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ABOUT PACIFICA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

 

The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization funded to protect and advance quality education for the children in the Pacifica School District (PSD). PEF's mission is to ensure all of the children in Pacifica receive a high-quality education in the arts, music and science by providing an equitable and enriching educational experience for all of the students in the schools at PSD.

 

PEF raises money through annual events like the PEFathon, Fun Run, Annual Gala, and Donation Week, as well as through annual giving by community members. In addition, we have applied for grants that fund music, arts, science and technology. All raised funds go towards supporting programs that the State of California eliminated during the past funding crises. PEF board members, ambassadors, and volunteers work with parents, teachers, PSD, and community advisors to identify areas of critical need.

 

In one decade since inception, PEF has funded numerous programs across music, arts, science and technology:

 

  • Chromebooks and iPads in every classroom

  • GearBots

  • Math Explorations

  • Innovation Lab

  • Kindernet

  • Video Presentations

  • K-8 Music Programs

 

CURRENT PROGRAMS
 

PSD decided that these PEF-introduced programs are core to its mission and has integrated them directly into the curriculum. This has provided PEF an opportunity to pivot its funding priorities on the current programs:

 

  • Elementary School Music:  A credentialed music teacher has been hired to teach TK through 5th grade students. The teacher and students will be taught an integrative music curriculum with instrumentation. As an added benefit, teachers will have their prep time restored, which had been cut during the budget crisis. Our elementary music program has been an inspiration for many students to continue onto our Middle School Band program.

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  • Middle School Band:  PEF's Music Matters in Pacifica initiative supports the Middle School Band program in the Pacifica School District by providing annual funding for essential expenses such as sheet music, venue rentals, instrument purchase and repair, and field trips to band competitions or performances.

 

  • Slam Poetry: The year-round fifth grade Slam Poetry unit, taught by SPARC Poetry, is a student favorite. An energetic form of poetry, slam is performance and content in equal measures, creates awareness of current events and issues, boosts student confidence, increases writing, and public speaking skills.  Students typically deliver their poems in groups, and they perform school and at a variety of local venues.

 

  • Distance Learning Initiatives:  As the world adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic, PEF provides support to PSD distance learning programs at every school.  These initiatives support teachers’ reading/writing programs for all PSD students, provide essential equipment for teachers and support staff, and facilitate integration of instructional technology into the curriculum.

 

  • S.T.E.A.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics are critical areas of education for our students as the Bay Area job market is dominated by the high tech and biotech industries. In order to help our school district implement the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) required statewide, PEF is providing the funding required to help our K-8 teachers learn about the new NGSS requirements, select a new curriculum, and train to teach the new curriculum. PEF will fill in the educational funding gap for professional development days required to support our teachers who need to teach this new NGSS curriculum.

 

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