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DocuSign Envelope ID: 26350935 -D1 DF -47BB- 9676- CBE4F7DD63FB <br />Seawell Elementary School PTA <br />Arts Program Application Narrative <br />School Profile <br />Seawell Elementary is located in Chapel Hill, NC and has a student body composed of <br />565 students from a Wide range of cultures and backgrounds, 47% White, 31% Asian, <br />16% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 1% Other. 15% of our student are eligible for free and <br />reduced lunch. We have a very active outreach in our school to support families in need <br />through the work of our school social worker; L=inda Williford: Seawell Elementary offers <br />a variety of in- school and after - school activities that enrich the students' educational and <br />social development. Some school and district level activities provided to the student body <br />include Soaring Seahawks, Math Olympiads, and Odyssey of the Mind. The Seawell <br />PTA provides funding for art, music, and technology; sponsors family programming <br />events like Big Fall Play Day and Bingo Night; and provides teacher reimbursement for <br />classroom supplies. Additionally with the financial support of the PTA, Seawell is able to <br />offer 3 -4 cultural enrichment programs in the form of artistic presentations for the <br />students. By creating well - rounded students, Seawell is able to have a positive impact on <br />the lives of its students, families, and the communities of Chapel Hill and Orange <br />County. <br />School Arts Programs <br />PTA Cultural Enrichment Performances 3 -4 times a year <br />Music Curriculum for all grades <br />Art Curriculum for all grades <br />Family FORT Night — cultural exchange and performances <br />Proposed Uses of Funds <br />A significant way that we enhance the educational experience for children at Seawell is to <br />bring in live performances of artists from around the world— artists who introduce our <br />students to history, culture, and a wide range of human expression through artistically <br />rendered stories, dynamic dance forms, and a spectrum of musical traditions. With each <br />performance, we provide study guides and curriculum ideas to all of the teachers as a tool <br />to prepare students for what they will encounter. In choosing our artists each year, we <br />have purposefully emphasized performances that highlight the wide range of cultures <br />present in our own student body: Asian, European, Latin, African as well as looked for <br />opportunities to tie in artists representing North Carolina traditions and culture. This has <br />been exciting to watch the children recognize elements of their own identity and <br />background in the presentations and to see their pride in the association. Well after <br />performances, the children continue to hum a memorable melody, cut a break dance <br />move, and reminisce about key events and memorable moments. Unfortunately, in recent <br />years, we have seen our Cultural Enrichment funds diminish and have had to scale back <br />considerably the number of performances and, consequently the amount of access the <br />children have to quality performing arts. <br />We are seeking the Arts in Education Grant for Fall 2014 -2015 in order to bring two <br />strong performing arts groups to our stage in Spring 2015. Without Arts Commission <br />