Welcome
Who We Are and What We Do PDF Print E-mail

Welcome to the Gravenstein Schools Magnet Program Foundation website!  The Magnet Program Foundation (MPF) is the non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting and enhancing the ENRICH! program at the Gravenstein Union School District (GUSD).   It does this by providing funding, volunteers and direction for the ENRICH! program in cooperation with the GUSD School Board, administrators, teachers and staff. 

 

ENRICH! was inspired by parents and educators who wanted the creative arts to play a central role in their children's learning experience while still maintaining rigorous academic standards.  In the ENRICH! program, arts are integrated throughout the core curriculum in a grade-appropriate fashion.  Parent donations to the Magnet Program Foundation help pay for the rich array of  enrichment and extra-curricular activities that help distinguish this outstanding school program.  

 

Parents help pay for the following through the Magnet Program Foundation.

  • A diverse program of enrichment classes.  These include art, music, dance, drama, pottery, science, Spanish, storytelling, robotics, among many others.
  • A multitude of exciting field trips.   Recent field trips have included visits to the De Young Museum, the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts, the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Sebastopol and Marin Ballet Companies, the Ashland Shakespeare Festival and many, many more.
  • Special Project Funds for Teachers.  Teachers may apply to MPF's Special Project Fund for classroom materials above and beyond what the District supplies.  For example,  in 2009/10 MPF funded classroom projectors and ELMOs for each ENRICH! classroom on the Gravenstein campus.
  • Teacher Stipends.  Stipends are used to support the longer ENRICH! school day.
  • A core classroom teacher.  In 2009-10, MPF paid the District roughly $23,000 for costs the District incurs to provide a core classroom teacher in the 7th and 8th grades.

 

In addition, MPF is committed to the following District-funded elements of the program.

  • Reduced Class Sizes. The District's goal is to maintain the lower grades (K-3) at a maximum of 21 students and the upper grades (4-8) at a maximum of 26 students.
  • Grade Appropriate Anti-bullying Curricula.  Younger children are exposed to the Second Step curriculum, while the older children learn Empower.