Beyond the Booths: The Food Fair’s Meaningful Impact

 

By Emily Rose, Advancement Coordinator

As a new member of the YIS community, I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the annual Food Fair, and I’m eagerly looking forward to experiencing it for the first time this year. After briefly participating in the PTSA's Food Fair planning meeting last week, it was immediately clear how much dedication and effort go into making this event the tremendous success that it is.

The funds raised from the annual Food Fair are a testament to the heart of this community—its generosity, dedication, and commitment to making YIS a place where everyone can thrive. Every dish, every booth, and every volunteer hour represents more than just a fundraiser—it’s an opportunity to come together, share, and grow.

When I first stepped into this role, I wondered if fundraising might feel like a new concept for our community. However, after seeing the incredible results of the Food Fair and the many ways it enriches our school, it’s clear that a strong culture of support is at the heart of YIS. The PTSA’s dedication to managing these funds thoughtfully ensures that every contribution makes a meaningful difference, expanding the resources and opportunities that help YIS continue to thrive.

As we look ahead to the upcoming Food Fair, I feel it’s important to take a moment and reflect on the lasting impact of last year’s event. Proceeds from the Food Fair funded some truly amazing projects! Below, you’ll find not only what was funded but also evidence of the far-reaching impact of the support—how many projects, pieces of equipment, and activities were made possible across the school community. 

 

BBQ freezer:

The addition of a BBQ freezer has improved food storage for tournaments and major events, ensuring fresh ingredients and smoother event logistics. This upgrade allows us to better serve our community while reducing waste and improving efficiency.

Snow Club

Snow Club teaches students ski and snowboard maintenance, giving them the skills to care for their own equipment. To support this hands-on learning, essential supplies like tools, wax, and cleaning liquids are required.

 

Soran Happi

As Soran continues to grow in popularity at YIS, 25 Happi’s were purchased to allow more students, parents, and teachers to participate. This investment helps strengthen school spirit and inclusivity in this vibrant tradition.

 

Project Ocean

With the use of underwater notebooks, students can collect real-time data while diving, developing essential data collection and analysis skills in an unfamiliar environment. This hands-on experience helps assess the environmental status of Japan’s oceans.

 

Dream Cambodia

For over a decade, the Dream Cambodia service team has partnered with HOPE International Development Agency, an internationally recognized NGO focused on education and community development in Cambodia. These service trips have made a lasting impact, with PTSA grants helping to offset costs, allowing students to continue their meaningful work.

 

2nd Floor Hub Headphones

To support focused learning in the Grade 4 and 5 collaborative HUB space, noise-canceling headphones were purchased. In an open learning environment, background noise can be a challenge, and these headphones help students concentrate, reduce distractions, and stay engaged. By equipping the HUB with this technology, the overall learning experience has been enhanced, fostering better focus and deeper engagement for our upper elementary students.

Aquatics Pool Deck Seating

New seating was added to the pool deck to enhance PE classes, swim team practices, and swim meets, providing a more comfortable and organized space. Beyond improving aesthetics, this upgrade ensured that students no longer had to sit on the floor, creating a better overall experience.

ELC Cycling Program

To enhance outdoor learning and physical development, quality bicycles were provided for our early learners. These bikes support coordination, cooperation, imagination, self-challenge, and play. With four different bikes available, they accommodate various ages and skill levels, promoting a well-rounded cycling experience.

Mics for Food Fair

To support two mic’ed stages at the Food Fair, a set of microphones was purchased. 

Parent Resource Center

The Parent Resource Center was created to provide relevant and current nonfiction books on child development, parenting, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), and more. Located in the Community Room, the center features a bookshelf with approximately 30 books, offering parents a valuable resource to support their learning and growth.

Library Signage and Bookends

New front-facing signage was added to the ES Non-Fiction section, sitting flush against the curved bookshelves for a neater profile and improved security. This upgrade enhances accessibility and usability, helping students easily locate books and supporting both independent research and reading for pleasure.

To support our heavier non-fiction and picture books, extra sturdy bookends were added to keep books upright and protected. This improves access for students, prevents damage from falling books, and helps reduce replacement costs, ensuring our collection remains in great condition.

ClassVR

ClassVR equips students with digital literacy and future-ready skills, bridging the gap between today’s classroom and emerging technology. This immersive VR/AR experience provides a safe, educational gateway to spatial computing, enabling students to explore everything from ocean depths to outer space—unlocking learning experiences once beyond reach.

Glowforge Machine for Visual Art & Design

A second Glowforge machine was added to maximize technology access in the Visual Art & Design department. As the most-used piece of equipment, long wait times often occur when multiple classes are scheduled. This addition reduces wait times, provides a backup for technical issues, and keeps workflow steady.

The Glowforge cuts and engraves a variety of materials, including wood, fabric, acrylic, plastic, and paper, making it a versatile tool for both product design and sculptural projects. With this expansion, students can continue developing their skills with greater independence and efficiency.

Auditorium Light Board Console

To ensure the continuation of high-quality performances and events, an ETC Element 2 Lighting Console was purchased to replace the broken console in the auditorium. This essential upgrade allows us to maintain professional-level productions for both in-house and community events.

Investing in a new lighting console ensures that students continue to have enriching, creative opportunities while upholding the high standards of presentation and production that define our performances.

Garden & Community Support Project

The Gardening Club, Harvest Club, and Grade 2 Service grow herbs and vegetables, selling them to the YIS community nearly every Friday. Proceeds help purchase fruit for the Chiku Center, while potatoes and other vegetables are donated to both the Chiku Center and Kodomo Shokudo, a local children’s meal service.

To sustain and improve production, they replenished lost soil, added nutrients, and installed stepping stones for better garden access. Additionally, seeds, starters, and bulbs were needed for each growing season to ensure continued contributions to the community.

Koto

Our koto instruments are used daily, and there is a growing need to replace older instruments. This new koto is solid, domestically made, and well-suited for both practice and performance at the intermediate level.

Marching Percussion Band

With the purchase of new instruments, a pep band was created to bring energy and school spirit to sporting events. The instruments are also used for the after school percussion ensemble and the end-of-year senior goodbye parade

Visiting Presenters Program

The PTSA's generous grant support helped cover the costs of visiting authors, artists, and other presenters, providing students with enriching learning experiences across various curriculum areas. These engagements broaden perspectives, inspire creativity, and deepen learning beyond the classroom.

A huge thank you to the PTSA for their dedication and hard work in organizing this event, making it a tremendous success—both as a joyful community gathering and a meaningful source of support for learning! With this year’s Food Fair just a few months away, I’m excited to see the community come together once again to create another memorable event.