Allentown School District Foundation

Louis E. Dieruff High School students: We will be awarding over $30,000 in Scholarships to ASD graduating seniors! Apply NOW. For information about applying please contact your guidance counselor. Dieruff guidance counselors are closely working with the Foundation to assist you with the scholarship application process! DIERUFF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS:... Ms. Cosme Letters A-CAR Ms. Gibbs Letters CAS GAR Mr. Penizotto Letters GEN-MAN Mr. Kulp Letters MAR-PI Ms. Gambourg-Schuster Letters PL-SANC Ms. Markunas Letters SANT-Z Allentown School District #collegebound #Scholarships2021

Roosevelt Elementary School students returned to school wearing masks funded by Air Products. We're grateful for the ongoing support. Welcome back to school! Allentown School District

The Allentown School District Foundation is so grateful to QNB Bank for their generous donation through the EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program. Our local QNB Bank partner, John Andronis, is a William Allen High School Alum! Photo credit: QNB Bank VP Sharon Michael. Thank you!

Allentown's Washington Elementary School is showing their school spirit masks (with parent permission to post) provided by the ASD Foundation and funded by Embassy Bank For the Lehigh Valley. Thank you! Allentown School District schools - show your school spirit masks and we can thank your donors too!

Ms. Emert and her students at Washington Elementary School quickly adapted to in-class instruction with PPE this week. Welcome back Allentown School District students and staff! Thank you for sharing these photos (with parent permission to post)! We love your notes! #ASDCommittedtoExcellence #ThankYouASDFDonors #AwesomeTeachers

THANK YOU PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES FOR THE EITC GRANT PPL Electric Utilities came through once again with a $6,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant that supports ASDF programs for students in the district. Over the years, the funds have been used to implement art and music programs. Last year, the Department of Community and Economic Development approved the expansion of EITC programs to include those supporting literacy and civic education. On January 8, a group photo outside PPL headquarters was taken (L to R): Nancy Wilt, ASD Board President; Jane Marks, ASDF Board Member and Co-Chair of the ASDF Teacher Innovation Grant program; Jane George, PPL Regional Affairs Director; Joshua Dodd, ASDF Treasurer; and Ralph Todd, ASDF Board Member and a retired ASD Administrator. Photo credit: Susan L. Williams

JULIE AMBROSE, Ph.D., APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASD FOUNDATION The Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF) Board of Directors has voted to appoint Julie Ambrose, Ph.D., as its new executive director effective January 11, 2021. The Allentown School District Foundation welcomes Julie, says Daniel C. Bosket, ASDF President. As a long-time resident of the City of Allentown, Julie has been involved in the school district in many ways. She has served on the ASD Boa...rd of Directors for two terms from 2007-2013, and as a parent of ASD students, she served on a Middle School Reform Committee, was Middle School PTA President and Elementary PTA president. She brings a great understanding of the challenges that accompany urban school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Her commitment to Allentown students is apparent in all the volunteer work she has done over the years. Julie Ambrose, Ph.D. ASDF Executive Director Background Ambrose’s career has spanned working and volunteering in areas that support organizational development and leadership, university instruction and training and public service. Currently, she is an instructor in the bachelor of applied science in technical leadership program at Bloomsburg University where she also serves as an academic advisor. She is a member of the City of Allentown’s Park, Recreation and Trails Commission. In 2019, Ambrose earned her Ph.D. in administration and leadership from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania after having graduated from the West Chester University with an M.S. degree in higher education counseling and from Villanova University with a B.A. degree in modern languages and literature. Her involvement in the Allentown School District has been extensive, having served in the following roles on the ASD Board of Directors: Vice President, Education Committee Co-Chair, and Athletic Committee Co-Chair. As a board member, she assisted in the searches for two new superintendents, launched the free dual enrollment program for students and helped to reframe the district during significant downsizing measures. At Lehigh Carbon Community College, Ambrose was employed as a project research and evaluation specialist for a National Science Foundation S-Stem Grant and as a career portfolio specialist.

THANK YOU, RIVERVIEW BANK, FOR THE EITC GRANT On December 22, board members of the Allentown School District Foundation met at the Riverview Bank location on Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown, for a quick check presentation. Riverview contributed $4,000 to the Foundation’s EITC Fund that is used to underwrite EITC approved programs offered to students by the Foundation. From left to right: ASDF board members Dr. Dennis Blankowitsch and ASDF Treasurer Joshua Dodd, Laurie Grube, Vice President / Regional Manager Riverview Bank, Mary Briody, Assistant Vice President / Branch Manager Riverview Bank, Frank Heston, Senior Vice President / Commercial Market Executive Riverview Bank and ASDF board member, Jane Marks. We are grateful, says ASDF Executive Director Susan L. Williams, who took the photo.

SANTA CLAUS PAYS A VIRTUAL VISIT TO JACKSON ECC Jackson Early Learning Center teachers brought a special secret guest to their virtual classrooms 12/18 and 12/21. The kids knew they were having a guest Zoom reader, but they didn’t know it would be Santa Claus, played by ASDF volunteer Dick Button, instigated by teacher Colleen Scharf and coordinated by principal Josh Radcliffe. All 14 classrooms participated, with 12 presentations made, see Zoom shot here! Can you find Santa?

THE REV. MARIA TJELTVEIT AND ROB SCHMIDT APPOINTED TO ASD FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS June 18, 2020 Serving the children of the third largest urban school district in Pennsylvania, the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF) Board of Directors voted, at its board meeting on June 18, to appoint The Rev. Maria Tjeltveit and Rob Schmidt to the board, which now stands at 19 volunteer members. The Allentown School District Foundation welcomes Maria and Rob, says Daniel ...Continue reading

ASD FOUNDATION OFFERING FREE READING MATERIALS FOR ASD STUDENTS IN GRADES 2, 3, 6 & 9 June 3, 2020 In an effort to contribute to the abatement of the summer slide that students often face between school years, the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF) is offering students access to reading materials at no cost to them or their families during the summer months. Staying engaged with the learning process during the summer is especially important this year, as students... and families have had to navigate learning from home with the closure of schools in recent months. Plus, public libraries have been closed. With this free offer, elementary school students in second and third grades have access to the Kidz Stuff Summer Bridge activities book, while secondary school students in sixth and ninth grades are able to subscribe to The Morning Call for 13 weeks (Thursday and Sunday editions). This reading opportunity is sponsored by the ASD Foundation with support of The Morning Call. Interested families may sign up for either publication by submitting an order form to ASDF, by mail, email or txt (please see below). The free reading materials will be delivered to students’ homes. FREE READING MATERIALS ORDER FORM FOR ASD STUDENTS Child’s Name________________________________ ASD School _______________________________Grade______ Parent/Guardian Name __________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City__________Allentown_______ State __PA___ Zip Code ___________ Phone ____________________________Email_______________________ PICK ONE: ____ 13-week paper subscription to the Morning Call, delivered on Thursdays and Sundays (grades 6 & 9) ____ 160 page activity book called Summer Bridge Activities (grades 2 &3) Please complete this form and mail to: Allentown School District Foundation, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18102 Or, you can email the information to [email protected] or txt the info to 610-216-3334. Calls cannot be taken since the school district is closed. This offer is good through September 1, 2020.

Lehigh Parkway Elementary Presents: I Am On A Bookshelf Production of FUN HUMMINGBIRD FACTS. When the Author Stella was asked why she wanted to be an author she replied, "I want to be an author because it is a lot of fun and I love to be creative. I love to write. With the help of my friends, I learned to complete my goal. It was challenging to get the art and prose finished." Fun Hummingbird Facts... Written by the Stella Unger Grade 3 Room 11 Voiceover done b Mrs. Smith - art educator Produced by Kara Harka - librarian Michael Woodland co-owner Dan's Camera City Amy Kinnon Dan's Camera City Facilitator Donald Stahl, teacher https://www.wevideo.com/view/1689897834?

Lehigh Parkway Elementary Presents: I Am On a Bookshelf Production of LIGHTNING CAT AND THUNDER DOG 2

Lehigh Parkway Elementary Presents: I Am On A Bookshelf Production of The Statue of Friendship. Author Erin reports, "I want to create a book because I will be a great author. I want to make a book because writing a book makes me imagine and think outside the box. I want to be responsible for making a book." https://www.wevideo.com/view/1688004356... Written by Erin Schweyer, Grade 3 Mrs. Weierbach, Teacher Voiceover done by Bonnie Baratta Produced by Kara Harka, Librarian Michael Woodland, Co-owner, Dan's Camera City Amy Kinnon, Dan's Camera City Facilitator Donald Stahl, Teacher

VISTACOM DONATES 15 REFURBISHED LAPTOPS TO RAUB MS ASDF Board Member, Angela Nolan, who serves as COO of Vistacom, Inc., wanted to know how she could help the students. Fast forward 2 weeks. Yesterday, she delivered 15 laptops -- scrubbed and updated -- for the students of Raub Middle School. Principal Sue Elliott plans to distribute to those families of greatest need. Seen here, practicing social distancing while picking up the laptops outside Raub on May 13 are, left to rig...ht: Ben McConnell (AP), Chad Kinslow (AP), Jim Haas, ASD IT Support, Principal Sue Elliott and Vistacom COO Angela Nolan. Located on Vultee Street in Allentown, Vistacom has grown from a small family owned business to become one of the premier audiovisual integration firms in the United States and globally. Vistacom’s forward-thinking philosophy has enabled the company to adopt the industry’s leading-edge technologies for solutions for clients to operate and communicate more efficiently and reliably. They are now working on remote strategies using high technological solutions, The company is 60 years old.

NOTE CARDS FOR SALE, FEATURING STUDENT ART. ALL PROCEEDS FUND ART RESIDENCIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS These popular cards are sold at Mayfair and Art in the Park and other events. At these events, we usually raise enough for two art residencies, for 120-240 elementary children each fall. These community events were canceled this year! So, we are offering the note card packs to our neighbors and friends through Facebook. These student note cards are cheery reminders of Allento...wn students who take art classes with resident artists funded by the ASD Foundation, thanks to you. If you'd like a pack, or two or ten, send us a note and a check! Specify the art theme below and make your check payable to the Allentown School District Foundation. Each pack contains 8 cards, size 4.25" x 5.50", with blank insides and includes 8 blank envelopes. The owls and lamppost cards are the same design; the birds, flowers and bridges are variegated. Cost: $10 per pack, plus $2.00 shipping per order. Mail your order and check payable to: Allentown School District Foundation 31 South Penn Street PO Box 328 Allentown PA 18105 Allow a few weeks for your shipment. Specify: BIRDS OWLS FLOWERS BRIDGE LAMPPOST

APRIL 30 VOLUNTEER READER TRAINING SESSION CANCELED We are sorry to have to cancel this training session and will let you all know when school resumes. Thank you.

ASDF RAISES $104,000, THANKS TO GENEROUS HIGH NOTES GALA SPONSORS; PERFORMING ARTS GRANTS APPROVED April 2, 2020, Allentown, PA Donors, friends and supporters helped the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF) to raise $104,000 in anticipation of hosting its 10th Annual High Notes Gala to be held on March 21. As you know, it was necessary to cancel the Gala on March 13, 2020. After consulting all of our donors, the Foundation was permitted to retain $104,000 in contribu...Continue reading

C'est La Vie! Thanks, Sarah P., for this tribute. Love you all! S. Wms.

One last reminder, the High Notes Gala is canceled. I want to be sure everyone knows! Sue Williams, working from an iPad!

THE FOUNDATION CANCELS THE HIGH NOTES GALA: SEE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW Dear Friends of the Allentown School District Foundation, Following state, local and Allentown School District recommendations, the ASD Foundation regretfully announces that it is cancelling its High Notes Gala, scheduled for Saturday, March 21st at Miller Symphony Hall.... On behalf of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, I would like to thank everyone who has been so instrumental in supporting and working on this event to date. The Board would like to extend its special thanks to the gala donors and the teachers, staff and students of Allentown School District who have worked so hard in the planning of this event. It is important to note that the Gala is the Foundation’s major fundraising event and its proceeds help to fund a number of the Foundation’s programs. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you, and we look forward to continuing our work in the future, as everyone seeks to stay safe and healthy during this unusual turn of events. If you were planning to attend, please inform your table guests. While we are notifying everyone, I worry about missing someone. Thank you. Susan L. Williams Executive Director

TIG GRANT RESULTS AT DODD ELEMENTARY Cross your Teas, Dodd Your i’s Café, "Our coffee cart at Dodd is just about ready to get rolling! We had one setback with an order (the cart itself arrived broken), but the manufacturer worked with us and sent us a replacement. We officially will start serving on Friday March 20th and can’t wait! Here are some pictures of our group and the cart ," says Melanie Beck, MS, OTRL, Occupational Therapist there.... PROJECT DESCRIPTION Café gives special education students in second and third grades the opportunity to engage with real-life roles in a café and learn in a hands-on way. Students will serve in various rolesas the waiter or waitress, the gatherer, the barista, the cashier, and the rewards manger. Students’ engagement with one another in the café contributes to their sense of career awareness, their ability to figure out math problems, and their understanding of health and safety in the workplace. Skills learned through hands-on café engagement will enable them to expand their horizons. Grant amount: $700.