Raise the Paddle Fund-a-Wish
Music Program Enhancement: Orchestral Program
Goal: $25,000
Vision: Westside already creates wonderful opportunities for children to be involved in music - everything from recorder to dance, from Orff instruments to musical theater, from ukuleles to choral performance. With a fantastic new music teacher on board, Carl Edwards, we are excited to expand our offering to include a strings program. Please raise your paddle and help us to establish a traditional and robust orchestral program over the next three years. Our plan is to introduce violin lessons to several grades, beginning in 4th grade so that over the next 4 years the middle school will have a beginner and then advanced orchestra program.
What’s in it for our students?
·Learning to play an instrument is a creative expression that is new and unique.
·In the words of Carl Edwards, “a musical instrument has an opportunity to become a student’s friend for life. It has the potential to follow you forever.”
·A whole community of musicians opens up to you.
·Learning a string instrument now allows you to pursue it in high school. When students transfer to high school they are not intimidated by the students in high school who already know how to play.
·Research shows that learning a musical instrument builds brain pathways to math and logic, to foreign languages, and to diverse ways of thinking.
How does this enhance our current music program?
·Foundational to a strong musical program beginning with this next year’s 4th grade
·Will be offered as an after-school enrichment option
Technology Enhancement: 200 Chromebooks
Goal: $50,000
At Westside School we want to provide all students with experience and fluency in a variety of technology platforms to prepare them for successful lives and journeys beyond our school.
By purchasing new Chromebooks for grades 3-8 will allow each grade level to have access to updated technology. We will use our existing iPads in grades PS-2 as they are lightweight, easy to navigate, and intuitive.
Students throughout the whole school will also have access to a variety of Windows machines when students in 3rd-8th grade will receive Chromebooks, allowing us to further our mission and vision. An updated iOS will allow students and teachers in the Lower School to achieve our mission of connecting student’s imagination and human spirit to their learning.