From TK through graduation, WCEF is here for you.

Below you'll find more information about our Match Coach, Wellness Center, and the new Teacher Grant Program. You'll also hear from the Walnut Creek School District Superintendent and the Acalanes Union HIgh School District Superintendent, so keep scrolling!

GRADES TK-5

• Full school year (in a dedicated space) of hands on Art, Music, Science Lab, and P.E.
• Salaries for 20+ Instructional Specialists implementing California standards for Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA)

GRADES 6-8

• Support for STEAM electives (Robotics, Computer Sciences, Digital Arts) 
• After school homework help
• Credentialed librarian, increased hours and research databases

GRADES 9-12

• 12 additional core academic classes - ensuring the 7-period day, smaller class size, and access to AP/Honors classes
• ​Support of the Wellness Center, serving the social-emotional needs of students.

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TK-8 Math COach
​ alexandra thomas

Alex Thomas, the WCSD TK-8 Math Coach, works directly with teachers. She covers curriculum, modeling, and new teaching techniques. Her goal? Discover new, updated ways to support both student and teacher.

Education is shifting. We need to be educating students to solve for problems that we can’t even conceive of yet.  We need to help them develop skills to ‘think out of the box’ and to use multiple methods. And most importantly, we need them to appreciate that ‘mistakes’ are opportunities for learning, not dead ends.  We want students to break problems into pieces, and then persevere through the pieces to get to a solution.”
​— Alex Thomas, WCSD Math Coach

One of her early areas of emphasis is problem-solving. Rather than memorizing formulas or drilling students on computation, Thomas is striving to see more teachers focus on building students’ abilities to solve problems in new and dynamic scenarios.

"(Alex) has been priceless to the math department. She is on campus providing real-time training and best practices, and that has a huge impact on what we can do for students every day." - Mrs. Gitta Kahangi, Walnut Creek Intermediate

Follow Alexandra on Twitter to keep up with her success!  @WCSD_MathCoach

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wellness center
​giving las lomas students a place to go

In response to the rise of teen anxiety, depression, suicide, stress and emerging concerns with high vaping and e-cigarette usage, the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) prioritizes wellness for its students. In October 2017 Las Lomas opened its on-campus Wellness Center at Las Lomas.​

We are trying to de-stigmatize mental health so students can get the support they need and not have their learning disrupted. It gets stressful in high school and that impacts mental health.”   
— Adriana Martinez, Director of Wellness, AUHSD

For the past three years, we have been a major source of financial support to accommodate the growing demand for services at the Wellness Center. The WCEF Board is proud of its commitment to increase staffing hours from 40% to 80% in 2019-20.

The Wellness Center offers individual/group counseling, crisis support, and other interventions aimed at addressing a multitude of teen-related issues:  stress, depression, bullying, gender questions, grief, drug/alcohol abuse, and anxiety.

Additionally, the Center is not just for students. They offer group sessions for parents/guardians and training for teachers and staff.
WCEF sees great value in getting students the support they need when they need it.
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For more information about the Las Lomas Wellness Center, go here.

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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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2019 Teacher Grant Pilot PrograM

Background
WCEF is launching a new avenue to support teaching and learning - Teacher Grant Pilot Program.  WCEF is looking to fund innovative projects that will enhance and support 21st century learning in the Walnut Creek School District.  A primary characteristic of a 21st century classroom is “connectedness.” This refers to connectedness to self, connectedness to peers, connectedness to learning resources, and connectedness to the wider world. 

The district’s mission is to inspire a community of learners empowered to positively engage with the world through discovery, innovation, creativity, leadership, and character.  Providing ALL students with learning opportunities to engage in active communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking empowers them as agents and owners of their learning experience.  The WCEF Teacher Grant Pilot Program expands the partnership between WCSD and WCEF, further demonstrating our commitment to supporting the students and staff in our community. Through this initial pilot program, WCEF and WCSD hope to learn from teachers and school communities and improve future teacher grant program efforts.    

Details

• Individuals or teams employed by WCSD are eligible to apply. Projects must primarily support activities related to the instructional day.
• Proposed budgets may be up to $1,000 for TK through Grade 5, and up to $2,000 for Grades 6-8.
• At least one project at each school will be funded.
• Allowable expenses include: materials/supplies, contractors/consultants, training, technology, or other items needed for the project. Funding cannot be used for gift cards, or other expenses already funded by your school budget or PTA, PTO, or PERC budget.
• All materials/supplies, technology or other items purchased are considered property of your school.
• Awardees will need to submit a completed reflection questionnaire, digital video or photo(s) of the project, and receipts for all expenses to WCEF to receive reimbursement. Awardees may also be asked to showcase project via social media, or in person to community members if applicable.

Selection Process

• Applications will be scored individually by a review panel of approximately 15-20 people, including parents and representatives from WCSD and WCEF. Each WCSD school will be represented.
• Panelists will use the rubric attached to this application.
• The review panel will recommend which projects should be funded to WCSD and WCEF leadership, who will determine the awardees. 

Timeline
October 16, 2019:  Online applications due by 5pm
Late October 2019:  Selected applicants posted on WCSD and WCEF websites
November-May 29, 2019:  Teacher Grant Pilot awards must be spent  

Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2019. Please complete the application/google form found here.
​Questions? Contact Sandra Naughton at grantchair@wcefk12.org.

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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