All the News - Canyon Crest Foundation

December 2021

Community supports Canyon Crest Academy on GivingTuesdayCCA with record-breaking donations

The Canyon Crest Academy Foundation set a goal of $150,000 this #GivingTuesdayCCA and thanks to 477 generous donors, the goal was met! Because of the unwavering support of the CCA community, donations were easily up from last year’s 2020 pandemic year (total $95,000 donated), but also more than 25% higher than from the last biggest GivingTuesday in 2019!

This year, Canyon Crest Academy matched donations dollar-for-dollar thanks to one generous family’s $50,000 inspirational donation, plus a donation from the San Diego Korean Parents Association. These funds were readily matched by CCA’s generous community, and with funds still trickling in several days after #GivingTuesdayCCA, the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation was able to reach the $150,000 goal. A record-setting number of donations were received for #GivingTuesdayCCA, demonstrating the incredible support that Canyon Crest Academy is given by their community. In addition to the generous parent donations, gifts were made by teachers, administration, alumni and neighbors!

Where do the donations go? Some donors choose to designate their donations to add much needed funds to support an individual program in athletics, the arts, or STEM. Each year, the school administration works with students, teachers, and staff to identify needs and Big Ideas to fund with the community’s generous donations. Some of these Big Ideas have included innovative classroom furniture, new floors in the gym and theater, comprehensive school-wide wellness programming and funding for CCA’s Homeroom classes. And last year, specifically thanks to the success of #GivingTuesdayCCA, the school now boasts a state-of-the-art livestream television studio. This year, #GivingTuesdayCCA funds will be used to continue the furniture upgrade, add a new cinema classroom, redesign the college and career center, and focus on internships.

None of the upgrades, programs, and enrichments at CCA are funded by the State of California or the San Dieguito School District - they are made possible by the CCA community. The resulting expansive curriculum and enriching educational, athletic, arts, and STEM programs available to CCA students is what keeps Canyon Crest Academy at #1 ranking for San Diego public schools (Niche School Ratings 2022).

The Canyon Crest Academy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization providing fantastic opportunities across academics, athletics, and the arts, and creating an environment where students can thrive. The mission of the foundation is to enrich the experience of every student, every day. Your tax-deductible donation to the CCA Foundation is vitally needed to continue our support of these programs.

October 2021

The CCA Foundation Celebrates Its Staff

SAN DIEGO (October 11, 2021) – The Canyon Crest Academy Foundation took time out this week to recognize Joanne Couvrette, Executive Director, and Gina Mahmood, Finance Manager, for their ten years of dedication and support to the students of CCA.

Attendees included: Principal Brett Killeen; Assistant Principals Garry Thornton and Brianna Castellanos; CCA classified staff; current CCAF board members Julie Bronstein, Kimberly McSherry, Jane Lea Smith, and Mariah Sharkey-Brumund; past CCAF board members Michele Fortin, Janette Shelton, Amanda Chin, and Marie Vaughn; and CCAF staff, who were all on hand to surprise and congratulate Joanne and Gina for their successful ten years and wish them ten more!

Former board member Susan Jentzsch sent her best wishes,

“What a privilege it was to work alongside Joanne and Gina. Truly the creative genius and masterful organizer that allowed the foundation to raise extraordinary amounts of money to benefit the CCA students everyday. Here's to another ten years of huge success for CCA, Joanne and Gina.”

Board members Julie Bronstein and Nancy Coker to the left of CCAF E.D. Joanne Couvrette, CCAF Finance Manager Gina Mahmood and Board member Jane Lea Smith on the right.

Gina Mahmood, CCAF Finance Manager and Joanne Couvrette, CCAF Executive Director with Principal Brett Killeen.

CCA by the Numbers: How the CCA Foundation Survived and Thrived During the Pandemic

SAN DIEGO (September 17, 2021) – Each year, Canyon Crest Academy families receive a unique, printed calendar, created and produced by the CCA Foundation. This “old school” calendar, mailed before the start of school, has become a necessity for CCA parents. Each month is packed with school activities, important dates, and highlights of the many benefits and opportunities that are provided by the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation.

The calendar was originally created in 2013 by Joanne Couvrette, CCAF Executive Director, to serve a dual purpose for the CCA community. In addition to a valuable tool for parents to use on a daily basis, the calendar is a brochure that highlights the many achievements and the significant progress made by Canyon Crest Academy and its non-profit Foundation. The calendar won the 2019 NSAF (National School Association Foundation) Award as the best in its category.

This year’s calendar, CCA by the Numbers, highlights the staggering accomplishments of Canyon Crest Academy, despite being in the lowest funded high school district in California.

Although almost all of the in-person events of the 2020-21 school year had to be reimagined, CCA and the Foundation were still able to maintain their standing in the community:

In 2020, Giving Tuesday donations to the Foundation funded a brand new state-of-the-art live stream TV studio for CCA.
The live stream studio equipment was used to film and stream the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation’s 2021 Gala – it’s first hybrid event!
The equipment was also used to stream the two 2021 graduation ceremonies (also funded by the Foundation).
The number of “Dollar a Day” donors during the pandemic school year was 297 – 121% of the pre-pandemic year of 2019!
In 2021, CCA retained its Niche rankings. Their rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.
- #1 Public High School in San Diego
- #1 Public High School in California
- #30 Best Public High School in America
- #25 College Prep High School in America
CCA was recognized as a 2021 California Distinguished school

This school year is already shaping up to be an active, IRL (In Real Life) experience for everyone! A week after school started, the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation hosted its annual Welcome Back Parent Coffee and Reception – in person! Parents dropped off their students and enjoyed food and beverages donated by local businesses: coffee from Starbucks at The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch; yogurts, orange juice, and fresh organic strawberries from Jimbo’s Naturally at Del Mar Highlands; and freshly baked croissants from Rancho Santa Fe’s Champagne Bakery. Families had an opportunity to meet members of the CCA staff, fellow parents, as well as Principal Brett Killeen and Assistant Principals Garry Thornton and Patricia Storey.

Next up, on Wednesday, September 22nd, from 5 to 7 p.m., is a CCA Foundation Parent Happy Hour at Flora Bar & Kitchen, located at the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. Parents will be able to meet and mingle in an informal atmosphere; hearty appetizers will be served!

CCA is located in the San Dieguito Union High School District, which is the LOWEST FUNDED high school district in California, ranking 77th out of 77 in per pupil funding. Although CCA receives funds from the State of California, the amounts are insufficient to pay for the exemplary classroom instruction and numerous special programs that are the reason so many students choose to attend CCA. This gap between public funds and CCA’s actual needs expands each year. The Foundation’s role is to raise funds to bridge that gap to support the expansive curriculum and enriching educational and athletic programs available to CCA students.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020