Gloucester Alumni

To the editor:

On behalf of the board of directors of the Gloucester Education Foundation, I am writing to express appreciation to all who contributed during our first year of fundraising. We are pleased to report more than $80,000 in donations and pledges from parents, community members, members of the Cape Ann Symphony, and major contributions from Rockport National Bank, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Sudbay Motors, and Gloucester Cooperative Bank.

To date, this community support has funded the popular Master Classes, which brought six accomplished artists and professionals to speak to and meet with our middle school and high school students. Beginning this fall, a foundation grant has provided funding to support the following Gloucester High School extracurricular activities and organizations: Gloucester High School and summer band directors, Chorus, Flicker, Elicitor, Gillnetter, drama, wardrobe, stage crew supervisor, drama music director, National Honor Society, class advisers (grades nine through 12) and student council.

In addition, a new after-school enrichment program, including transportation, for elementary school children in grades four and five and for middle school children is in operation at O'Maley Middle School. Spanish, Italian and German language classes for middle-schoolers are filled to capacity and band and orchestra classes for elementary students are underway. The foundation hopes to expand this pilot program to include other offerings such as chorus, art and a robotics class, tied into a national program sponsored in part by NASA, where middle and high school teams build robots to enhance their math and science skills and to enter into competition.

A number of additional initiatives are in the planning stages. Depending on the availability of further parent funding, community funding and grants, the foundation hopes to be able to fund literacy specialists and trained tutors serving grades kindergarten through eight. Also in the incubator are a marine studies program, a Gloucester school store, a sports medicine program and a summer youth arts festival.

We are delighted that so many recognize the enormous potential of Gloucester students and our talented teachers and administration. The Gloucester Education Foundation is committed to the goal of working to make Gloucester one of the five best school districts in Massachusetts in five years. Thanks to all who are supporting this effort. A top-quality education is the best gift we can offer Gloucester children.

Robert W. Cunningham

Washington Street, Gloucester

Courtesy Gloucester Daily Times