November 5, 2004

ESD NEWS BRIEFS

A $43,300 donation goes a long way

Grant, Griffith and Jones of Windermere Silicon Valley Properties recently delivered a generous $43,327 donation to Silver Oak Elementary School, bringing the total of their gifts to the school to more than $131,000 in the past four years.

Diane Grant, Bonnie Griffith, Ron Jones, Scott Grant and auction winners Cheryl and Larry Smart, present a check for $43,327.25 to Diane Longoni of SOEP (Silver Oak Educational Partnership) and Nancy Milo, Silver Oak’s new principal.

Each spring, at Silver Oak’s annual dinner and auction, the realtors donate the “Great Commission Giveaway.” Grant, Griffith and Jones help the winning bidders sell their home and donate the commission from the sale of that home to Silver Oak Educational Partnership (SOEP) at the close of escrow.

According to a letter received from Sara Schmitt, president of SOEP, “This year’s gift will allow Silver Oak Educational Partnership to fund the following enrichment programs: foreign language (Spanish for grades four to six), music appreciation, Arts Attack, technology upgrades and support, classroom enhancements and library support.”

Not only has SOEP received more than $131,000 for enrichment programs at Silver Oak, but Grant Griffith and Jones have helped families selling their homes to save more than $41,500 in commissions. To find out how you can save commission on selling your home while also helping to fund programs at Silver Oak or James F. Smith Elementary School, call Grant, Griffith and Jones at (408) 239-0990.

Silver Creek Valley Realtors Marketing Group raises more than $8,000

What do Santa Claus, George Bush and a black cat have in common? Fourth graders from Evergreen-based Kathryn R. Smith and Silver Oak Elementary Schools chose them all as themes for the pumpkins they decorated to ensure a successful fundraising event.

The 60 elaborately embellished pumpkins were delivered to Silver Creek Valley Country Club before Halloween, where more than 100 members of the Silver Creek Valley Realtors Marketing Group (SCVRMG) bid as much as $260 per pumpkin. The group also auctioned off Halloween-themed floral arrangements that went for as high as $550.

The group’s first-annual Pumpkin Auction raised $8,100, and the two schools will equally share the proceeds.

Nick Radley, associate principal of K. R. Smith Elementary School, said the funds would go directly to benefit the student body for programs that they would otherwise have to forego during these problematic budgetary times, such as field trips and assemblies.

Silver Oak fourth grader Loren Sexton persuades her mom Kerry Sexton of Windermere Silicon Valley Properties to bid on the pumpkin she decorated.

“It was such a great fundraiser for us, because we didn’t have to ask our parents to donate some of their hard-earned money,” he continued. “This was an opportunity to go to someone else. We ask our parents to do enough fundraising throughout the year.”

“The real estate community’s generosity never ceases to amaze me,” said Dave Walsh, Windermere Silver Creek Branch manager and chairman of the Silver Creek Valley Realtors Marketing Group. “Realtors always step up when it means helping the local schools.”

“We had great enthusiasm and great results at our first-annual Pumpkin Auction,” said Kerry Sexton of Windermere Silver Creek Valley, who donated the pumpkins along with Kathy Lopes of Financial Title and the local Albertsons grocery store at 2980 East Capitol Expressway and 3270 S. White Rd. Margo Jenks of Homeguard Inspections donated all of the decorations used by the children.

“The Silver Creek Valley Realtors Marketing Group greatly appreciates the community that we earn our living in,” said Diane Hanne of Washington Mutual. “It is our honor and privilege to give back, and we expect to continue this tradition in the years to come.”

Floral Arrangements Sponsors
Diane Kim Hanne and Chris Hoch, Washington Mutual Home Loans–Almaden Branch; ViCharlette Juarez and Debbie Jordan, Washington Mutual Home Loans–Tully Branch; Steve Marchana, Washington Mutual loan consultant; Norene Sheehan, First American Homebuyers Protection Corporation; Lori Kowel, Downy Savings Bank loan consultant; Debbie Lane, Windermere Silver Creek Valley realtor; Joey Carfagno, Bank of America loan consultant; Tania Cheater, Stewart Title; Barabara Hart; GMAC Mortgage loan consultant; Elizabeth Castillo, First American Title Company; Silver Creek Country Club and Windermere Silicon Valley Properties, Silver Creek Valley Office.

Cadwallader’s Carnival, Harvest Festival builds
community, keeps math standards alive

The goal: plan a family-oriented, community-building event near the beginning of the year that brings together the school community, using an informal structure. Throw in an opportunity to raise a little money for the school and strengthen students’ math skills and you have Cadwallader’s Carnival and Harvest Festival held Oct. 22.

“Watching literally hundreds of families enjoy themselves for the entire evening was so heartwarming,” said Cadwallader Principal Denise Williams, noting that this was the greatest amount of family participation and event attendance of the year.

By 4 p.m., the yummy fragrances of popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, hot pretzels and Chinese cuisine filled the air. Participants chose from more than 12 carnival games and interactive activities that kept them excited and amused until 8 p.m.

Yet as one parent stated, “This is such a wonderful event, it could go on until 9 p.m.” Some of the other highlights were face painting, root beer floats and an activity that enabled students to take home miniature gold fish. Red, the mascot of the Red Robin Restaurant, stopped by to greet the students and pose in pictures as an added attraction.

Even in the midst of overwhelming amusements, the standards prevailed. The math standards were addressed in the standards-based token redemption center that was filled with prizes. Students could trade in from 1 to 200 tokens for prizes.

They came into the prize room and were encouraged to use place-value strategies to separate and tally their total amounts into groups so that they could use their math skills to determine their prize category. Paper and the white board were available for students if needed. Students and parents were diligently manipulating tokens into groups to calculate efficiently.

“This was a collaborative effort of the teachers, parents, PTA and administrative staff,” said Williams. “Teachers utilize all of the funds generated from this event for instructional materials or any other resources that will enhance learning for their students.”

Each grade level generated funds from $75 to $400. The games generated close to $2000, and after some expenses, will be used to help buy a new copier for the school. Next year, more of the activities will focus on interactive standards-based activities; therefore providing a time for students to play and continually learn.

“We are extremely proud of our school in its efforts to continue to build a strong, supportive community,” said Williams. “We believe that the comfort of a child’s environment is critical in further developing self esteem and reaching the highest goals. The Cadwallader families are working together to make this happen.”

Saturday, Nov. 20 craft faire

First annual Millbrook holiday shopping extravaganza

Don’t miss Millbrook Elementary School PTA’s first annual holiday shopping extravaganza and holiday faire from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20. All proceeds directly benefit Millbrook Elementary School.

The faire will feature more than 30 booths selling specialty items such as jewelry, cosmetics, baskets, scrapbook supplies, housewares, candles, handmade crafts, quilts, health and fitness items and more.

There will also be children’s arts and crafts, a Scholastic Book Faire, food, raffles and prizes. Booth space is still available for crafters interested in selling their products. A 6-foot x 6-foot space costs $40, and the entire fee goes to Millbrook Elementary School.

Millbrook Elementary School is located at 3200 Millbrook Dr. (between White & Ruby and Aborn & Quimby, near Boginni Park). For more information, contact Millbrook PTA president Laura Quisenberry at (408) 238-1142 or LauraQuisenberry@sbcglobal.net.