Ladue Education Foundation & Alumni Association

HELP LAUNCH OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD LEARNING EXPERIENCES 

Imagine Astronomy students exploring the Milky Way galaxy, Geology students engaging with interactive animations that explain how a tsunami is generated and how an earthquake occurs along a fault, and Physics students investigating the life of low, medium, and high-mass stars. Physics Teacher Justin Ragland is on a mission to make this dream a reality using a StarLab Portable Planetarium.

Thanks to your generous donations, the LEF is pleased to partner with Mr. Ragland to bring these unique learning experiences to our students. The StarLab Portable Planetarium will provide an unmatched opportunity for immersive learning experiences in Astronomy, Geology, and Physics and cultivate excitement for science within the school and district learning community. A digital projection system within an inflatable seven-meter dome brings classroom lessons to life. The LEF has supported this project through an initial grant of $30,000. In conjunction with GIVE STL Day, we are asking for your help to raise the remaining $25,000, which supports our mission to Go Above and Beyond for All Students at all levels in the classroom!  

”The StarLab project will ensure that students across the district, including historically underserved students, will have access to an enriched academic opportunity well beyond the district's budget; it will also be an opportunity that very few other districts and schools in the region could provide, making it a truly exceptional Ladue experience,” said LHWHS Physics Teacher Justin Ragland. To hear more from Mr. Ragland about how StarLab will benefit students, click to watch the video below.

Your contribution will help the Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) reach its GIVE STL Day goal of $25,000 to fund the purchase of a StarLab Portable Planetarium. Providing an unmatched opportunity for immersive and inspiring learning experiences, the StarLab uses a digital projection system within an inflatable seven-meter dome to bring astronomy lessons to life.

 

WHO WE ARE 

We are you...parents and neighbors, alumni and teachers, community and business leaders who keep the Ladue School District and the entire community strong by investing in our greatest resource—our children. Our volunteer board is supported by an Executive Director and dozens of dedicated volunteers. The Ladue Education Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. 

HOW THE LEF CONTRIBUTES TO THE LADUE SCHOOL DISTRICT 

The LEF advances the educational success of all students, in all grades, with all ability levels. As a result, the efforts of the LEF support the Ladue School District's vision: "Together, we will empower every student to become a passionate learner and achieve his or her highest potential." 

WHY LEF FUNDING IS UNIQUE AND ESSENTIAL

The Ladue School District will always continue to fund state educational requirements. In addition, the district goes beyond these requirements to meet standards set forth by the district's strategic plan. However, budget realities limit the district’s ability to fund or pilot every program that holds promise. Similarly, the parent organizations of individual school buildings play a valuable role in providing additional resources to students and staff. However, their focus is on the practical needs of their building, not on the advancement of education in the district as a whole.