2015-651-E Arts - McDougle Elementary School PTA Arts Grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID:9ADCCDBF-8A1A-4A6C-B366-3CDODAD161AB Arts in Education Grant Application—Fall 2015-16 McDougle Elementary School PTA 5 Arts Program Application Narrative School Profile McDougle Elementary School (MES) has a population of 499 students who represent a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The table below presents our current demographic breakdown: Gender Race/National Origin • Female:239 • African-American:74 • Hispanic:80 • Native American: 1 • Male: 260 • Asian:33 • Multiracial:27 • White:284 Approximately 30 percent of MES students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which indicates that nearly one out of every three MES families is dealing with issues related to poverty. In addition, we have 50 students classified as English Language Learners (ELL). MES also has 44 students in our Exceptional Children program, who are educated in regular classrooms and/or self-contained classrooms, according to their specific needs. Our four self-contained classrooms include 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 limited opportunities to experience professional cultural arts performances 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 additional funding to supplement our Cultural Arts Program budget. MES has demonstrated its strong commitment to the arts since the school opened in 1996. The MES Arts curriculum is based on the Common Core and NC Essential Standards. To enhance and complement the curriculum, the MES PTA sponsors at least three different professional cultural arts performances each year, as well as artist residencies. The MES PTA Cultural Arts Coordinator works collaboratively with the Orange County Arts Commission and cultural arts representatives from other Orange County schools to carefully select each performance to respond to the needs of students across the community. We aim to select performances that provide strong multidisciplinary linkages to the school's curriculum (e.g., arts education, language arts, science, math, social studies and positive behavior), and represent a variety of cultures and art forms(e.g., 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 currently seek funding offer a unique learning opportunity for our students during the 2015-,16 school year. School's Arts Programs In 2015-2016,the PTA Cultural Arts Program includes the following shows: • Red Herring Puppets(October 2015) • Didgeridoo Down Under(January 2016) • Gustafer Yellowgold (March 2016) The PTA Cultural Arts Program also funds a poetry residency for 51h 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 January 2016 and March 2016. Page 3 of 17