This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
The Winter Hill Community Innovation School serves students in grades Pre-K to 8. Each student in the school takes music where they are exposed to music and instruments from around the world. Every child is a musician!
About my student population:
60% of students are ESL
84% of students are low income
27% of students have special needs
92% of students are targeted as high needs
Now in my 7th year teaching music here, I have witnessed many changes in regards to the music program and school culture.
Previously, students never had opportunities for performances, and a small percentage of children played an instrument. Today, our chorus has grown to over 50 students, and every single child is in an ensemble, whether it is as singers in the younger grades, or chorus, band, orchestra or world percussion in the middle grades. Students love coming to music and take pride in every performance, whether they are on stage or just in the music room. Students can be heard making music at home, singing and practicing in front of their parents or on the playground before school or during recess with their classmates. Music has gone from an unattainable gift for only the privileged to an essential part of life!
My Project
I am very fortunate to work in a district that has a unique program where every student can play an instrument regardless of financial difficulties or prior experience. The stage is now completely filled with students, and the parents that come and support them are unlikely to see their son or daughter without the use of risers. Since our school has no auditorium, we hold concerts in the gym, where their sound gets lost in the large, open space. Many times their hard work and dedication goes unheard as their voices get lost in the unideal performance space. With the help of risers and rise rails, their voices will be able to project out and students will be able to be seen. My goal is to finally be able to show off their incredible talents and by allowing them to be seen and heard!
By purchasing risers and riser rails, students will feel more confident on stage, knowing that they are heard and seen.
By having a specific performance space, students will take more pride in their performances and will be able to hear each other better. The risers will allow students to blend with one another and listen, two essential factors in performing.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Stier and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
