Pictured: Erika Miranda's fifth and sixth grade class at SFCS made a brief trip (two years ago) to Yosemite to collect and test water samples from the Merced River. Teachers hope to raise funds to send 5th-8th grade students on a 3 day, 2 night trip this October.
Sierra Foothill Charter School seventh and eighth grade teacher Andrea Contreras, fifth and sixth grade teacher Erika Miranda, and parent volunteer Gara Villalba are working tirelessly to raise funds to send the school's fifth through eighth graders on a trip to Yosemite in October.
The three day, two night trip is through NatureBridge, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental education programs in six national parks including Yosemite.
Students will study ecology and natural history on the trip. The lessons align to Common Core standards. Students will also hike, write, draw, and participate in team building exercises.
"Many of our students have limited or no exposure to Yosemite," said Ms. Miranda. "And some have never been away from home and family for two nights."
"We want to show students what a wonderful resource Yosemite National Park is," continued Ms. Contreras, "and give them knowledge of what they can find and learn there."
Place-based learning is one of the tenets of SFCS. A field trip to Yosemite fits right in.
Teachers need to submit $10,700 (cost minus a $2,100 scholarship from NatureBridge) to NatureBridge by Tuesday, August 30th. Parents have pledged contributions. Teachers have set up DonorsChoose accounts for their classrooms and are planning an Ice Cream Social at the school's Thursday, August 25th Back To School Night, but teachers are concerned about coming up short.
"If anyone in the community is interested in making a donation, we would very much appreciate it," said Contreras. "This is a dream trip for our students and we want to make it a reality.
Donations can be sent to: SFCS, 4952 School House Road, Catheys Valley, CA 95306, or made via PayPal at the school web site: http://tinyurl.com/gmlssz6.The school will send a donation receipt that can be used with personal tax filings. If you have any questions about the trip, call the school office, (209)742-6222 or email the parent coordinator Gara Villalba: gvillalba@ucmerced.edu.
Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, TK-8 public school. For more information, contact the office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: sierrafoothillcharterschool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.
