Welcome to All New and Returning M-A Families from M-A’s Foundation for the Future!

Bill Kirsch & Kathy Jackson, Foundation for the Future Co-Presidents

For more than 15 years we have brought parents and community members together to support excellence in education at Menlo-Atherton High School. Public funding is inadequate to fully support the outstanding teaching and curriculum that M-A provides; we raise private funds to bridge that gap.

Last year, M-A’s Foundation met two critical goals, raising more than $1,000,000 and increasing our donor base by 28%. The Foundation is the only fundraising group at M-A able to pay salaries for key teachers and staff. For this school year, we have already committed to raising almost $1.1 million, with over 80% supporting critical salaries. Your contributions will:

• Fund smaller classes.We will fund at least 19 additional sections of World Studies, Geometry and English in 2008-09, allowing smaller classes for hundreds of students;
• Support excellent teaching. We will fund professional development, enable departmental collaboration, and provide incentive awards for outstanding teachers and staff;
• Enrich M-A’s strong curriculum. M-A Foundation funding supports important courses such as advanced/AP language and electives of Yearbook, Journalism and Chorus;
• Enhance college and career success. We will support college counseling services, including College Information Specialist Alice Kleeman, SAT prep classes and an additional guidance counselor; and
• Fund critical programs and services. Vital funding will be provided for Social Studies “readers”, Spanish translation, ESL and Special Education classes, Dean of Students, Student Support Coordinator and more.

M-A is a terrific public school, and will continue to improve with your support. We will launch our 2008-09 fundraising campaign, “It’s a Great Day @ M-A!”, in October. Please look for information about M-A’s Foundation and how you can contribute in Trivocis, as well as via email, snail mail and informational events. All gifts – regardless of size –are valued, spent carefully and benefit every student at M-A. Please join with us this year to support excellence at Menlo-Atherton High School!

Sincerely,

Kathy Jackson & Bill Kirsch

Foundation for the Future Co-Presidents