By admin | December 15, 2011
Dear GUSD Families,
Chances are, you chose to live in Glendora because of the excellent schools. Last year’s API numbers (Academic Performance Index) are an indicator of just how successful our schools are, as Glendora placed in the top 25% in California. Continuing our schools’ excellence in these times of ongoing budget cutbacks from the State is a testament to the commitment of our families, teachers, staff, and administration.
Another important factor in continuing this excellence is the work being done by the Foundation for Glendora Unified Schools (FGUS). The mission of the Foundation is to “provide financial support, facilitate community involvement, and enhance student learning for the GUSD.” Thus far, FGUS has raised over $1.6 million dollars toward this effort. Last year, the Foundation raised $448,000 which was used to enrich your child’s education in your child’s school.
To continue and expand this valuable work, FGUS would like to surpass last year’s figure and get even more of our school families and community involved. A superior education for our students means better colleges, better jobs, and results in more productive members of our society. Please Support Our Students by making your gift today using the attached envelope, on the website (www.fgus.net), using PayPal, or through the convenient Circle of Giving monthly deduction plan which is also on the website. All gifts are tax deductible, and gifts of $100 or more will receive an SOS yard sign to proudly display during the Spring.
Community and parental support of education is very important in Glendora. During this season of thanksgiving, we thank you for your past support, and invite you to please join FGUS in making Glendora’s schools the best they can be for all of our students.
Thank you,
Mike Beckman
President, FGUS
PS. Please make your gift today. Each child has only one chance to receive an excellent K-12 education.
By admin | December 11, 2011
Read about our record contribution to the Glendora Unified School District in a recent Glendora Patch article written by Aaron Castrejon. This year’s donation is our largest since we were founded and will be used to help fund the arts, grants, scholarships, educational programs, and technology.
We are proud to be able to make this contribution on behalf of the dedicated parents, donors, and partners that are helping us enhance the Glendora Unified School District.
Read the full article on the Glendora Patch website.
By admin | December 6, 2011
The following is from an article found in the Glendora Unified School District’s Fall/Winter 2011 newsletter.
The Foundation for Glendora Unified Schools (FGUS) has been working with GUSD to allocate the $455,000 raised last year in a way which will have the greatest impact on the most students at all grade levels. First, funds were donated to continue music education in the elementary schools, including both vocal and instrumental music instruction. Statistically, children who play a musical instrument perform better in the classroom.
Funding was provided to supplement the grades 3-12 GATE Program and the AVID Program in both middle and high school. Although many students do not participate in these programs, the benefits of these programs reach well beyond their direct participants.
Money was directed for technology education and support. FGUS provided funding for a variety of technology-related programs, and also to sustain the technology staff technicians, an important element to providing technology education.
Funds were provided to support tutoring in the elementary and middle schools. These will be used to expand the Barton Reading Program to additional elementary schools, and to provide after-school support to individual students at the middle schools.
FGUS helped finance the School Resource Officer (SRO), an important element to maintaining a safe environment in all schools. The SRO provides counseling, security, and intervention, and his visible presence on school sites, proactively contributes to campus safety.
Finally, FGUS provided funding for Connect Ed, a valuable communication tool used by the District to keep parents informed via telephone and email. Without funding from the Foundation, this system would not be continued.
As you have read, the Foundation has provided the funds for very meaningful programs in all the schools in GUSD. There are many additional areas of need and potential enhancements FGUS would like to address. The only way to continue this important work is through the support of school families and the community. Please make a gift to the Foundation to sustain Glendora’s educational excellence.
For more information, visit the GUSD website as www.glendora.k12.ca.us.
By admin | December 5, 2011
Credit Hazel Lodevico-To'o
The Glendora Patch has published an article by Hazel Lodevico-To’o from a recent board meeting where nine GUSD students were awarded $500 scholarships and iPads. The students were chosen for their scholarship, participation in school activities, and well-rounded performance in all areas of school. Five students from Glendora High School were awarded $500 scholarships, while four students from Goddard Middle School and Sandburg Middle School were awarded iPad 2′s.
Glendora High School students Sarah Toback, Joshua Douglass, Nicholas Tsianos, and Shintaro Yamamura, along with Whitcomb High School student Kia Espinda, were awarded the scholarships. Goddard Middle School students Austin Bishop and Emily Relph, and Sandburg Middle School students Micaela Lamb and Andrew Nelsen were awarded the iPad’s. Congratulations to them all!
Read the full article on the Glendora Patch website.
By admin | December 5, 2011
An article in the Glendora Patch titled Districts Readying for Never-Ending Budget Rollercoaster makes it clear why support for FGUS and our local schools is becoming more important in the face of statewide budget cuts.
From the article:
In May, Glendora Unified rescinded teacher layoffs after Gov. Brown’s May revise showed a slightly more positive outlook.
Doug Ferrell, Glendora Unified board president, said that Glendora had a two-fold dilemma, declining funding and enrollment.
“Declining enrollment was almost insurmountable without closing schools,” Ferrell said in regards to the closing of Williams Elementary in 2009-2010. “With District of Choice we can keep our ADA constant over the long haul.”
District of Choice allows potential students outside Glendora Unified to attend its schools.
“It’s truly a lifeboat for us, allowing us to keep everything open and stay afloat,” Ferrell said.
Read the rest of the article on the Glendora Patch website.
