Save Our Focus, Save Our Garden!

Hollin Meadow Elementary School needs your help to save our model science and math focus program.

The Fairfax County Public School System has eliminated funding for the Hollin Meadows Science and Math Focus program in large part because of shrinking property tax revenues. Stimulus funding, which helped keep the program alive during the past two years, disappears after this school year. And our Title I funding percentage, reduced every year for the past several years, is expected to be cut again.

Despite the best efforts of school administrators, teachers and parents to advocate for continued funding and identify additional revenue streams, our science and math focus program will be lost after this school year (2010-2011) unless we can raise the funds necessary to cover its operation. Without this funding, our children and our community will lose an educational experience that puts students on the path of discovery for a lifetime and closes learning gaps. Our school will lose an essential piece of its unique brand, one that has received national recognition from the White House, Congressional leaders, national science associations and area corporations. At stake are:

• Essential science and math programs
• Nationally recognized learning garden
• Outdoor education coordinator -- the heart and soul of our garden
• Award winning science teacher
• Science lab
• A math resource teacher

The Hollin Meadows PTA, Hollin Meadows Partnership for Science and Math Education and Hollin Meadows Elementary School staff members are determined to prevent the loss of such an essential component of our educational success. We are joining forces to immediately launch a unified fund-raising campaign. This campaign will replace our individual direct-appeal efforts this year.

Our goal is sizeable: $100,000 by March 31, 2011 and an additional $70,000 by September 1, 2011.  We encourage you to help us reach our goals. Please use the form at right to make a donation today.

Just as important, we need your help in identifying companies and individuals outside the immediate school community that can support our effort with meaningful financial support and/or matching gifts.

It is not overly dramatic to say that we are in an emergency situation. This program is vital for our students and our community.  Thanks in advance for your contribution.

Hollin Meadows PTA Board