As a teacher in a low-income/high poverty school district, my students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, they strive for excellence. I am looking to provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences.
My students are creative, clever and very talented.
They love to perform! Each year our senior high students invite the middle school students to be a part of the fall musical. It is very exciting because this musical is accompanied by a full pit orchestra. Each year we have trouble finding enough working stand lights for everyone.
My Project
Participating in a musical is one of the most rewarding experiences a young person can have. When the students are accompanied by a live pit orchestra they have more confidence and feel like they are being taken seriously. I want to be able to give my students the tools to make them shine!
We need a full set of 25 stand lights for the pit orchestra.
The lack of this type of illumination has limited our stage productions. I want to remove these limitations by having the ability to use as many pit musicians as needed for our next musical.
In a musical, everyone’s contribution is important. The child who is on the stage is just as valuable as the child behind the scenes working backstage or in the playing in the pit. Everyone must work together for the greater good, encouraging collaboration and community. They take positive risks and conquer fears while building self-confidence. They learn responsibility and perseverance.
Assessment in a musical is nearly instantaneous in the applause and standing ovation participants receive at the end of the show, meaning they don’t have to wait days or weeks for a grade, praise or feedback. Every year the students involved in the musicals grown tremendously from start to finish. They have stepped outside of their comfort zones and tried new things. For many of them it is their first musical theater experience and it is the start of a long and productive dramatic career.
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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 Mrs. Nages and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.