Testimonials and Appreciation

Teacher's Testimonials

I have never seen so many kids excited about science! The support from Synopsys has driven the popularity of science and our science fair higher than ever ..... Thank you so much for inspiring the scientists of tomorrow!

Mandy Wedel
Indian Hills Elementary
Aloha, OR

...... We just put our science fair displays up today, and it is already very evident that the science fair boards that Synopsys Outreach Foundation donated have moved us a giant step toward creating a level playing field for all of our students in the science fair .....

Whitney Cohen
Pescadero Middle School
Pescadero, CA

..... The kids are really 'jazzed' about the experiments and project board preparation. They ask me daily for their boards so that they can get their project started .....

Greg Trousdale
Farmington View
Hillsboro, OR

..... Our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students appreciate the boards that are provided, the students in the lower grades love the stickers, and my 7th and 8th grade students greatly enjoy the Kudos bars they receive after completing their individual projects. The balloon arch is the first thing that everyone sees as they enter our gym for the science fair, and it really sets a feeling of excitement among the students and parents.

Each year I look forward to the check that you send to my school. We have put it to great use in order to buy materials for projects that the students most likely would not have been able to do without this funding. The money that I receive personally is so generous, and it truly makes all of the long hours that I put into our science fair worth it. A science fair is a huge undertaking for a teacher, and sometimes the work that leads up to the science fair is not noticed.

By receiving this money from the foundation, I know that all of my hard work has been noticed and appreciated.

Deborah Bodony
St. Nicholas School
Los Altos, CA

The boards made the Fair at school look glorious .....

Didy H. Erkelens,
St. Matthew's Episcopal Day School
San Mateo, CA

Synopsys has been great! ..... as a result of encouragement from Synopsys (and a balloon arch!), we are now planning to have our own fair.

Diane Dow
McKinney Elementary School
Hillsboro, OR

Thank you Synopsys for your great outreach to our community, our school and most importantly our students. We are experiencing an all-time participation rate in our "science-o-rama" this year. Our kids are excited and loving science.

The display boards, the supplies and the funds you so generously give make our science fair possible. Kids who didn't have resources to participate now do. Additionally, our science program is stronger due to the science supplies we are purchasing for student use and instruction. Your gifts provide a much needed investment in our children.

Dayle Spitzer
Tobias Elementary
Aloha, OR

This (support) really shows that other people care about their (student) learning enough to donate.

Meggan Taylor
Sunset Ridge Elementary
Pacifica, CA

Having easy access to display boards removes one more obstacle for student seeking to enter our local science fairs. We have had the first entries in the science fair ever for our school this year .....

Jeff Adkins
Deer Valley HS
Antioch, CA

The students feel very special when we give them the clean and sturdy presentation boards. Your donation has really helped keep science learning going.

Carolyn
Margaret Pauline Brown School
Daly City, CA

With the cut backs that our district is making their won't be money in the budget to order the poster boards ..... I know the parents will appreciate the boards being provided free.

Margie O'Brien
Zanker School
Milpitas, CA

We are very grateful for the support. It would not be possible for us to have a science fair in our building without the support. With our dwindling budgets and our expanding student body, we can barely replace broken and worn out equipment and have no extra funds to put towards posterboards, ribbons, signs, supplies for experimentation, etc. We have seen a growing interest in science in our district due to our science fairs and look forward to our fair this year.

Jeanie Kerner
Brown Middle School
Hillsboro, OR

The Shannon School community extends its gratitude to the Synopsys Outreach Foundation ..... The cuts in budgets and the loss of employment for many of our families has taken its toll but science lives on for many of our students who were provided much needed boards to complete their work.

Having ribbons gives the science fair a "professional" touch and air of importance. Having the certificates to give to all the students makes each of their efforts validated. Having all these supplied for us, is the difference between having a science fair and not having one.

Laura Mabbott
Shannon School

..... Our weary teachers were greatly encouraged to have the science display boards delivered to their rooms with attractive awards. ..... We appreciate the materials for these students who could not afford them ..... What a great way to say science is fun and important.

Teacher
Mount Pleasant Elementary School
San Jose, CA

I cannot express just how much Synopsys has done to help our school's science fair participation grow over the last four years. By simply supplying the boards, we've more than doubled the number of students who participate from k-5 at our elementary school because we've been able to make the materials easily accessible to them. More parents are willing to support their children in doing these projects (which are optional for k-3) because the Synopsys grant facilitates the material-gathering process for them.

The balloon arches, stickers, Kudos bars, and ribbons of participation are all motivational elements that encourage new participants to join the fun once they've seen their peers' projects.

Thank you, Synopsys, for your generous support of science fair. What began as a classroom project for me five years ago has now grown into a school-wide tradition that everyone looks forward to each spring.

Marie Chen
Village School
San Jose, CA

The announcement of our first Antonio Del Buono Science Fair was received with rounds of ohh's and ahh's. Teachers from K-5 have all expressed their excitement and enthusiasm and can't wait for the event.

Terry Graham
Antonio Del Buono School
San Jose, CA

..... Knowing that you are there, sets us free to concentrate on the projects and our teaching. The (SuperSchool) classes that you offer are timely, concise and user friendly ..... Thank you again to you and your "crew" for doing such a bang up job for our students.

Peg Geringer
Bernal Intermediate
San Jose, CA

science-o-rama! would not have been a reality without your company's support. With the dwindling governmental funding of public education, resources for staff and material support translates into fewer quality opportunities for students.

The Foundation's basic support ..... enabled teachers to provide students with this engaging experience.

Tom Bunker
Orenco Elementary
Hillsboro, OR

Teacher Appreciation

The following are excerpts from letters sent to teachers that had participated in programs sponsored by the Synopsys Outreach Foundation:

From a letter sent by the Hon. Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

  "Thank you for your commitment to your students and for your participation in the Science Project Grant Program offered through the Synopsys Outreach Foundation.

As a supervisor or mentor, you did much more than give time, which is in itself precious. You shared your knowledge and experience. Most of all, you served as a role model, helping your students to understand hypotheses, sharpen research skills and develop discipline.

Choosing project-based learning as one way to advance student interest in science is commendable. The opportunity for your students to learn by doing and to experience the wonders of science through a project of their own can prove invaluable. Thank you for making this opportunity available to your students, and providing the guidance central to insuring a rewarding experience.

Congratulations and my best wishes for continued success throughout this year."

From a letter sent by the Hon. Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

  "I commend you for your determination to broaden your students' scientific interests and applaud them for all the hard work put into their projects. Through your work, you provide an invaluable tool in our fight for better education.

Your commitment and dedication have made, and will continue to make, a tremendous difference in the lives of many students."