Indian Valley Education Foundation
Spring 2024 Newsletter
Dear SASD Families & Friends,
As spring blooms around us, I am grateful for the support from many of you who share our mission of enriching and expanding the educational experiences of every child in the Souderton Area School District.
As we embrace the season of renewal, we are so pleased to share the impact the IVEF has had across our school communities. If you aren't familiar with the IVEF, I hope you will take the time to learn more about our work and join us in providing meaningful resources and opportunities for our students by making a gift of support. There are so many ways to get involved and make a difference. Your commitment can be as simple as attending our events, donating in honor of a special teacher, providing a gently used instrument in need of a new home, or volunteering a few hours each month to support the work that the IVEF does year-round to support our schools.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to share our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated educators who devote their passion and expertise to creating an environment where students feel valued, heard, and motivated to succeed in their educational journey.
🌷Together, we thrive!
RuthE S. Potter, CEFL.
Executive Director
Swinging for Education⛳
SASD Alumni & Friends Golf Outing
Join us for a fantastic day on the links of the beautiful Indian Valley Country Club in support of public education!
📆Date: Monday, June 17, 2024
⏰Time: 7:30AM: Registration, Breakfast, and Driving Range 9:00AM~Shotgun Start
📍Location: Indian Valley Country Club 650 Bergey Road Telford, PA 18969
💲Cost: $200/golfer (includes greens fees, cart, driving range, locker room, breakfast, on-course refreshments and lunch)
Not a Golfer? Please join us for lunch! Cost: $35/person (There will be fabulous items available through our Silent Auction)
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Please don't delay, space is limited.
Please click HERE to register for a round of golf or lunch.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
If you would like to sponsor this event, please click HERE!
*Please note: The deadline for full sponsorship benefits is May 24, 2024.
Thank you to our Tournament Sponsors!
Grant Spotlight: Making Dreams Come True – Your Impact in Action
Explore the incredible projects and initiatives grant funding brings to life in our schools!
So far in this school year, IVEF has been able to fund the grants below. Congratulations to our grant recipients!
- 2023 Shakespeare Day, submitted by Dr. Stacey Aronow, Souderton Area HS
- Outdoor Classroom Fence Project, submitted by Ms. Samantha Zimmerman, EMC Elementary School
- Empowering Struggling Readers Through Accessibility and Sustainability, submitted by Ms. Jen Wenger, Franconia Elementary School
-The Arrowhead Technology Grant submitted by Julia Vizza on behalf of The Arrowhead Staff led by Dr. Stacey Aronow, Souderton Area HS
-Growing Education at Indian Valley, submitted by Mrs. Suzanne Thomas and Mr. Zack Hockman, Indian Valley Middle School
-Operation Mental Health, submitted by Mrs. Vanessa Kraus, Indian Valley Middle School
-Mrs. Buck's Book Nook, submitted by Mrs. Colleen Buck, Oak Ridge Elementary School
We look forward to seeing these grants in action!
Construction of the IVMS Greenhouse!
Field Trips
In addition to funding grants, the IVEF has also supported the following field trips:
-Philadelphia Orchestra, West Broad Street Elementary
-Greenfield Film Festival Workshop, Souderton Area High School
-Mary Poppins: Media Theater, Souderton Area High School
-The Barnes & Rodin Museum, Souderton Area High School
-North Montco Technical Career Center, Souderton Area High School
WBS Elementary 3rd Grade enjoys The Philadelphia Orchestra
SAHS Student Center
Most recently, thanks to donations from the Classes of 2022 and 2023, and work completed by Alderfer Glass, a glass wall has been installed. Adding this wall creates additional meeting space that separates the Wendy Gallagher Flexible Meeting room into an area that will enable students and teachers to have visibility without the residual disruptions.
Community Connections Corner:
Discover the latest happenings, stories, and collaborations that strengthen our community in our schools and in our community.
Generations in Ink: 24 SAHS students in Mrs. Momsen's Creative Writing class had the privilege and opportunity to interview residents at Peter Becker about their life stories. Students then captured these stories, published them, and shared them at a luncheon hosted by the Indian Valley Education Foundation in the SAHS Student Center on April 3rd. Please take a moment to watch this video to see how meaningful this project was for both the students and residents of Peter Becker.
SASD Instrument Donation Drive
In the spirit of celebrating Music Education, the IVEF in partnership with the SASD music department kicked off its first series of Instrument Donation collections. The purpose of this program is to make Music Education accessible for ALL students in the Souderton Area School District.
Gently used instruments were collected at the Art and Soul Fest on March 16th and the Jazz Band Fest on March 22nd. These instruments will be evaluated for repair and refurbishment and given to students that otherwise would not be able to participate in Music education.
Have an instrument to donate? It is not too late!
Instruments will be collected at Souderton Area District Offices at 760 Lower Road in Souderton from Monday-Friday from 8AM-4PM starting on March 25th until April 19th.
Donations for refurbishments and repairs are welcome and appreciated! Please indicate 'Music for Everyone' in the Comments section.
Thank you for helping to 'play it forward'!
IVEF Student Representatives
Several years ago, the IVEF began including students on their Board, typically two Juniors and two Seniors. These students have played an integral role in our organization serving as a voice for their peers and as an ambassador for the IVEF.
As our two Senior representatives approach graduation, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for their dedicated service and leadership and congratulation them on their upcoming milestone!
Thank you and best wishes in all of your future endeavors, Molly and Aidan!
Molly Kreag, Class of 2024
My name is Molly Kreag and I am a senior at SAHS. I plan to attend Duquesne University for an accelerated physicians assistant program this fall, and am beyond excited to start this new chapter. I am a four year member of both the swim and water polo team, and am a commissioner of Link Crew as well as a member of NHS. I have been an IVEF student board member for two years and have had the privilege of contributing to thoughtful discussions with dedicated members of the community and school district, all while focusing on bettering the well being of the entire community.
Aidan Kearns, Class of 2024
My name is Aidan Kearns. I am a senior at Souderton Area High School. I am part of the cross country and track teams at Souderton and involved in the National Honor Society and Link Crew. I joined IVEF as a student representative because several of their programs have helped me in the past, and I hope my input can help other students benefit from the foundation. I will be attending the United States Naval Academy for college next year.
Calm Down Corner Tips
IVEF has provided funding for Calm Down spaces at all of our schools. Over the course of the last month, we have been highlighting some of the tips used in these spaces that can also be used at home on our social media outlets.
Below, you will find a few of our favorites!
IVEF is Seeking Board Directors!
Are you ready to make a meaningful impact and support our educators as they prepare our students for the future? The IVEF is committed to championing traditional public education and fostering community engagement.
Applications are being accepted for those interested in being a driving force in ensuring equitable opportunities and academic excellence for all students.
Please reach out to RuthE Potter (rpotter@indianvalleyef.org) or Meg Dick (megd@indianvalleyef.org) for more information.
Join the Mission: Become an IVEF Community Partner and help to shape the Future!
At the IVEF, we believe in the power of community to create lasting impact in education. The purpose of our Community Partnership Program is to bring the resources of the community to the classrooms in the Souderton Area School District, but we can't achieve this without your support!
Community is the key to our success, and we invite you or your company to be a part of this transformative journey. By becoming an IVEF Community Partner, you not only invest in the future of our students but also contribute to shaping a skilled and empowered workforce for tomorrow.
Join us in building a strong foundation for our students. For more details on how to become a Community Partner, please click on the attachment below.
Honoring Our 2024-2025 Community Partners
Thank you for being a driving force in our mission to Build a Strong Foundation! Your commitment empowers educational opportunities and resources in the Souderton Area School District!
How Do I Get Involved?
Donate your energy, knowledge, and experience as a volunteer!
IVEF relies upon committed volunteers to help us advance our work and help accelerate our progress. There are many ways for you to make a positive impact. We would love to help match you with the right opportunity! Our success comes from our dedicated board members and volunteers working together to move the mission of IVEF forward.
We hope to hear from you! Please click here for our volunteer application.
Mission & Vision
The MISSION of the Indian Valley Education Foundation is to enrich and expand the educational experiences of every child in the Souderton Area School District by leveraging the resources within our community.
The VISION of the Indian Valley Education Foundation is to be instrumental in advancing access to transformative opportunities that empower every child.
2023-2024 IVEF Board of Directors
Briana Doña , President
Maureen Yothers, Vice President
Stacy Bucher , Secretary
Michael Taylor , Treasurer
Kimberly Dommel
Bryan Fagan
Tamara Ferlick
Randy Floyd
Frank T. Gallagher, Ed.D.
Oliver Gingrich
Matthew Haines
Theresa Hunsicker
Katie Kennedy-Reilly, Ed.D.
Sue Mandia
Karla Myers
Marc Scotti
Bob Solomon
Student Representatives:
Aidan Kearns & Molly Kreag (class of 2024)
Colton Musselman (Class of 2025)