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Fall 2009 Newsletter

BEF After-the-Bell Awards Help Thousands of Students

3,800 middle school students stay after school each year for vital help with core subjects: math, reading, and writing. For some it means access to the computer lab, as there is no computer or Internet at home, for others it means one-on-one help with writing a paper, tackling some tough math problems or just spending some quiet time at school completing assignments. Not only do BEF awards provide funds for tutoring and academic support, but also for service clubs, including Art Expressions, flag football, Latino Club, choir, student leadership, volleyball, jazz band, orchestra, community service, chess, and drama.

Teachers share that Homework Club students come to class the next day excited because they were able to grasp a concept or finish projects and assignments during Club.

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Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight Program

"Thank you for your marvelous support and I think I speak for all 5th graders at Vose, in saying Thank you, you changed our lives." remarked Brandon, student participant.

Despite rain, snow and sleet, 90 fifth grade students translated their entire academic year in the classroom, to the field by participating in the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight Program funded by the BEF and the Mike Osborne Memorial Fund. Throughout their two day experience, the students were given multiple opportunities to reflect on, and journal about, their experiences: hikes, explorations at the edge of the creek, lectures about the water cycle and health watersheds, Native American folklore, rope making, edible plants, the life cycles of the flora and fauna around us, and sustainable energy sources.

The students made invaluable connections to their classroom knowledge, but more importantly, they left with the notion that all species, including humans are interrelated. They understand they have the power to relate to, explain and impact the future of their world, its inhabitants and resources.

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BEF: A Great Return on Your Investment

Whether you are interested in arts education or homework support, BEF funds programs in a wide range of disciplines that reach a significant number of students. These charts show how grant dollars are invested. From 1999-2000 to 2008-2009 the Beaverton Education Foundation awarded $1,744,299 in grants and awards.

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It's Your Turn

Starting this spring the Beaverton Education Foundation, will launch Beaverton's Choice, an innovative web-based tool to raise funds for classroom projects and involve you, our donors, in the process.

Beaverton's Choice is a web-based extension of the long-standing BEF Classroom Innovation and Kids Count Grant programs and will enable donors to participate in the funding process. Teachers and other staff from schools throughout the district will submit projects for review, and BEF will post selected projects. As with all BEF grants, the projects are staff-envisioned, and directly benefit students.

The Beaverton's Choice site will be active in the late winter and spring and will provide details about selected projects, the students who will participate, and the cost of the project. This will offer our donors the opportunity to be involved in funding decisions, as well as the ability to fund directly to a particular school.

Beaverton's Choice would not have been possible without the generous support of the Beaverton Education Association, the web team at Studio Cue and Sunset High School.

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Become a BEF Facebook Fan and Win!

Follow us as a friend of the Beaverton Education Foundation on Facebook and you are eligible in our BEF drawings, spotlighting our current promotion. For every partner activity we offer we will randomly select one of our Facebook friends to win an exclusive prize. It could be free tickets, memorabilia, or a gift card with some of our participating community partners such as: Powell's Books, Broadway for Beaverton Schools Portland Opera, Portland Trailblazers, Timbers Soccer, Beavers Baseball and MORE!

To Become a Fan of us on Facebook: Click on the Facebook link below and you will automatically be sent to our Facebook page. If you are currently a member of Facebook, just log in and click "Become a Fan." The BEF logo will appear at the bottom of your profile page showing you are a member of our Foundation and the great work we do.

If you are NOT currently a member of Facebook, follow the same steps – only when you are sent to our Facebook page, click on the green Sign Up button. Facebook will take you through the steps. It is FREE and easy to do!

Click here to check out BEF on Facebook
and become a BEF fan!

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BEF Friends and Family Discount Ticket Offer

Long time partner, Portland Opera and Broadway Across America Portland and the Beaverton Education Foundation are pleased to offer you the chance to purchase tickets at special prices to several performances throughout the year. Please check our home page for the current show. Please feel free to share this offer with your friends and family.

• Shop online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com/groupsales
  Password: befbenefit

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In This Section

About BEF

Letter from the Executive Director

Board of Directors

News

Newsletter

Archive

BEF Helps Kids:

BEF 2008-2009 GRANT AWARDS

Aloha High – BEF After-the-Bell Award Student Success Award, Northwest Animal Adventure, Connecting with Bicultural At-Risk Students, Community Awards

Aloha-Huber Park K-8 – Lego Robotics

Arts & Communication – Community Awards

Beaver Acres Elementary – Summer Sounds

Beaverton High – Environmental Systems Action Project, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award, Community Awards

Bonny Slope Elementary – Cedar Mill Crossing Homework Club

Cedar Mill Elementary – Cedar Mill Crossing Homework Club

Cedar Park Middle – BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Chehalem Elementary – After-School Enrichment Program

Conestoga Middle – Civil War Zine, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Cooper Mountain Elementary – 5th Grade Challenge to Care

Five Oaks Middle – Student Literacy Magazine, BEF After-the Bell Student Success Award

Hazeldale Elementary – Closing the Achievement Gap – Access to Language Rich Home Environment

Health Science School – Connecting with Bicultural At-Risk Students , After-School Homework Club

Highland Park Middle – BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Jacob Wismer Elementary – Art Criticism Journals

McKay Elementary – Water, Water Everywhere, Multicultural Dance Project

Meadow Park Middle – Heroes Around Us, Advanced Video Production, Catching the Power of Wind, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Merlo Station High – Exploring Latino Culture II – Teatro Milagro, Community Awards

Mountain View Middle – BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Nancy Ryles Elementary – A Picture Equals a Thousand Words

Raleigh Hills K-8 – ELL's Homework Club

Ridgewood Elementary – The Wizard of Oz/ISC Spring Musical

Rock Creek Elementary – ELL Family Nights

Southridge High – International Baccalaureate Creativity Action and Service Project, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award, Community Awards

Sunset High – Advanced Robotics, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award, Community Awards

Stoller Middle – BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Vose Elementary – Opal Creek Ancient Forest Overnight

Westview High – Connecting with Bicultural At-Risk Students, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award, Community Awards

Whitford Middle – Docudrama – Landmark Supreme Court Cases, On-Site Outdoor School Experience, BEF After-the-Bell Student Success Award

Motor Development Team – All Beaverton Schools – Wii Can Do It!

Beaverton District Community Transition Program – Wii Fit, Fun and Fitness

Beaverton District Special Education Team – Students with Autism Learning Social Skills