DONORS HELP FINANCE KIDS' ARTS, SCIENCE, P.E.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Since its founding 11 years ago, the West Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Educational Foundation has raised thousands of dollars to bolster art, science and athletic programs in the Westside Union School District. The money raised has gone to support field trips, science programs, math competitions, a string ensemble, an honor band and an annual musical production that has become one of the largest events for children in the Antelope Valley - both in numbers in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. See also: Number of participants and numbers of viewers, foundation officials said. This year, in the face of budget shortfalls and district cuts, the foundation plans to spend $60,000. For the first time, some of the money will be handed out to schools in the form of grants, equivalent to $2 per student, that they can use as they wish to support the arts, sciences or athletics. ``We are giving so much per student to use on site. Each school will get it, and they have to use it within our mission parameters,'' said Joan Sodergren, the foundation's treasurer. ``Because of the budget cuts, we don't want these enrichment programs to fall by the wayside way·side n. The side or edge of a road, way, path, or highway. adj. Situated at or near the side of a road, way, path, or highway: a wayside inn. .'' Officials in the 7,000-student, 10-school district said they appreciate the foundation's work and generosity. The foundation supports about 15 programs. ``I think, in tight budget times, we are very pleased to have them to help continue programs that we might otherwise discontinue dis·con·tin·ue v. dis·con·tin·ued, dis·con·tin·u·ing, dis·con·tin·ues v.tr. 1. To stop doing or providing (something); end or abandon: or close out,'' Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. Regina Rossall said. Foundation leaders have stepped in to help fund arts, science and physical-education programs, she noted. ``They have provided grants for students to participate in the Science Olympiad Science olympiad may refer to:
2. A program for MS-DOS. Acting Company, which puts on a play that is probably the largest children's theater program in the Antelope Valley.'' The annual musical production - the last one was was ``Annie'' - is the foundation's biggest moneymaker. The organization also raises funds through donations, grants from other groups, membership drives, a spaghetti spaghetti: see pasta. dinner and a Showstoppers Festival that features student performances. About 100 district employees also contribute to the foundation through monthly payroll deductions, said Sodergren, a parent and substitute teacher who has been on the foundation board for the past three years. The foundation was created in 1992 by teachers and parents who wanted to supplement and enhance students' education at a time when public school programs were being hit hard by state budget cuts. ``We are a bunch of volunteers who come together and raise money and give it back to the kids and teachers. There are lots of extra things that the district can't afford to provide,'' said Beverly Mewborne, a kindergarten kindergarten [Ger.,=garden of children], system of preschool education. Friedrich Froebel designed (1837) the kindergarten to provide an educational situation less formal than that of the elementary school but one in which children's creative play instincts would be teacher at Valley View School and co-founder of the Acme Acting Company. Mewborne formed the theater group seven years ago with her husband, Mark, a Lancaster optometrist optometrist /op·tom·e·trist/ (op-tom´e-trist) a specialist in optometry. Optometrist A medical professional who examines and tests the eyes for disease and treats visual disorders by prescribing corrective , to fill a void left when other groups they had been part of dissolved or left the area. ``My husband and I missed being on stage with kids. We missed performing for kids, so we decided to start our own theater group. We made a proposal to the (foundation) board and said we would run the children's theater group for the foundation - we would volunteer - and any money the shows would make would go back to the education foundation,'' Mewborne said. More than 1,500 students from schools all over the Antelope Valley have been in the casts of foundation shows over the years. About 5,000 children saw ``Annie'' in March, Mewborne said. This year the theater group plans to put on two musicals, ``Tom Sawyer,'' which was on Broadway two years ago, and ``The Secret Garden,'' a story about an orphaned or·phan n. 1. a. A child whose parents are dead. b. A child who has been deprived of parental care and has not been adopted. 2. A young animal without a mother. 3. girl sent to live with her uncle. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Samantha Macisso, center, in the title role of ``Annie,'' meets the staff at Daddy Warbucks' mansion. The volunteer-produced show involved kids in the arts and raised funds for a local educational foundation. (2) At the orphanage ORPHANAGE, Eng. law. By the custom of London, when a freeman of that city dies, his estate is divided into three parts, as follows: one third part to the widow; another, to the children advanced by him in his lifetime, which is called the orphanage; and the other third part may be by him , Samantha Macisso sings in her ``Annie'' title role last year. This year the area's volunteer children's theater group plans to put on two musicals. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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