A Science Night Preview

Our upcoming newsletter is going to have a large feature on Oakland's first Family Science Night (FSN) that was put on by Sandia National Laboratories in partnership with Faith Network's Science Horizons program. Mark and Joanne Perra, lifelong scientists and Faith Network volunteers, authored the article and served a foundational role in making FSN a success.

Attendance surpassed expectations as three schools were invited to join Prescott students in the Prescott auditorium for the event. Scientists had various stations that gave students and their families hands-on experiences with science. Most of their materials were everyday household items such as soda bottles, glue, toothpicks and marshmallows.

Unfortunately, we could not fit all the photos into the newsletter, so I am posting some of the gems here.
Sit tight for the August Faith Network newsletter, which will be published at the beginning of next month!
The following photos are courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories with Dino Vournas as photographer:

Students, parents, and even grandparents came to explore and discover.

 An infrared camera captures the body's surface temperature.

Students cheer the release of a pressure-propelled bottle rocket.

A lesson in chemical reactions: making goo glue!

A PhD candidate from CAL (right) shares a soda bottle vortex.

We Appreciate Our Teachers

Usually we have a lot to say about our students--we take a lot of joy in celebrating their accomplishments and cheering them on through challenges.

Now it is time to recognize the teachers that put so much effort into their classrooms.

A couple times a year, Faith Network volunteers put together appreciation luncheons for the teachers at a few of the schools we serve. Teachers are free to come and relax during lunch and enjoy a variety of food made by volunteers. It's a great way to do a little something for teachers at the end of the year without adding on to the time they already spend at school.

Teacher appreciation in action at Burckhalter Elementary

Many, Many Thanks

Maxwell Park Elementary is closing this year, all the grades (from Kindergarten through Fifth) wrote their thanks to Ms. Flom, their beloved librarian.
Kim Flom has been a Faith Network volunteer for many years, and we are so thankful for her hard work. If it hadn't been for her, Maxwell Park's library would be shuttered with no one to help students check out books, keep the books organized, and check books in. In addition to these administrative duties, Kim read to classes, recommended books, piqued kids' interest in reading, and much, much more.
We cannot express our thanks as appropriately as the students that she has served, though, so we've included a small sampling of the kids' expressions of gratitude.

Celebration!

Newsflash: The school year is ending tomorrow, and students throughout Oakland celebrate their accomplishments with their literacy tutors!
Here are some pictures from the joyful closing ceremonies that reading students had before they launch into their summer vacation:

Students at Camp

Faith Network's program, Science Horizons, is mentioned in current Covenant Church news.
Take a look to see what our students have been learning and exploring!

It is Here: The End of the School Year

Somehow the end of the year manages to always take us by surprise here at Faith Network. Here are a few indicators that the school year is drawing to a close:

• Students tackle STAR testing which coincides with Science Horizons kids coming back from camp, ready to apply their knowledge.
• Our annual fundraiser--which we spend months planning--is suddenly a week-and-a-half away, and the office is buzzing with gala details.
• The Succeeding by Reading students prepare for their evaluations while we prepare the certificates and summer book bags to celebrate their achievements and encourage leisure reading.
• We start designing and printing teacher appreciation invitations to thank our teachers for their devotion and send them off for a well-deserved break.
• Randy delivers bikes to students that have the best attendance in their entire school.

We are using our longer, warmer days to support our teachers, fund-raise and friend-raise, and celebrate how far our students have come!

Time for Faith Network's Gala

There is still time to RSVP for our annual Gala as an individual guest or as an event sponsor!
Just click above for more information and to register.
We hope to see you there!