Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School
Welcoming new students and giving them the tools to succeed.
Each year, the Anchorage Schools Foundation Small Grants Fund, one of the 2,000 charitable funds at The Alaska Community Foundation, awards small grants to support Anchorage educators and students.
Imagine you are a 4th grader who has just moved to a new school. You’re overwhelmed, nervous, and maybe a “little” scared. What will this new school be like? Will I be able to make friends? How will I know my way around?
What if you had an ambassador to make the transition a little smoother, someone to teach you the ropes, a familiar face in the lunchroom, or even a new friend? This was the goal of the Student Ambassador program created by Angie Jensen at Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School.
Each year, the Anchorage Schools Foundation (ASF) awards small grants to support activities that enhance students’ success in the Anchorage School District (ASD). In 2021, Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School received a $750 grant to kickstart a Student Ambassador program. Ambassadors at Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School are responsible for helping at school events, welcoming new students, and even putting together care packages and backpacks to give to new students. As Ms. Jensen says, “Every new student deserves to feel like they belong the moment they begin attending Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary school. Peers are the best people to encourage this.”
Last month, ACF staff attended the Back-to-School Barbeque at Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview Elementary School. It was wonderful to see the Student Ambassadors in action sporting their Ambassador t-shirts and lending a helping hand to parents and students alike.
The ASF small grants cycle is currently open and closes on November 3rd. These small grants help ASD staff create opportunities for their students that may otherwise be impossible to fund. You can donate to this fund to help make a difference for Anchorage students.