Articles by Sharee Lawler

Each year, the Somerset Elementary School (SES) Foundation allocates funds to initiatives that improve student well-being and promote academic success. This dedication strives to provide every SES student with the chance to realize their fullest potential.

Your support enables us to take on numerous vital challenges in our community. Our ongoing efforts persist due to enduring impacts from educational gaps caused by the pandemic, heightened food needs, and other related issues.

Thanks to our donors, this year we have been able to:

• Fund the Somerset Elementary in-school and at-home food pantry
• Fund grocery cards for students experiencing food insecurity
• Fund innovative learning through unique teamwork education
• Provide funding for students with adversity to participate in after school clubs
• Continue to support a mindfulness calm room for stress management and helping students process emotions
• Continue support of school grounds maintenance
• Continue to fund important academic subscriptions for SES like BrainPop and Generation Genius
• Support local disadvantaged area schools in the form of grants for science, STEAM and other educations programming

Moving forward, our aims are to fund a much needed new school playground, implement a new tutoring program to address pandemic learning gaps, and support teacher and staff training and development.

We have set a goal of raising $20,000 from our annual fund drive. Please make a donation to the SES foundation today. Whether it’s $5, $100, $1000 or more — we thank you for helping us make a significant impact on students’ lives and enhance our school community’s well-being.

We believe in the power of our cherished SES community and hope you will contribute once more! You can give online or by mail:

Somerset Elementary School Foundation

PO Box 30764

Bethesda, MD 20824

We are grateful for you, our neighbors and our friends, and your commitment to this wonderful community.

By Jackie Quan, President (as published in the November 2023 Somerset Town Journal)

Over a century ago, families from Somerset, Drummond and Friendship Heights came together to advocate for a local school. They understood its importance for their children and benefit for our community. From those seeds of foresight and civic-mindedness grew Somerset Elementary, which is celebrating 95 years as a cornerstone of our neighborhood. 

Twenty-nine years ago another group of parents organized to formalize local school support. Founded in 1994, the Somerset Elementary School Foundation (SES Foundation) is a 501c3 charitable organization whose mission is to make investments that improve the well-being of students and promote academic achievement, ensuring that every SES student can reach their full potential.

The Foundation’s impact on the quality of the school has been substantial, with over $1.5 million in grants disbursed to Somerset Elementary School and neighboring disadvantaged schools. The Foundation funds ongoing building and grounds work to ensure the students have high quality facilities. During the pandemic, it was able to nimbly shift and increase food support for families while addressing numerous other new challenges that emerged during this difficult period. Last year, the Foundation supported the creation of a mindfulness room, a calm and nurturing space where students are developing stress management and self care skills. Every year, the Foundation purchases classroom books, subscriptions, innovative learning tools and so much more. 

Throughout its history, the SES Foundation has been a conduit of visionary support for our school, raising funds to address critical needs. Between 2003 and 2005 the school underwent a major renovation. During this modernization effort, the Foundation raised $250,000 to finance capital upgrades not covered in the county’s construction budget. About a decade later,  the school faced a pressing need for a new outdoor field. When the county denied the school’s funding request, the Foundation and this community worked together to raise $500,000 to build the turf field our students now play on daily. 

The Foundation works in partnership with the principal, staff and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to continue addressing unmet needs within the school community. It is steered by a Board of Directors composed of nominated parents and community leaders, in addition to the principal, PTA president and a school staff representative. The Foundation is not an endowment or a permanent fund and has no staff. It relies solely on its donors and the volunteer efforts of its dedicated board. 

The SES Foundation continues to stand as a testament to the power of this community in advancing education and well-being. As we look ahead, we have some exciting projects on the horizon, including much-needed replacement of the school’s outdated playground. We are so grateful for the strong relationship we have with Somerset residents and the Town of Somerset government.  We will keep the neighborhood updated as we move forward. We hope that we can count on your continued partnership and support as we strive to meet our students’ ever-evolving needs.

• December 2021: $360 for electric leaf blower for Mr. Benson
• November 2021: $500 winter clothing gift cards for Watkins Mill Elementary
• September 2021: $3087 to renew BrainPop subscription
• September 2021: $920 for student tutoring
• January 2022: $150 playground problem solving techniques board
• February 2022: $850 for food and clothing at Whetstone Elementary School
• February 2022: $1000 partnered with Westland Cares to provide food for Rock Creek Forest Elementary School
• February 2022: $700 for gifts for recess aides
• February 2022: $700 for STEAM assembly at Watkins Mill Elementary School
• March 2022: $10000 contribution to support staff in need
• March 2022: $4672 to buy musical instruments for Title I schools
• March 2022: $1555 food pantry gift cards
• March 2022: $75 gifts for Career Day speakers
• April 2022: $10,000 contribution to the GoFundMe account for Somerset teacher
• May 2022: $1700 fall grounds clean up
• June 2022: $1000 for 5th grade promotion ceremony
• June 2022: $283 for field day expenses