To further promote the educational goals of the school a small group of dedicated parents formed a non-profit foundation in September 2006 to support the mission of the school. Their initial focus was the development of a modern and well equipped science laboratory in the space where the school’s old library was located. They were highly successful and celebrated the opening of the lab just last week.

The space is equipped with science laboratory tables, water service, technology to enhance learning, scientific equipment and supplies, and a variety of scientific models for “hands-on” use by our students as they engage in actual science laboratory experiences. But there were two missing pieces to round out the high-tech lab – a sophisticated projection device and digital microscopes. Dr. Marc Winger, superintendent of the Newhall School District, sought support for this part of the project from The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation.

The Newhall Foundation responded with a one-time grant of $10,000 that will enable the school to purchase state-of-the-art advanced digital microscopes and a large format projection tool. The Promethean ACTIVboard is a new tool for teachers to create digitally based science lessons which will engage students in learning. The board is a large scale, interactive projection device with a linked wireless tablet student response system that encourages every student to participate in the lesson. The multi-media components of the Promethean board offer students engaging and interactive science activities that will develop their analytical skills and enhance their ability to conduct scientific research. The Promethean ACTIVboard also offers students the capability of gathering data and reporting the information instantaneously.

“Our parents worked hard to make this lab a reality for our school and the Newhall Foundation has just given us the icing on the cake,” said a grateful Timothy Lankford, principal of Newhall School. “These tools will take the students and teachers to even higher levels of achievement in the area of science at Newhall.”

Newhall School serves 675 kindergarten-sixth students in the original Newhall community. The student population is 36% Anglo and 60% Hispanic, with students from predominantly lower to middle socio-economic level homes, with feeder areas providing those from middle to upper middle class homes. English and Spanish are the predominant languages spoken in their homes. Forty-five percent (45%) of its students are English Language Learners (ELL) and sixty percent (60%) participate in the federal free/reduced lunch program. Many of the students who will use the lab, because they are English learners, need hands-on and genuine experience to understand scientific concepts. Other students, including those who participate in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program, will have access to a high quality learning environment with abundant equipment.

“Newhall School District has been the recipient of The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation grants in the past,” stated Winger. “Generous grants from the Foundation in the past have allowed us to expand our outstanding instrumental music program and stock libraries at our new schools. The District has a proven record of reasonable requests, consistent with the Foundation’s mission, and we exercise fiscal responsibility in the expenditure of the funds. We hoped the Foundation would help us again, and, once again, they’ve come through.”

The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation is an organization with a goal to support charitable, educational and cultural activities in California. Its mission is “To improve the cultural and social life within the geographical areas associated with the career and legacy of California pioneer Henry Mayo Newhall."

Click here to see today's News Headlines.

Back to Community Highlights.