THE NEWS
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY:
Ed Op Fund Provides Books to Students
“Youngsters become readers of books in assorted ways and at different rates, and a major goal of the Educational Opportunity Fund has been to foster stronger connections with written words through a variety of partnerships. Books are a worthy alternative to the ever-present “screens” that pervade our children’s lives.
In its early days, the beginning step for the newly formed Ed Op Fund was to help promote information about the Imagination Library, a nationwide project initiated and supported by Dolly Parton. Working from the well-established fact that preschoolers who are read to consistently are more successful in school, the Ed Op Fund helped local agencies spread the word about this opportunity for children from birth until they begin school to receive books in their homes.
Since then, the Ed Op Fund has continued to provide financial help for this all important life skill by supporting efforts of the Lake Placid Central School District.
Their Summer Reading Initiative is the umbrella program for elementary through high school students. It has been designed and refined by Laura Coffin, Laurel Riehs, Rhiannon Adsit and Kaitlin Patenaude. Recently, these four educators shared a passionate and innovative presentation with the Ed Op Board. They explained how they have been promoting reading at every grade level for the 10 weeks of summer break, a time when the reading skills of many of our district’s students decline. Board member Simon Shergold described their presentation as an “inspirational reminder of the crucial work” the Ed Op Fund supports.
Helping Students Explore New Heights: Fall College Tour!
Providing Opportunities to Dream: Lake Placid Soccer Girls Visit LSU
Lake Placid Marathon Donates to EdOp Fund!
Each year the Lake Placid Marathon identifies two causes to support through race registration entry fees. This year the Marathon chose the Educational Opportunity Fund as one of the two supported groups! Due to the generosity of the Lake Placid Marathon as well as an additional generous race participant, the EdOpFund received $2,250! With these funds we are excited to continue our mission to provide cultural, social, and educational capital to the students of the Lake Placid Central School District! Thank you LP Marathon owner, Greg Borzileri, for all your support and thank you too the whole marathon community!
2nd Annual Night at the Races: Article Excerpt
The race horses are warming up, and soon fancy hats will be streaming into Generations restaurant at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort for a fantastic night of mint juleps at the open bar, horse racing, hors d’oeuvres, and good friends — all to benefit the Educational Opportunity Fund for the Lake Placid Central School District.
On May 6, the Holderied family will be hosting the second annual Night at the Races fundraising event after a wildly successful first run last year. Long time owners of the Golden Arrow, the Holderieds had been looking for an opportunity to both gather the local community and support a worthy cause. They found a perfect match in the Night at the Races party.
“An event that supports the teachers is always something our family is proud to stand behind. The fact that we get to dress up and it’s open bar just adds to the joy,” Jenn Holderied said of the upcoming festivities.
Because of the generosity of the Holderieds, the Night at the Races raises money for the Educational Opportunity Fund, a non-profit that partners with school administrators and staff to identify and address economic, social, and cultural opportunity gaps facing students in the Lake Placid schools.
Elementary Math Night!
Families gathered in February for night of fun, friendships, and learning!
Classroom Awards:
The classroom awards aim to support and expand educational opportunities in the classroom.
PATRICIA DAMP has been awarded funds for four sets of virtual reality goggles. These allow all students to participate in virtual field trips, vastly expanding learning possibilities by visiting places otherwise unaccessible to local students.
KARYSSA MERRIHEW has been awarded funds for robotic equipment for use in teaching STEM education. These will be used in Middle School computer classes and will also be integrated in the curriculums of other classes.
AMY KRAMER and VICKI KIRCHNER have been awarded funds for purchase of headphones and computer mice for all 4th grade students. This allows all students equal access to the same quality headphones and mice and removes the stigma for students who are unable to bring these items from home. The headphones and computer mice are used for educational programming.
HAILEY FREMANTE has been awarded funds for a kit to be used when hosting Family Math Night for elementary school parents and students, a night of fun, education, and community building.
Arts Programming Awards :
Arts programs bring together students from all walks of life and are very effective in communicating an interdisciplinary connection with other school subjects. Funding these experiences allows all students to participate without cost.
KATHY BRIGGS has been awarded funds for hosting music, dance, theater performances at the elementary school. Bringing a variety of performing artists to the school allows kids to interact with the medium in a much more intimate and interactive environment.
TAYLOR PROSPER has been awarded funds to bring the Potsdam A Cappella group to the middle/high school for performances and workshops. This opportunity exposes students to a new medium of song and performance and gives them a chance to interact with college students about their arts and education goals.
BRENDEN GOTHAM has been awarded funds to take theater students as well as other interested students to see a show at Proctors Theatre.
