Issaquah Schools Foundation sets record at annual luncheon
May 15, 2012
More than 1,000 people turned out, donated $650,000
With a sold-out event at the Issaquah Community Center, the Issaquah Schools Foundation set a record of $650,000 in donations at this year’s Nourish Every Mind Luncheon on May 10.
More than 1,000 people were at the event, the 14th annual luncheon foundation officials have held. This year is the 25th anniversary of the foundation.
Because of interest in the foundation’s largest fundraiser, next year’s attendees might see two events instead of one, according to Robin Callahan, executive director of the foundation. That could be a breakfast type event and a luncheon, she said.
Issaquah Schools Foundation hosts annual fundraiser May 10
May 1, 2012
The Issaquah Schools Foundation is inviting the community to lunch.
The 14th annual Nourish Every Mind Benefit Luncheon begins at 11 a.m. May 10 with a program that aims to teach how community investment is elevating education for all Issaquah School District students.
Last year, the event raised a record $593,000. The foundation used that money to fund education projects in the district, including robotics clubs and the expansion of the Microsoft TEALS program to every high school. The money was also used to help purchase science curriculum materials for Issaquah classrooms.
This year, the luncheon will take place at the Issaquah Community Center and open with a silent auction of a variety of items for all budgets. The program starts at noon with John Curley leading as the master of ceremonies. Testimonials from students and teachers who have benefitted from the foundation are also planned.
Call 391-8557 to learn more.
‘GiveBIG’ to local nonprofit organizations May 2
April 24, 2012
The Seattle Foundation is staging a day of charitable giving in King County — and people can donate to numerous Issaquah-based organizations and groups serving local residents.
The foundation’s GiveBIG fundraising is a daylong event May 2.
GiveBIG invites people to make donations to almost 1,000 nonprofit organizations, including the Issaquah Schools Foundation, Village Theatre, Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Habitat for Humanity of East King County, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish and the Together Center.
Each donation made to the more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations profiled on The Seattle Foundation’s website between midnight and midnight receives a pro-rated portion of the matching funds, or “stretch,” pool. The amount of the “stretch” depends on the size of the stretch pool and how much is raised in total donations on GiveBIG day
Find a complete list of participating organizations and donation information at The Seattle Foundation’s website, www.seattlefoundation.org.
Voters easily approve $219 million school bond
April 24, 2012
Issaquah School District voters overwhelmingly approved a $219 million bond to fund construction and renovation projects on campuses across the district.
In the April 17 special election, 70 percent of voters — encompassing more than 15,000 yes votes of out more than 22,000 ballots cast — approved the measure. (The measure needed to receive a 60 percent yes vote from a minimum turnout of 12,229 voters.)
Despite the passage of the bond, local homeowners will pay less in property taxes to the schools than they do now because a previous bond issue is set to expire this year.
The retirement of the earlier bond will drop the local tax rate from $4.85 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $4.05. Passage of the new bond would put the rate at $4.42.
Issaquah Schools Foundation broadens scope to fund more, smaller projects
April 24, 2012
Last year, in connection with the Issaquah PTSA Council, the Issaquah Schools Foundation raised about $438,000 to help with the purchase and implementation of a new science curriculum at elementary schools in the Issaquah School District.
The curriculum included textbooks and other related materials aimed at students in kindergarten through grade five.
After a retreat of foundation administrators and a meeting with the Issaquah School Board, the foundation does not have any single, large-scale goal for this year, Executive Director Robin Callahan said.
Instead of concentrating on fundraising for one major effort, the foundation hopes to spread itself into various areas. One focus area will be the district’s stated goal of ensuring all third-graders are reading at grade level.
Issaquah School District voters pass $219 million bond issue
April 17, 2012
UPDATED — 9:55 p.m. April 17, 2011
The results are preliminary, far from final. But the question seems pretty much decided.
According to unofficial results from King County, local residents are voting heavily in favor of allowing the Issaquah School District to sell $219 million in bonds to fund capital improvement projects throughout the district.
Numbers issued by King County at just after 8 p.m. Tuesday show the bond issue is passing easily with 13,476 votes in favor compared to 6,006 votes against, or 69.1 percent to 30.8 percent.
The Issaquah school issue needs to win the approval of a supermajority of 60 percent of those who vote in order to pass. A minimum of 12,229 voters also had to cast their ballots.
Prior to the election, bond backers said based on the number of registered voters expected to cast ballots, the bond issue would need about 14,000 “yes” votes in order to win approval.
Issaquah Schools Foundation awards Kateri Brow enrichment grants
April 10, 2012
Celebrating receiving an Issaquah Schools Foundation Kateri Brow grant at Issaquah Valley Elementary School are (from left) teacher Heidi Jones; Robin Callahan, foundation executive director; Principal Diane Holt; foundation board member Neva Luke; and teacher Julie Ann Enyeart. By Tom Corrigan
Late last month, the Issaquah Schools Foundation awarded $66,505 worth of grants to 17 teachers or groups of teachers at schools throughout the local school district.
Named for a past superintendent of the Issaquah School District, Kateri Brow Big Idea Grants are awarded “for programs that reflect vision and innovation in education,” according to the ISF website.
At Issaquah Valley Elementary School, teachers Julie Ann Enyeart and Heidi Jones received almost $2,000 for their “Buddies, Books and Bags” program. The idea is to increase student access and interest in reading, Enyeart said.
Impact Studio Pro rolls innovation into video production
March 6, 2012
Impact Studio Pro staff includes (from left) software developer and CASTUS Vice President Jon Campbell, ISP Director and Editor Nathan Bosseler, Project Manager Elaine Bosseler, Bellevue College Web developer intern Alex Elsayed and 3-D artist Jahn Flaatrud. By Greg Farrar
Inside the video marketing agency Impact Studio Pro, a Mountain Dew-fueled operation creates TV commercials, promotional spots, public service announcements and music videos for more than 100 clients.
The tiny company operates from a converted Issaquah Highlands apartment, a space referred to as the “think tank” by founder Nathan Bosseler. The office overlooks rooftops and the Issaquah Alps. Bosseler uses a space designed for a bedroom as the executive suite.
Major clients include the Issaquah Schools Foundation, Gene Juarez Academy, Hyundai of Kirkland, and municipal governments in Sammamish and SeaTac.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders spotlighted Impact Studio Pro as a business innovator in the Innovation in Issaquah contest late last month.
The chamber also honored Marketing Masters and Lakeside Center for Autism as innovators. The carbon-neutral community zHome also received a nod as the most innovative public-private partnership.
Issaquah Schools Foundation’s education-based film series debuts
February 14, 2012
'The Race to Nowhere'
Three years ago, Vicki Abeles said her daughter, then 12, was pretty much like other children her age.
Her mom watched as her daughter juggled school, homework and various extracurricular activities. Then, her daughter began suffering panic attacks in the middle of the night. On one particular evening, Abeles and her husband found the girl doubled over in pain and rushed her to an emergency room.
“When she was diagnosed with a stress-induced illness, I was determined to do something,” Abeles said.
That something ultimately led to the documentary “The Race to Nowhere,” which will be shown at Issaquah High School on March 1.
Doors open at 6 p.m.; the film starts at 6:30 p.m. A discussion follows from 8-9 p.m. The Issaquah Schools Foundation is sponsoring the film along with the school district, the Issaquah Education Association and the Issaquah PTSA.
Finding Kind campaign puts spotlight on girl-on-girl bullying
January 17, 2012
Molly Thompson (left) and Lauren Parsekian, documentary filmmakers with the Kind Campaign, will be speaking with local high school students. Contributed
There is no doubt that bullying in schools is a hot topic right now. There is a decided difference, however, in how girls bully each other as compared to boys, said Page Meyer, assistant principal at Beaver Lake Middle School.
Meyer was one of the driving forces behind bringing an independent documentary concerning girl-on-girl bullying to the Issaquah School District.
