2023 Year In Review
- Renton Schools Foundation
- Dec 20, 2023
- 3 min read
On behalf of the Renton Schools Foundation (RSF), we are pleased to share some highlights of the impact of your gifts. For the 2nd year in a row, RSF granted over $550,000 to students, families, and staff. This was done with generous donations from long-standing sponsors, new sponsors, individuals (including 61new donors), community partners and grants from numerous outside organizations. Here are a few of the highlights!
Music & Arts - $40,000
Every middle school and high school received additional funds to purchase instruments for their band and orchestra classrooms. For the 3rd year in a row all, 4th grade elementary students received their very own recorder instrument.
A grant from our community partner, Renton Municipal Arts Commission, will provide every middle school the opportunity to present a theatrical production in 2024. Thank you to all our music and arts supporters! Your gifts go directly into the hands of students!
STEM Education - $74,000
RSF matched a $30,000 grant from OSPI for a new Elementary Computer Science enhancement to all schools. We are looking forward to showcasing this at Honeydew Elementary in 2024. Watch our social media posts for updates.
With your support, every middle school and high school received a new 3D printer for their Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms, and every after-school STEM/Robotics Club received a jump start grant. Students are engaging in after school clubs in record amounts.
Literacy - $52,800
In partnership with the Renton School District, every elementary student and their families continue to have access to thousands of enhanced digital books in English and Spanish using the myON reading platform. Last year students read over 62,200 books, which represents over 20,700 hours of reading.
“myON has been critical in helping all our readers confidently access books at their reading level in order to grow their reading skills.” - Carly Hancock, Sierra Heights Elementary School Instructional Facilitator
Teacher Grants - $58,000
On Giving Tuesday, 49 RSD teachers and staff were awarded grants for their classrooms. Many thanks to all our donors, especially the Renton Regional Community Foundation Fund holders: Bergquist Family Fund and Joy Poff Fund for Education and Families. Here are a couple of the responses we have received from very thankful educators!
"Yay! This is fantastic news!" - Janette Lee, Benson Hill Elementary
"This is such a wonderful email to get!" - Amanda Solis, Risdon Middle School
"Thank you so much! This is excellent news!" - Jackson Bores, Renton High School
Principal's Emergency Fund - $15,500
During our third year providing the Principal's Emergency Fund, we expanded the program from 8 to 10 schools. We are grateful for the continued support from founders, Bob and Kerry Hodges, their friends and family, and a $10,000 grant from First Financial Northwest Foundation for this coming year.
John Schmitz, Chief of Elementary Schools shared, “As a former principal, I'm well aware of the unplanned needs that arise in the lives of families that impact their students' success at school. I've seen these needs multiply across the schools I support. While we do our best to help families using the resources we have, the Principal Emergency Fund goes even further to help schools minimize the barriers students face with minimal red tape. It's yet another example of how the Renton community rallies around our students, families, and schools. Thank you!"
Additional Grants - $313,000
The Boeing Corporation granted the RSF $250,000 for the second year in a row. This year's grant is targeted for 3rd-8th grade mathematics support.
Dr. Damien Pattenaude shared, "As Superintendent of the Renton School District, I recognize that our community is blessed to have businesses like the Boeing Corporation that have demonstrated a dedicated commitment to supporting our students - now and in the future. It is through Boeing’s generosity that we will be able to further the development of our students’ math skills to help set them on a path to a bright future filled with options.”
The RSF was privileged to partner with the Seattle Sounders FC - RAVE Foundation supporting high school clubs and Symetra, supporting Renton Park Elementary. We also want to give a shout out to three alums of Lakeridge Elementary who are granting funds to enhance the education of that school’s entire population!
To all of our donors, thank you so very much for your gifts this year. Your trust allows us to support students and teachers in a district of 27 Schools, 32.5 Square miles and over 14,500+ students! Supporting each other is what it is all about.
Sincerely,
The Renton Schools Foundation Team
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