La Honda Education Foundation

The La Honda Educational Foundation supports children in the joy of learning through:

•Providing a balanced, well-defined curriculum focusing on fundamental skills and knowledge.
•Supporting our award-winning school garden/outdoor classroom. Students in preschool-5th grade work in the school garden, taking part in hands-on science, math, and social studies-based activities tied to CA State Academic Standards while learning about health, environment & sustainability. From the instructor's salary to garden maintenance, the Foundation funds it!
•Teaching a weekly "Art In Action" hands-on art curriculum for each of our three mixed grade classrooms.
•Funding a classroom aide to support our teachers during mathematics lessons.
•Supporting preschool Music & Community Story Time, provided weekly for the community ages 0-5 in partnership with the San Mateo Co. Libraries.
•Providing academic enrichment to the school curriculum through stipends and discretionary spending, allowing teachers to support interactive learning through the use of technology in the classroom.
•Funding the FoodLab -a culinary instruction program utilizing produce from our school garden. Students prepare and cook an after-school snack for everyone in the after-school program.
•Funding field trips for all classes to build on their educational experiences.
•Funding enriching, educational assemblies which are scheduled throughout the school year.
•Initiating community-based events which include the entire La Honda, Loma Mar, Skyline, Pescadero & San Gregorio communities.

John Sears opened the first La Honda School in 1870, in the second building erected in town. Even in those early days, the townspeople of La Honda recognized the importance of a community school. For almost 150 years, La Honda Elementary School has educated its community's children and LHEF continues to keep this tradition alive through supporting a diverse and rich educational experience for all La Honda Elementary children.

Testimonials

"I am giving the the La Honda Education Foundation during Coastside Gives because as a La Honda Elem alum ('95) I know firsthand how much these donations mean to the kids. My mom started the La Honda Educational Foundation in 1991 because she noticed that families were moving out of the community to find better schools. She worked tirelessly with other parents to get the foundation off of the ground and began her nearly decade long run as a member of the foundation working tirelessly to fundraise and encourage community and parent involvement. It was through their efforts that La Honda Elementary School was recognized as A California Distinguished School in 1995. I look back at my time at La Honda Elementary school with such fondness. Through community support and the La Honda Educational Foundation's ability to fund the enrichment programs, I feel like I received a private school education at this small public school. Now as a parent of 3 La Honda Bandits (The La Honda Elementary School Mascot) I am honored to pay it forward and I am hopeful that my children will experience the very special place that is La Honda Elementary School."- Alicia Olsen

"I am giving to the La Honda Education Foundation because they support our INCREDIBLE staff who need monetary support to assist them in making the school pure magic for all. LHEF gives each teacher a yearly stipend to help cover classroom supplies that teachers should not have to pay out of pocket for. Also, LHEF approves additional purchase requests though out the school year, such as classroom iPads, sports equipment, desks, and storage solutions. We know that anything they ask for, directly benefits our children so I hope that those funds will always be available to them." - Michelle Stahl

"I am giving to the La Honda Educational Foundation during Coastside Gives because my son feeds meal worms to chickens with his hands. The garden has been an incredible learning experience for him and his classmates. I had no idea he loved chickens, or fennel, or could tell me exactly how composting works, and that weeds are simply any plant growing where you don't want it to. He comes home singing songs in Spanish, and teaches his little sister the words he learned that day. His class visits tide pools, farms, aquariums, and just today they're having an assembly with BMX stunt bike riders! Many days I've picked him up from school to hear all of the kids bubbling over with excitement to tell their parents the day they've had. All of this and so much more is possible only because of donations to the Educational Foundation." - Caroline Day