From Tk through Graduation, Your donations matter

Due to a lack of state funding resulting from voter decisions in the 1980s, public schools now rely on additional money raised by nonprofit
​education foundations like WCEF TK-12. 

​As frustrating as that can feel, we don't want you to worry about the education your child receives in our Walnut Creek schools. Foundations like ours allow families to invest in public education with tax-deductible donations and, ultimately, invest in our community.

Well-funded schools don't just create well-rounded, prepared graduates.
☞ Good schools connect our community, maintain property values, and produce the next generation of thoughtful, engaged leaders.

​For our 2021-22 Annual Giving Brochure, please click here.

WCEF + YOU @ Las Lomas High SCHOOL (9th - 12th)

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Your donation to WCEF ensures our Knights have the mental health support and the robust course selection
​ needed to remain competitive and graduate with confidence. 

​Curious what Las Lomas would look like without your contributions?
We thought you might be, so we broke it down for you.

Here's a sample schedule for each of the four years at Las Lomas to help illustrate what education at the high school level looks like with (and without) private donations from the community. 

​​college & career readiness

• Las Lomas would be forced to eliminate class offerings
• Fewer classes also mean less choice and larger class size​​

TECHNOLOGY

• Students have to borrow technology from a limited supply of outdated devices
• District funds go to repairs rather than purchasing new technology ​

​WELLNESS CENTER

• Lack of mental health support could mean the difference between receiving a High School diploma or not
• Studies show stress is the No. 1 factor in academic disruption

​​COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS

• 13 additional class sections across all subjects: history, math, science, world languages, the arts, 
• Advanced Placement courses for college readiness
• Additional electives meeting student interest

​TECHNOLOGY

• ALL Las Lomas students are required to use a computer for course work. WCEF helps increase the supply of up-to-date technology​​

​WELLNESS CENTER

• The Wellness Center provides much needed health education, support groups, individual counseling for stress, grief, anxiety, healthcare & more ​

​HOW TO READ THE SAMPLE SCHEDULE:

9th & 10th grade: Students have an additional elective class period with multiple choices across all subjects, four world language options, and multiple career tech opportunities.
​11th & 12th grade: By the time your child gets to their final two years at LLHS, they will have two additional elective periods BEYOND what the state requires and more elective choice across all subjects as well as the opportunity to take four years of world language, social sciences, math and science, not funded by the state.​

• Electives = Classes students select to take. While the state requires a certain number of electives to graduate (65), Las Lomas offers more than 20 classes in the visual and performing arts, the chance to take two world languages simultaneously, etc. More electives mean more choice for students to explore areas of interest, smaller class sizes, and pathways that reach all students and their interests. 
• Career Pathways = A sequence of courses to prepare a student for a profession, technical college, military career, and/or certification. 
• AP Classes = College-level classes developed by the college board also knows as Advanced Placement. Students gain exposure to college-level courses and may receive college credit before graduating high school. Some graduates have even entered their first year of college with enough units to qualify as a sophomore.

 
​
MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION:

​👉 Classes at Las Lomas are driven by student interest. Additional funding through WCEF means your student is more likely to receive their first choice of classes resulting in a wide range of options, including four years of visual and performing arts, world languages, journalism, sports medicine, international cuisine, forensic science, and more. To view the course catalog, visit www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/coursecatalog. 

👉 13 additional classes across all subject areas. From art to music, science to math, English to social studies, electives like journalism and sports medicine, as well as four world languages (French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish — unheard of at public schools!).

👉 Every student must complete specific graduation requirements, but donations to WCEF give Las Lomas students opportunities to go beyond requirements in many choices across all subjects.

👉 For those looking at UC/CSU and selective private universities and colleges, your student can take Advanced Placement classes in all subjects: including world languages, four years of advanced and rigorous math, sciences, English, and the arts rivaling, if not exceeding private schools. 

👉 Las Lomas also offers career readiness through the Medical Careers pathway, a new course track for those interested in healthcare.

👉 Every student has their own interests, and Las Lomas offers career tech pathways in auto engineering, entertainment, construction, medical, sports medicine, and hospitality.

LOW STATE FUNDING THREATENS
​STUDENT CHOICE, CLASS SIZE, AND POST-GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES

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WCEF + YOU @ Walnut Creek Intermediate Middle school (WCI 6th - 8th)

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Donations to WCEF support every grade level to align with WCEF's mission to preserve and enhance all students. Here's how donations to WCEF preserve and enhance our WCI and Tice Creek middle school students. 

By the time your child gets to middle school, they will have:

• A well-rounded education experience will access to art, music, and hands-on science lab promoting creativity, grit, and confidence
• Support for STEAM electives (Robotics, Computer Sciences, Digital Arts, Music, World Languages & more) to further develop interest in the sciences, technology, engineering, the arts, and math or STEAM
• ​Full-time Credentialed Librarian and research databases to promote digital literacy, online safety
• Math Coach to deepen instruction and student learning
• Two world language options (French, Spanish)
• 1:1 Technology provided to all students

👉 BUT THESE PROGRAMS DISAPPEAR WITHOUT YEARLY COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO WCEF

GRADES TK-5

• Full year of Enrichment classes in Art, Music, and Science Lab
• Math Coach to deepen instruction and learning

GRADES 6-8

• Support for STEAM electives (Robotics, Computer Sciences, Digital Arts, Music, World Languages & more) 
• ​Full-time Credentialed Librarian based at WCI
• Math Coach to deepen instruction and learning

GRADES 9-12

• 13 additional core academic classes - ensuring the 7-period day, smaller class sizes, more student choice
• More classes geared toward college readiness like Advanced Placement
• Wide range of class offerings from Medical Careers pathway to four world languages
• ​Support of the Wellness Center, serving the social-emotional needs of all students
• Technology for students without access to required technology
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity programs

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WCEF + You @ elementary Schools (tk-5th)

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Your public elementary school would look very different without your contributions to WCEF. We’ve broken it down so you can easily understand the important impact your donation has for our youngest learners.

When YOUR CHILD starts school, THEY WILL HAVE:

• A well-rounded education experience will access to art, music, and hands-on science lab promoting creativity, grit, and confidence
• ​Math Coach to deepen instruction and student learning
• 1:1 technology provided to all students

👉 BUT THESE PROGRAMS DISAPPEAR WITHOUT YEARLY COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO WCEF

DONATE TODAY!

THE DISTRICTS & Schools WE SERVE:

WCEF and the ​WALNUT CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT 

"Our schools would not be able to deliver the type of excellent STEAM learning opportunities our students experience every day without WCEF support. We simply do not receive enough funding from the state to operate these high quality programs. WCEF fills that gap. WCEF support is invaluable to ensuring great schools in Walnut Creek."
– Marie Morgan, WCSD Superintendent

• Buena Vista Elementary (K-5)
• Indian Valley Elementary (K-5)
• Murwood Elementary (K-5)
• Parkmead Elementary (K-5)
• Walnut Heights Elementary (K-5)​​

• Tice Creek School (K-8)
• Walnut Creek Intermediate (6-8)
• Walnut Creek School District Website

WCEF AND THE ​ACALANES UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 

"Because of the support of education foundations (like WCEF), we can offer educational opportunities that exceed most private schools."
– ​John Nickerson, Ed. D.  AUHSD Superintendent

• Las Lomas High School
• Acalanes Union High School District

Funding Guidelines

Funding of programs within the Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School is a collaborative process between WCEF, the districts and the schools. WCEF meets with leaders at the schools – and at the two school districts – to identify and prioritize funding needs. The WCEF board maintains responsibility for ensuring that funds are directed towards programs that advance the Foundation’s mission and may decline to fund those programs which do not meet these funding guidelines. Funding decisions are made on an annual basis for the following school year.

• Funding will support our mission and the strategic plans and needs of the districts.
• Requests for funding will be endorsed and prioritized by the districts or site principals.
• Funding will target curriculum, student and staff health and welfare, and capital projects.

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Looking for more information? 

Download the 2017-2018 Impact Report to read in details  how your donations support essential instruction, tools and services.

Impact_Report_2017-18.pdf
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