The Lancaster County Virginia Education Foundation (LCVEF) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016 with a banner year.
LCVEF received its Certificate of Incorporation from the Commonwealth of Virginia and its tax exempt status on March 22, 2006, reported founder and past president Margaret Socey.
The foundation has invested over $400,000 to enhance educational opportunities for students in Lancaster public schools, said Socey.
In 2016, LCVEF sponsored a third-grade Washington, D.C., trip for the 16th year. Over 135 children and chaperones spent the day touring monuments, museums, the Smithsonian National Zoo and memorials.
In addition, the foundation made SMART learning tables available to Lancaster Primary School and the Wiley Child Development Center. This technology combines learning and play to inspire center-based learning and active collaboration. The tables cost $36,100.
The foundation also added three new field trips for the middle school. The fifth-grade went to the math and science education day sponsored by the Richmond Squirrels baseball team. The sixth-grade saw an Imax film and toured the Virginia Marine Science Museum, and the seventh-grade visited the Friends of the Rappahannock Oyster Farm.
“We are planning similar trips for the 2016-17 school year,” said Socey.
LCVEF sponsored an academic excellence banquet for successful Lancaster High School students and also provided the middle school and high school with two sousaphones, a baritone saxophone, two tubas, two baritone horns and a flute.
“These instruments are very costly, often beyond the financial ability of parents to rent or purchase,” said Socey.
All schools benefited from the teacher mini-grant program, she said. Since the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the foundation has awarded seven mini-grants totaling more than $3,200. The purpose of the mini-grant program is to foster innovative ideas in the classrooms.
“Teachers have submitted grant requests for ukuleles, math manipulatives, books, college campus tours, and economic and international trade classroom supplies,” said Socey.
Socey also said the volunteer tutoring coordinator impacts every school.
“This position requires coordination of referred students with volunteer tutors, teaching staff, and parents.
Socey indicated that the LCVEF is extremely proud of their educational successes in 2016.
“Our mission is to enhance educational excellence and expand learning opportunities for Lancaster County public school students by supporting students and instructional staff with private funding and resources,” said Socey.
To serve on the LCVEF board of directors, volunteer, or donate, contact LCVEF. P.O. Box 928, Kilmarnock, VA 22482, [email protected], or lcvef.com.
