You are invited to attend the…

This year’s Gala is going full Kentucky Derby flair! Join us at the beautiful Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m. for an unforgettable evening.

Kick things off during social hour with live music from a jazz combo featuring talented musicians from our award-winning high school jazz band. Sip on mint juleps and other beverages, enjoy delicious appetizers, and browse an exciting selection of silent auction packages generously donated by local businesses.

In keeping with our Kentucky Derby theme for this year’s SWSF Gala, one of our special guests is Cocoa the miniature horse. Miss Cocoa’s owner and professional photographer Beth James of Studio J Images will be on hand to take free keepsake photos for you to take home.

Don some casual dressy Derby attire—especially those fabulous hats! Prizes will be awarded for the most festive attire.

Then settle in for a Southern-inspired dinner, with your choice of four delicious entrées, as emcee Seth Raabe kicks off the evening’s program.

New district superintendent, Dr. Becky Clifford, will share her vision for our public schools, and South Whidbey graduate and newly appointed band teacher for grades 6–12, Catherine Ballestrasse, will speak about the impact grant funding has had on her and her students.

After dinner, the excitement continues with a lively Dessert Dash, followed by a live auction led by Victor Ramos featuring fabulous getaways, unique items, and unforgettable experiences.

- a flight-seeing tour and lunch in the San Juans for three…
- a First Mate for the Day experience aboard the Clinton ferry, (perfect for a child or grandchild accompanied by an adult)…
- two tickets to a Mariners vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game…
- a Whidbey Island view cottage escape two night stay and curated Biercuterie welcome basket…
- a 2.5 foot by 8 foot woven rug runner from the Lahore Pakistan Women’s Weaving Cooperative from Music for the Eyes valued at $700
- plus many amazing silent auction items.

The evening concludes with a Raise the Paddle, offering you the opportunity to support the areas of education you care about most.

Join us for a night of great food, lively bidding, and Derby-style fun—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/south-whidbey-schools-foundation-fundraising-gala–2026

Need childcare for the May 2 SWSF Gala? The Backyard in Langley offers an unbelievably fun night for your little ones. For more information, click the form below.

https://pci.jotform.com/form/260548314920152

TICKETS ARE EXPECTED TO SELL QUICKLY, SO SIGN UP NOW USING OUR SECURE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW.

Note: * Zeffy is a free and secure platform for nonprofit organizations and may prompt you to add a small donation. You can select “Other” during checkout to change the suggested amount.

Our South Whidbey Schools Foundation gala committee is working hard to ensure that this year’s gala is the most fun and engaging one yet!

Members (l to r) Cindy Gass Johnson, Julie Bianchi, Kellie Poolman, Anna Lester and Gabby Guidry (plus Cindy Rupp and Shelly Ackerman not pictured) have decided upon a Kentucky Derby theme.

Join us at the beautiful Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m. for an unforgettable evening.

2025 SWSF Annual Report

Bjork Gift Will Leave a Lasting Legacy

In March, Treasurer Gabby Guidry announced that a $25,000 legacy gift has been received from the estate of Lisa and Barry Bjork.

Many will remember that Lisa served as Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent of SWSD in the 1990s and also served on the SW Schools Foundation Board and as Board President from 2009 to 2011. She held an Ed.D. from Harvard.

Her husband, Barry, was a municipal manager for the city of Bellingham and held several positions there, including city manager. Lisa passed in 2023 and Barry in 2025. They donated legacy gifts to several South Whidbey charities.

“Legacy gifts allow our Board to think bigger when supporting enhanced educational experiences for our South Whidbey public school students,” said SWSF Board President Shelly Ackerman.

“A legacy gift made several years ago from Gene White’s estate is supporting the school farm program,” Ackerman added. “Gene was passionate about access to healthy food for all children regardless of financial means. As a rural community, South Whidbey appreciates the value of small local farms and educating the next generation in best practices for growing nutritious food.”

“While the Board considers best uses for the Bjorks’ legacy gift, we express our gratitude to those who thoughtfully include the Foundation in their estate planning. May their memory be a blessing,” she added.

It is relatively easy to add a charity as a recipient of estate funds after expenses and distributions. Contact your financial advisor or attorney or visit our web page to learn more. https://swsfoundation.org/donations/legacy-giving/

SWSF Hosted March Teacher/Staff Luncheon

The SW Schools Foundation Board hosted its semi-annual teachers and staff luncheon today at South Whidbey Elementary School.

The purpose of the luncheon is to not only express appreciation to the attendees, but to also acquaint them with the work of the Foundation and encourage them to submit grants for educational experiences that benefit their students.

Kudos to Board member Cindy Rupp for pulling the lunch together, Island Nosh restaurant for a delicious lunch, and the many Board members who helped set up and clean up as well as chatting about the Foundation with attendees.

SWSF Treasurer Gabby Guidry reported that last year the Foundation awarded just under $100k in grants, and has disbursed $70k in grants already this school year.

The Foundation’s annual fundraising Dinner Gala, this year with a Kentucky Derby theme, takes place May 2 at Useless Bay Golf & Country club and is a major source of donations for the nonprofit, volunteer Board to distribute as requests come in.

Fifth Graders see William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Parents paid for the tickets, but teacher Nels Bergquist had exhausted all funding options for transportation (busses and ferry costs), so he reached out to the SW Schools Foundation.

Thanks to a rapid response made possible by generous Foundation supporters, the Board voted a unanimous yes.

The special school-focused performance provided an age-appropriate, engaging introduction to Shakespeare in a professional theatre setting.

The field trip was tightly aligned with the 5th Grade English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, specifically Amplify ELA Grade 5, Unit 7, which is devoted to William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Students explored Shakespeare’s play through interactive classroom activities: read and analyzed excerpts from the text, engage in performance-based exercises, study Shakespeare’s language and vocabulary, and examined character motivations and themes. The curriculum emphasized an immersive approach; students read, discussed, performed, and even memorized lines from the play.

Attending a live theater performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a natural extension of these lessons, reinforcing what students learned in class. This direct alignment with the ELA unit ensured the field trip was not an extra-curricular “add on,” but a core educational experience that brought the curriculum to life.

For many fifth graders, this was their first time attending a professional live theater performance. It was an opportunity to connect with a classic work of literature in its intended form, live performance, which can be far more impactful than reading alone. Research has shown that culturally enriching field trips to live theater can significantly enhance students’ literary knowledge.

The trip includes 30 parent chaperones, creating a strong school-home-community partnership. Parents not only helped supervise but shared the cultural experience alongside their children, reinforcing the value of the arts in family and civic life.

This shared event deepens classroom learning while connecting students to real-world people, places, and professions that broaden their view of what education can be.

In the final portion of the Shakespeare unit, students will be doing a small performance or presentation of their own (as outlined in the Amplify curriculum). We expect to see increased enthusiasm and confidence during these in-class performances as a result of attending the live theatre performance.

The total grant amount requested was $1,192.20

Click on the secure link above, or, write a check today

and mail it to SWSF / PO Box 24 / Freeland, WA 98249

…Or use your cell phone’s camera to make a payment via your phone.

View a few of the projects we funded last year.

5th Grade Field Trip for a live performance of The Snow Queen

On Dec. 13, 2025, 110 fifth-grade students, parents, and educators attended a performance of The Snow Queen at Seattle Children’s Theater. In preparation for the trip, students engaged in a classroom Readers Theater activity based on The Snow Queen.

This field trip provided an invaluable experience for students, many of whom had never attended a professional theater production before. It brought literature to life, inspired creativity, and fostered a deeper appreciation for the arts.

The students were thrilled by the opportunity to see a professional live performance. Many commented on the magical set design and the actors’ expressive performances. The show’s themes of friendship, bravery, and the power of love resonated deeply with them, tying seamlessly into their classroom discussions and activities.

As one parent, Kaesie LaChaussee, wrote: “The children were given a wonderful opportunity to see a professional acting company perform a beloved classic. They were very respectful in a new setting and followed directions. These opportunities do not come around often to students of Whidbey Island, and I was grateful to be a part of their experience.”

Students demonstrated a high level of interest in the story both before and during the trip. This opportunity provided a unique way for them to engage with literature and theater, enriching their education. The live performance allowed students to see the power of storytelling in a new light, encouraging creativity and teamwork. Students left the theater inspired, and many shared their favorite moments from the performance during follow-up discussions in class.

This field trip was made possible by the generous grant provided by the South Whidbey Schools Foundation to cover transportation costs.

— by Nels Berquist, Fifth grade teacher

Food Forest & Garden Grants

Curriculum that students can really dig

South Whidbey schools offer hands-on lessons in picking, cooking, baking and tasting real food from its own farm.

Click this link to read more about the farm program from an article in the South Whidbey Record.

Middle School Intro To Golf Equipment

Thanks to a grant from the SW Schools Foundation, students can now practice golf swings, etiquette, and complete an 18 hole course set up throughout the athletic fields and HS/MS campus. The oversized clubs and larger balls help all students to find success in golf before advancing to more difficult equipment. This is a fun activity for all ages and abilities and will add to our “Life-Long Activities” PE Theme.

Books & Materials for the new Inclusive Transitional Kindergarten Grant

Read aloud books are a wonderful way to engage 4 year olds in concepts around friendship, fair play and kindness.

Once students read about sharing, asking someone to play and making friends, they go outside and practice. What better way than to have some toys to play in our wonderful sandbox with and bikes to ride in our undercover area when it’s raining.

Play to Learn is the concept we’ve embraced at ITK and the learning manipulatives provide a fun way for our 4 year olds to learn their numbers and letters.