News
EHS Classroom Projects
In the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 school year the School Foundation donated three flexible-use classrooms to EHS. The classrooms were designed by 7th grade math students, who went through a rigorous presentation process with three designs being ultimately chosen and brought to fruition. The flexible furniture allows the students freedom to move around, sit in various group sizes, and work to the best of their abilities. The Foundation is incredibly proud of the students who put together presentations and advocated with graphs, surveys and research for their designs to be chosen. None of these classrooms would be possible without the strong relationship that the Foundation has with the teachers and administrators in Edgemont. Please continue to support us and your students!
ESF to Present Third Annual Distinguished Alumni Award
The Edgemont School Foundation is proud to announce that Dr. Jeffrey Eckardt, Edgemont High School Class of 1963, will posthumously receive the third annual Edgemont School Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award on Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Dr. Eckardt served as a Commander in the United States Navy and was the Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCLA, where he pioneered innovative techniques for limb salvage surgeries that have now become standard practice in medicine.
The evening, hosted via Zoom, will feature stories and conversations with Dr. Eckardt’s family, friends, and colleagues, who will be discussing his formative experiences at Edgemont as well as his distinguished professional and philanthropic career.
We hope you will join us for a memorable evening. To register for this community event, please CLICK HERE.
Omnidirectional Microphones in the Classrooms
The Edgemont School Foundation, along with the PTA/PTSA, granted every classroom an omnidirectional microphone to enhance the hybrid model of teaching.
*Scroll to the bottom for teacher and student testimonials.*
“Young children are novice language participants both as speakers and receivers of the spoken word. The microphones have assisted our work, as they amplify conversations between adults and children by picking up their young, soft voices which can easily fade in a classroom conversation. But more importantly, the increased amplification has helped the children themselves as they communicate with each other on Google Meets during the hybrid learning sessions. I most appreciate the Foundations support for all of Edgemont’s students over the years. But especially this year, you chose to fund an amazing project that has helped all of us teaching during this challenging hybrid situation.” – Dr. Deborah Mumford, Seely Place Kindergarten
Seely Place Library Renovation
In the 2020-2021 school year, the Edgemont School Foundation granted a library renovation to the Seely Place School. During the height of the pandemic the students were not able to use the library, but it is now open and students are checking out books during their Library time. Please see the transformation from unpacking boxes to creating a cozy reading corner.
Seating for a class 
A lounge area for students to relax with a good book 
Shelves and shelves of fiction books waiting to be read 
Crisp and clean shelves
Brand new shelves installed in the Seely Place library 
New and modern shelves for the books. 
Mrs. Feuerstein sitting at the new tables and chairs for classes to utilize in the library 
A rare glimpse into the unpacking process! We are readers at Seely, so there’s a lot of books to unpack! 
Books beginning to be shelved. 
Two Seely students enjoying the soft seating to share a good book. 
A student enjoying the soft seating lounge area with a good book. 
Mrs. Feuerstein reading to some students at the new tables and chairs. 
The new shelves make finding a good book easy and accessible.
The District Needs Our Support Now More Then Ever
As you may have heard, the New York State budget cuts as a result of the pandemic will impact our schools. Superintendent Kniewel and the School Board have worked tirelessly to respond to these cuts by revising Edgemont’s school budget, which the community will vote on by mail. The details of how to vote and the ballots have been mailed to you directly from the District by USPS. You will receive self-addressed stamped envelopes to allow for you to easily send back your completed ballots by June 9th. We cannot emphasize how important it is to cast your vote for this budget during these unprecedented times to ensure our District maintains its current standard of excellence.
Our school budget was already stretched thin before the pandemic, and with the future holding so many unknowns, the schools will need our support now more than ever. The Edgemont School Foundation (ESF) was established in 1993 to assist in times just like these, when the teachers and administrators need to fund areas that are not covered by taxes or other community organizations. We anticipate this year will create needs unlike ever before, and we are committed to maintaining the success of Edgemont schools. If you are in the position to contribute to help us in our effort, please click ‘donate’ above.
We are very grateful for any assistance you can provide during these challenging times. We will make it through this by supporting one another and will come out of it stronger together. Stay healthy and safe.
Warmly,
Nancy Gordon
Chair, Edgemont School Foundation
Will you support the ESF Library & Classroom Projects?
Since our founding in 1993, The Edgemont School Foundation (ESF) has consistently supported the efforts of our teachers and administrators to enhance the educational experiences for Edgemont students. ESF helps fund district needs that are not covered by taxes or by other community organizations. For the 2019-2020 school year, we partnered with the District to identify two projects, and for the first time, we are enabling community members to direct donations to their preferred projects.
First, ESF committed a $164,000 grant to modernize the libraries at Seely Place and Greenville elementary schools. When completed, the renovations will enhance the learning experience of all Edgemont elementary students. The Greenville library was completed in September 2019 and the Seely library is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2020.
Second, ESF committed to renovate classrooms at the Jr/Sr High School to be more consistent with a 21st century approach to education and with the District’s strategic goal areas. These new flexible and collaborative learning spaces will be similar in style to the innovative ESF-sponsored E-Lab. The classrooms will provide hands on opportunities for learning to support our students’ academic, social and emotional development. We are pleased to share that last year’s 7th grade students submitted the design ideas for the classrooms as part of an authentic learning project sponsored by the math department.
In addition to these projects, you can also donate to our general fund. These monies are used to fund new district priorities as well as support ESF’s 15-year commitment to underwrite a portion of the 2014 District Bond. Donations to our general fund provide the most flexibility for ESF to act nimbly as new grant opportunities arise.
To help support our mission of enhancing the educational experience in Edgemont, ESF relies on funding from our community. We hope that all those committed to the continued success of Edgemont schools and our students will join us during this year’s annual campaign. Please help us exceed our $150,000 goal. To make a gift please click the button below.
We look forward to another successful school year with our Edgemont community.
Thank You to our 2018-19 Donors!
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Edgemont School Foundation (ESF), I offer sincere gratitude to our donors for making our 2018-2019 fundraising campaign a success. We are proud to report that over $135,000 was raised making this past year our most successful in ESF’s history. This milestone was only achievable through the support of our generous donors.
Edgemont is a special place. Thanks to you, we continue to enhance the excellence of the Edgemont education that we all cherish. Each gift ESF receives has direct impact in our schools and the educational opportunities for our students.
During the 2018-2019 grant cycle, ESF committed to modernizing the Greenville and Seely Place elementary school libraries. The work to create new learning spaces for our young community members is already underway and has received positive feedback. We continue to work with the administration at the Jr/Sr High School to develop more flexible and collaborative learning spaces in the format of the innovative ESF sponsored E-Lab. I look forward to sharing more information with the community on this initiative as it unfolds.
With the support of the Edgemont community, ESF is able to sustain its mission well into the future. On behalf of ESF and the Edgemont School District, thank you for making an impact in the lives of both Edgemont teachers and students.
With appreciation,
Nancy Gordon
Chair
