annual Spring Event
  • Who We Are
    • Mission and Values
    • Who We Serve
    • Our Team >
      • Board Resources
    • Corporate and Foundation Partners
    • Community Partners
    • Financial Information >
      • Form 990
  • What We Do
    • Annual Report
    • Talent Initiative
    • Literacy Initiative
    • Staff Professional Development & Support
    • Makerspaces
    • Daily Enrichment
  • Volunteer
    • Adopt-a-Classroom
    • Adopt-a-School
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • REF Updates
    • Ravenswood News
    • Videos
    • COVID-19 Efforts