Springfield Education Foundation

🎻 A better fit makes for better music! An Innovative Educator Grant awarded to Riverbend Elementary School 5th grade teacher Andrew Strietelmeier is helping upgrade the school’s orchestra equipment with adjustable shoulder rests for young violin and viola players. These simple accessories help students hold their instruments comfortably and securely, making it easier to focus on learning, playing, and making beautiful music. 🎶

"Better shoulder rests clamp onto the instrument, provide finer support, and have feet with adjustable heights that can be personalized to each player's neck length. This makes practicing at home more enjoyable and therefore more likely to happen, leading to more frequent, “I can do it!” moments." - Andrew Strietelmeier
Springfield Public Schools - OR

🖐️ Welcome back, returning SEF Board Member Kari Isham-Skelton! We are so grateful that Kari has re-joined our board, after having served for six years from 2013 - 2019! As Principal at Yolanda Elementary School, she is a passionate supporter of education, and we are SO excited to have her perspective and passion in helping guide our mission in support of quality public education in Springfield.

"As a lifelong resident of Springfield and proud Thurston High graduate, I have a deep connection to this community and a strong belief in the importance of investing in our students and schools." says Kari. "I am excited to return to serving on the Springfield Educational Foundation and to continue supporting its important work on behalf of students and educators."

Read Kari's full bio at SEFLane.org/about/board 🍎

September brings great celebrations for SEF Staff and Board Members! This month, we applaud Ashley Mahlum for 5 years of dedication to SEF. Since being hired in 2021 as Executive Assistant, she now proudly wears many hats as Program Coordinator. Much has changed, but we applaud her creativity, determination, and dedication to her work. ♥️

We also celebrate the following Board Members' anniversaries this month:
🐱 Crystal McPheeters - 5 years
🌸 Nicole De Graff - 3 years
🎨 Michael Alvarado - 1 year
Thank you each for your service to Springfield students!

Lastly, happy birthday to SEF Treasurer, Justin Martin! We hope you have a warm and joyous celebration. 🎂 We are so thankful for our incredible team!

ALL DAY today, stop by PublicHousehub, show them this flyer, and 50% of your purchase will fund school supplies for Springfield students! ✏️

Bring school supplies to drop off at our table on the back lawn this evening, enter fun raffles, and learn how SEF is working to empower student success at Springfield Public Schools! Live music starts at 6:30 pm. 🎼🎸

🍎 Participating vendors include:
• BeerHall
• The Wh***ey Lab
• The Nave Kitchen
• Moi Poki Grill
• Shalosh
•
Thank you to these vendors and our friends at PublicHouse for making this special event possible! 📚✂️🖍️🖌️

🍪👀 Who needs a little sweet treat pick-me-up this week? Our friends at Lehmancookieco are busy preparing dozens of specialty cookies for this Thursday's Toast to Teachers fundraiser at PublicHousehub. We're so thankful for this delicious donation! We will be passing out cookies in the evening to those who stop by the SEF table, while supplies last. Live music by The Wonks starts at 6:30 pm!

Come visit, grab some dinner and drinks, and 50% of your purchase at participating vendors will fund school supplies for students at Springfield Public Schools - OR! ✏️🎒✂️📚🖍️

Springfield Public Schools educators, apply for upstate to $2,500 in funding for your creative ideas by September 30! You are also eligible to win a $15,000 classroom makeover 😲 Thank you SESELCO Community Credit Union for supporting educators across Oregon 🚌

📚✨ Great books, student choice, and plenty of time to read can make a big difference! Thanks to an Innovative Educator Grant awarded to Springfield High School Instructional Coach Caleb Kostechka, classroom libraries are being expanded with high-interest books, graphic novels, nonfiction, and culturally responsive titles. The Book Love approach will put even more great books within arm's reach, helping students discover new stories, build reading stamina, share recommendations with friends, and maybe even find their next favorite book.

"SHS has already begun implementing this approach, and the early results have been very encouraging. Students are reading more often and with greater enthusiasm. Teachers report that students settle into reading more quickly, remain focused for longer periods of time, and eagerly recommend books to one another. Book talks have become more natural, and students demonstrate greater curiosity about authors and genres they had not tried before." - Caleb Kostechka 📖❤️
Springfield Public Schools - OR