Community engagement and service are key parts of the Alameda Unified School District culture and something AUSD officials, faculty and staff seek to instill in students from their earliest grades. Each year, we’re impressed by the many service projects initiated by students and staff at our school sites.
Related Articles
AUSD Notes: Alameda school plays, next year’s enrollment season starting
AUSD Notes: Keep up with the Alameda school district online
AUSD Notes: Ground to be broken for Alameda school’s new campus
For instance, students and staff at the Alameda Science and Technology Institute are collecting toy donations for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Edison Elementary School is running its annual turkey drive with the goal of raising enough money to donate 100 turkeys to the Alameda Food Bank, which serves 1,200 local families a week.
Paden Elementary School is collecting gift cards to support families who are in need this winter. Encinal Junior & Senior High School is going for a holiday hat trick by running three holiday drives: one for food (for the Alameda Food Bank) one for coats (for the One Warm Coat campaign) and one to benefit Toys for Tots.
Love Elementary School is collecting toys and food this year, and fifth-graders at Franklin Elementary volunteered at the Alameda Food Bank this year, while first-graders are collecting food for this local resource.
We are grateful for the hard work and generosity of our schools in helping the needy in our community, and we are forever grateful to the community itself for its hard work and generosity in supporting our students, staff and families. Whether it’s supporting bonds and parcel taxes, volunteering or speaking up on behalf of our young people, we know we are extremely fortunate to live in this public-minded community!
Speaking of bonds, we’re happy to report that after several months of delay, during which we worked out agreements with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the Encinal High School athletic field project is officially underway.
The construction area has been completely fenced off, which we realize may be a slight inconvenience to some members of the community accustomed to walking there, but we need to do this for safety reasons. The Encinal High field project is funded through the 2022 voter-approved Measure B facilities bond.
Thank you, Alameda, for supporting Measure B, which is so crucial to our being able to provide modern, safe learning spaces for our students and staff!
Reach Susan Davis, the Alameda Unified School District’s senior manager for community affairs, at 510-337-7175 or SDavis@alamedaunified.org.