Southold School's Educational Foundation Soars Ahead To Create New Opportunities for Students

SOUTHOLD, NY — A group of caring community members continues to join hearts and hands to create enhanced educational opportunities for Southold students.

The Southold School Educational Foundation, which was established in 2013, has set an agenda for 2017 to move forward and build upon recent successful initiatives.

Since its inception, the Foundation has been responsible for helping to create a series of programs and services for students and staff in the Southold School District.

For example, a school garden, which has, according to the district, provided hundreds of pounds of fresh produce for the students at Southold, operates under the umbrella of the Foundation.

The school television-broadcasting program was born with the help of the Foundation, and a new outdoor amphitheater was built under the auspices of the Foundation, a release said.

In addition, funds raised through the Foundation have afforded teachers an opportunity to create new projects through a mini-grant program.

“All of the work of the Southold School Educational Foundation is designed to expand opportunities for students and staff,” said Foundation President Bob Boergesson.

“The SSEF is growing into a vibrant part of supporting and enriching the lives of students,” added Board Vice President Claudia Ramone.

Looking forward, plans are in place for continued fundraising efforts.

A GoFundMe campaign is underway to raise $28,000 to erect a “Mother Goose” structure on the elementary playground, which will be utilized both as an avenue for imaginative play, as well as an additional outdoor classroom, Southold Schools Superintendent David Gamberg has told Patch.

The foundation will also hold its 2nd Annual Cash Raffle in the spring to fund the “Educational Grant Program,” which provides opportunities for faculty to bring enriching programs directly to the students.

During 2016, grants were awarded to the Virtual Enterprise Team, the English Language Learners Program, the newly founded “History of Us” project, a summer garden pollinator program and robotic hummingbird kits for fourth grade science classes.

Finally, the Foundation has tentatively secured a venue for an “All Class Alumni Gathering” on September 23, 2017, the release said.

Anyone interested in supporting and/or learning more about the activities of the Southold School Educational Foundation can visit their website by clicking here.

"This is truly a wonderful initiative on the part of some very dedicated community members who love to support their school. It enriches the lives of many students now, and in the future," Gamberg said.

Patch photo, by Lisa Finn, of a school amphitheater created with funds raised by the Southold School Educational Foundation.