Vashon Schools Foundation

10/30/2026

Vashon is the kind of place where the community shows up. For Halloween tricks and treats, and for each other.

We are constantly blown away by the generosity of the businesses and people on our island. On November 6th, the Vashon Schools Foundation (https://vashonschoolsfoundation.org/) online auction opens to the public, and every bid you place supports Vashon Island School District's essential staff and enrichment programming. Fun for you, great for our kids.

A little peek at what’s up for grabs:

🎓 Front-row seats to the VHS graduation parade, right in front of O Sole Mio. Food and drinks included, plus a sign hanging out front to celebrate your grad!

🍷 A vertical w**e tasting for 8 at Maury Island Winery, with a first sip of their brand-new 2025 Estate Pinot Noir.

☀️ Summer camps galore! Caterpillar Farm, Huckleberry, Hoog Camp, and classes at UMO all came through again. Summer planning starts NOW, friends.

🍞 BREAD! Choose a sourdough workshop with a local sourdough expert or a Fernhorn Bakery subscription.

🎁 Gift certificates to Island favorites like Vashon Nails, Flora Hill Farm popsicles, Bike Mom Crafts, Bush & Ivy, the Burton Coffee Stand, and the Vashon Bookshop...where you can get a copy of The Wild Robot that inspired the costume pictured.

…and a LOT more!

Questions? Come find us! Your friendly VSF board members will certainly be out and about in town for Halloween tomorrow. This year, look for Sam the Eagle, a Minion, and Toad from Mario Kart (plus a handful of witches, bats, bugs, and devils). Come say hello and mark your calendar: November 6th. Bid big, Vashon!

10/27/2026

The Vashon Schools Foundation's 2026 Online Auction is COMING SOON - with amazing items you won’t want to miss, and most importantly, your bids directly support important programs for Vashon students.

This year, you have an opportunity to bid on exclusive (and exclusively Vashon!) items donated by some of our local favorites. From VIP seating at O Sole Mio for the high school's graduation parade to a vertical w**e tasting at Maury Island Winery, these items are exclusive to online bidders, so don't miss your chance.

Keep your eyes on our 👀Auction Live Date: Friday, 11/6 👀 and don't miss your chance to bid!

Bidding in our online auction isn’t just a way to get great, exclusive items, it’s also helping us raise funds to support:

Essential Staff
✅Family Engagement Coordinator: Full-time role connecting families with teachers, district events, and resources to support their children's success.
✅Reading & Math Academic Intervention: Targeted support across elementary, middle, and high school to help students strengthen skills and meet learning goals.
✅Literacy Curriculum Coach at Chautauqua: Supports the new literacy curriculum rollout with a specialist garden-based class for students and coaching for teachers.
✅McMurray Middle School Counselor: Funds the gap to maintain two full-time counselors, preserving social-emotional and academic support for students.
✅FamilyLink & StudentLink: Community partnership ensuring a range of learning options for all students.

Enrichment Programming
✅Artists in Schools (Vashon Center for the Arts) — Brings local artists and hands-on arts experiences into classrooms.
✅Scientists in Schools (Vashon Nature Center) — Field investigations and classroom labs connecting students with scientists and the natural world.
✅Journeymen Youth Leadership Programming (One Village) — Leadership development for high schoolers, building belonging and community connection.

So go ahead, bid on that family photo package or that week at an island summer camp or the gift card for some tasty Island popsicles, and know that when you do, you’re helping ensure every child has access to quality educational experiences.

Keep an eye on our page (and give us a follow here!) for the link to the VSF Online Auction, Nov. 6!

09/18/2026

Big news for our school community! Vashon Schools Foundation has committed $380,750 to our schools for the 2026–27 school year.

This funding keeps essential people and programs in place for our kids — a Family Engagement Coordinator, academic intervention in reading and math, a Literacy Curriculum Coach at Chautauqua, a second counselor at McMurray Middle School, and continued support for FamilyLink and StudentLink. It also keeps enrichment alive through Artists in Schools, Scientists in Schools, and Journeymen Youth Leadership Programming.

None of this happens without our community's generosity. Every gift — big or small — helps bridge the gap between state funding and what our students actually need to thrive. Become a GEM (a monthly donor) today to have a BIG impact on our students!

💛 https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=EK2NA2LYT2GRU

09/11/2026

Our co-president Kennedy Leavens looks ahead at the 2026-2027 school year, where VSF is funding a range of staff and programs that help our kids thrive.

We have committed $380k for the 2026-2027 school year, going toward:

-A full-time family engagement coordinator
-McMurray Middle School maintains two full-time counselors
-Academic intervention in reading and math across all three schools
-Literacy curriculum coach at Chautauqua Elementary School
-FamilyLink and StudentLink
-Artists in Schools (with Vashon Center for the Arts)
-Scientists in Schools (with Vashon Nature Center)
-Journeymen Youth Leadership Programming

Read more in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber:

A friend took her new kindergartner in for a conference before school started, and the teacher asked him to count to 20. He skipped around a bit, landed on 15 and ended triumphantly: “15, 16, seventeen-one, seventeen-two, seventeen-three, seventeen-four, twenty!”

09/09/2026

We are excited to share Vashon Schools Foundation’s funding commitments for the 2026–27 school year. After thoughtful planning with our district leaders, VSF has committed $380,750 to continue funding academic excellence, equity, enriching hands-on programs, and extra support so that all students and families can access the opportunities in our schools.

None of this would be possible without the commitment of our donors. Their generosity directly supports opportunities that enrich student learning, strengthen families, and help our schools meet the needs of every student.

Learn more about how you can support the schools and students in your community, become a monthly donor today!

Donate here: https://vashonschoolsfoundation.org/give/

06/09/2026

5th grade camp is such a formative, enriching experience for our students. Some of our VISD alumni board members remember their own 5th grade camp experience (Nicole Donnelly Martin still remembers her cabin cheer!) and this is such an important tradition to continue as kids make the big jump from elementary to middle school.

Looks like another fantastic camp experience is in the books!

05/27/2026

Thanks to the generosity of this incredible community, the Vashon Schools Foundation reached our GiveBIG goal. Two full-time counselors will remain at McMurray Middle School for the 2026-27 school year, for every student who needs someone in their corner.

Whether you donated, shared our campaign, cheered us on, or simply care about the kids in our community, thank you. GiveBIG is a reminder of what Vashon does best: show up for each other.

What we achieved together is real. It's two counselors in the building every day. It's a sixth grader who has someone to talk to. It's a family that feels supported. It's a kid who walks through those doors knowing someone will notice.

We are so proud to be part of this community.

With deep gratitude,

The Vashon Schools Foundation Board

05/08/2026

At a board meeting earlier in the year, we heard some astonishing data from annual middle school student screenings:

🟧31% of McMurray students screened showed signs of anxiety
🟧27% signs of depression
🟧9% reported self-harm

A stark reminder of how important it is to have trained mental health professionals in our schools.

The Vashon Schools Foundation is committed to keeping essential support staff in our schools. State funding does not cover two full-time counselors at a school of McMurray's size — that's why we rely on the strength of this community. We know you've seen us posting a lot, but that's because we're passionate about this cause, and we've seen what this island can do when we come together.

We're half-way to our goal of $50,000 to ensure those students have a caring adult in their corner.

Thank you to your generosity and island spirit, and there's still time to donate!

GiveBIG to help us keep two full-time counselors at McMurray Middle School!A good counselor shouldn't depend on your home life — and for some McMurray kids, these are the adults they turn to. These roles are not extras. They are foundational to student wellbeing and...

05/08/2026

Grateful to this amazing community for their generosity and support. Our thermometer is half-full but our hearts are overflowing! There's still time for you to GiveBIG if you haven't yet!

These little ones at Chautauqua will be at McMurray one day, help us reach our goal of $50k to ensure they will have the support they need.

Give BIG here: https://www.wagives.org/organization/Vsf

05/06/2026

We're nearly halfway there, and we need YOU to help us reach our goal of $50k to help us keep two full-time counselors at McMurray Middle School! Please take a moment and give BIG today.

GiveBIG is a great opportunity to show your support for this amazing community of students, teachers, and neighbors!

The Vashon Schools Foundation is committed to keeping essential support staff in our schools. Counseling isn't supplemental. It's foundational. Can we count on you? https://www.wagives.org/organization/Vsf