My school serves K-5 students from a variety of backgrounds. Many of the students in my school have at least one parent in the Military (predominately Marine Corp and Navy) because of our proximity to a military base. Because of this, our population tends to be very transient as students come and go based on military assignment locations. We are a Title I school, with about 40% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Our school is a themed elementary that focuses on building National Pride and Service to Others as core values.
My Project
My goal with this project is to provide the students in our school the opportunity to create music as a full-school community through the Dancing Drum visiting artist program.
The 2018-19 school year started out like a (literal) whirlwind, as Hurricane Florence entered our county on the coast of North Carolina and left a wake of devastation as it slowly moved south.
Our students were out of school for six weeks following the storm, many lost their homes to flooding and/or roof damage, and our schools sustained damage that totaled millions of dollars.
Although our school fared better than some, many of of our students and staff are still displaced from their homes, and our school's multi-purpose room, where all school wide gatherings and performances occur, is closed for any school use until floor damage from the storm can be repaired. At this point, we have gotten no indication of when these repairs will be made. Due to these circumstance, our school family has not had the ability to gather for any community music making and performances, as we are accustomed to.
My hope is that this event will give our students that opportunity and will bring some normalcy and joy into a time that has been tumultuous and difficult for our school and community. I strongly believe in the therapeutic and unifying power of music and believe this event can be a catalyst for healing broken spirits and building hope after heartbreak.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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