2014-363 Arts - McDougle Elementary School PTA for Spring 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $1,000

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k Arts in Education Grant—Spring 2014-15 McDougle Elementary School PTA 5 Arts Program Application Narrative School Profile McDougle Elementary School (MES) is one of the largest Kindergarten through 5th Grade schools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District, with 503 students. Our population is richly diverse, with students from a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Below is the current demographic breakdown for our school: Gender Race/National Origin Female: 228 African-American: 72 Hispanic: 90 White: 292 Male: 275 Asian: 21 Multiracial: 27 Approximately 29 percent of MES students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which indicates that over a quarter of our school families are dealing with issues related to poverty. In addition, we have 44 students classified as English Language Learners (ELL). MES has four self- contained classrooms in its Exceptional Children program: two classrooms for students with autism (13 students) and two Life Skills classrooms for students with severe and profound learning challenges (10 students). Given the demographic and socio-economic composition of our school, a large percentage of our students have very few opportunities to experience a diverse cultural arts program outside the school context. The struggling economy, declining resources allocated to the arts, and limited fundraising opportunities make it necessary for the MES PTA to seek outside funding to support our Cultural Arts Program. MES has demonstrated its strong commitment to the arts since it opened in 1996. The Common Core and NC Essential Standards determine the school's Arts curriculum. To enhance and complement the curriculum, the PTA presents at least four different performances each year, as well as artist residencies. The MES PTA Cultural Arts Chair carefully selects each performance to respond to the needs of our students. The criteria for selection include strong multidisciplinary linkages to the school's curriculum, particularly in arts education, language arts, science, math, social studies and positive behavior, and being representative of a variety of cultures and art forms, such as dance, music, drama, storytelling and poetry. Our goal is to expose students to a wide range of artistic expression throughout their elementary school years. The two performances for which we are currently seeking funding present a unique learning opportunity for our students during the 2014-15 school year. School's Arts Programs In 2014-2015, the PTA Cultural Arts Program includes the following shows: • Orchid Ensemble (October 2014) • North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (November 2014) • Bright Star Children's Theatre presenting Aesop's Fables and Let it Shine: The American Civil Rights Movement(February 2015) • Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets presenting Animalia (March 2015) The PTA will also fund a poetry residency (5th grade), a pottery residency (4"' grade) and a Music Residency for all students. The PTA will continue building partnerships with the community at large by inviting local organizations to showcase students' work at the end of these residencies. Proposed Uses of Grant Funds. We are seeking matching funds to pay artists'fees for the following performances, which will be held on school premises in September and November, 2014. Page 4 of 23