Alta Vista alums play for the future
Parras Middle School students play for their former Alta Vista Elementary classmates. Photo courtesy RBEF
Parents picking up their students from Alta Vista Elementary School got a look at their students’ potential future on Friday afternoon, as students from the Parras Middle School Band played pep songs as school let out.
The mini-concert, performed by recent Alta Vista alumni, was run as part of the Redondo Beach Education Foundation’s September Investment Drive.
“The district wants to have extra programs that they wouldn’t normally be able to provide with state funding alone,” said RBEF Alta Vista parent Doris Richmond. “RBEF picks up where state funding drops off.”
Last year, RBEF donated more than $1.1 million in grant funding to the Redondo Beach Unified School District. This year’s drive, through Sept. 25, has collected more than $350,000 in money “invested” toward students. Those grants include funds for vocal and instrumental music, elementary school physical education teachers, PSAT testing and trips to LA-area colleges and universities.
“Every year, we take our entire fourth-grade class, giving them college access, to expose them to college campuses and start setting goals,” Alta Vista Principal Susan Wildes said. “We talk about educating the whole child, and RBEF provides the ability to do that.”