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Elementary Music update--where are we now?
Currently all 5th grade students in our district have the opportunity to learn a band instrument and join the Elementary Band, or they can learn a string instrument and join the Strings Orchestra. The funding for this year's program comes from a $98,000 donation from PSEE. Unfortunately, there is no funding in the current budget for the 2011-2012 school year.
Note: Funding for this program will not be part of parcel Tax Initiative!
Save the Date to Celebrate!
April 27,2011 7-9PM Orchestra Performance Gala--
Enjoy the performances from Elementary, Middle and High School Orchestras. Come and see what a great group of kids we have and how strong our music program is!
April 28,2011 7-9PM Band Performance Gala--
Enjoy the performances from Elementary, Middle and High School Orchestra Band and Band Ensembles. Come and see what a great group of kids we have and how strong our music program is!
Where: Harvest Park Gym
What: Performances/Auction
Why: Help us Save the Music 2011
Tickets at the door $10 (Adults) / $5 (students/seniors)
See more pictures on our facebook page!
Last Year's event--Save the Music/Art 2010!
PSEE is pleased to announce Celebrate! was a great success. We raised over $30,177 from the event through our generous sponsors, ticket revenue, student art auction and cash sales at the event. This event was a two day fundraiser and celebration showcasing the talent of Pleasanton Students through a visual arts show/auction and performing arts extravaganza at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore May 21-22, 2010. A special thank-you to our sponsors for their support, particularly California Art & Frame for their fantastic job of framing student art. There were 5 separate performances, featuring students from kindergarten through High School. The kids were fantastic!
Visual and Performing Arts update--where are we now?
Currently all 5th grade students in our district have the opportunity to learn a band instrument and join the Elementary Band, or they can learn a string instrument and join the Strings band. The funding for this year's program (2010-2011) comes from an $85,000 donation from PSEE. Thanks to all the Save the Music Supporters from last year who made it possible to save this valuable program. Unfortunately, there is no funding for the 2011-2012 school year.
As well as the cut in this valuable program, we also lost our 2 Visual and Performing Arts Specialists (VAPA Specialist) which was cut from the 2009/2010 budget and hasn't been re-instated. This program allows a trained Arts specialist to go into the classroom on a rotation basis to teach art to students. Since there are nine elementary schools and over 6500 elementary students, it takes just over 2 Full-time Equivalent Teachers (2 FTEs) to implement this program as recommended. Plus it takes some consumable Art materials so total, it's $200,000.
Why are music and art programs so important?
- Both subjects are considered core subjects by the California State standards.
- Music programs contribute to higher attendance and graduation rates for schools (over 90% with music and under 73% without).
- Studies show a strong correlation between music study and standardized test scores.
- Students who study music scored 20% higher in Math and English on standardized tests
- There is a strong link between study of the Arts and overall cognitive learning.
- The arts foster students' abilities to develop problem solving skills, flexibility, creativity, cooperative approaches, persistence, and responsibility as well as oral and written language skills.
PSEE is an all-volunteer, non-profit, public benefit corporation with virtually no overhead. Every dollar raised through this campaign will go directly to the program in a directed donation to the district for this purpose.
How can you help? Donate NOW! Any amount will help! 100% of the funds raised will go directly to these programs. Talk to your friends!
Send a check payable to PSEE at PO Box 785, Pleasanton, CA 94566.
Does your employer do donation matching? Submit your donation for matching funds to your employer and double your donation!
PSEE will provide a donation receipt for your taxes to the address provided. If you wish to designate specifically, simply write Save the Music or VAPA Specialist on the memo line. Please send it today.
Save the Music
At least $98,000 is needed to support the Elementary Strings/Band Programs for fifth grade students. To support the Save the Music (supporting Elementary Strings/Band programs) Learn More
VAPA Specialists
Approximately $200,000 is needed to fully support the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Specialists. These specialists teach elementary Art at all nine elementary schools. This program has been cut for 2010-11. Unfortunately, we were not able to raise enough to save the VAPA Specialists. However, PSEE has provided $2,716 to PUSD to help with VAPA activities. What do the VAPA Specialists do? Learn More!
