On behalf of Citizens for Better Schools Foundation, we would like

to express our appreciation to the local community for supporting

excellence in Snoqualmie Valley School District. We especially thank Optiva

Corporation in Snoqualmie for hosting the recent Grant Awards Celebration.

The annual reception was held to honor our teachers, counselors, parents

and school staff who were awarded grants and to recognize the generous

contributions from the many business, individual and community supporters

of Snoqualmie Valley School District.

The foundation is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1988,

separate from the school district and does annual fund raising to pay for

projects which directly benefit our students each school year. This year’s

projects support learning in areas such as the exploration of Northwest Coast

Indian culture, Pacific Northwest history, an individual’s role in the ecosystem,

jazz improvisation, the Intercultural Heritage Festival and publication of a

student literary magazine. All of the awarded projects demonstrated

their integration into the school curriculum.

As a local foundation supporting excellence in schools, we honor

the local community’s history of support and involvement in the

Snoqualmie Valley School District. For years, the Valley Record has been a leader

in prioritizing our children through their weekly newspaper edition. For the

first time, the awards celebration was hosted by a local business, Optiva.

It was a wonderful afternoon that was extra special because of their

friendly help in recognizing our school supporters and our school professionals.

TONIE MORGAN,

On behalf of Citizens for Better Schools Foundation