2014-587-E Arts - McDougle Elementary School PTA for 2014 Arts Grant Agreement $930

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DocuSign Envelope ID: C9EE1A01- 1583 -408B- 9007- 6B72A1449ABC Arts in Education Grant Application — Fall 2014 -15 McDougle Elementary School PTA 5 Arts Program Application Narrative School Profile McDougle Elementary School (MES) has a population 476 students who represent a wide range of ethnic and socio- economic backgrounds. Below is our current demographic breakdown: Gender Race /National Origin Female: 233 African - American: 71 His anic: 81 White: 274 Male: 243 Asian: 30 Multiracial: 19 Approximately 30 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 62 students classified as English Language Learners (ELL). MES has four self - contained classrooms in its Exceptional Children program: two classrooms for students with autism (12 students) and two Life Skills classrooms for students with severe and profound learning challenges (9 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 environment. 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 works collaboratively with the Orange County Arts Center and cultural arts representatives from other Orange County Schools to carefully select 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 Touring 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 for 5th grade students and a pottery residency for 4th grade 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 February and March 2015. Page 4 of 23