2017-060-E Arts - McDougle Elementary School PTA - Fall 2016 Arts Grant Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID: E2E21521-71A5-4711-A40C-EC691AF3B3A7 Arts in Education Grant Application—Fall 2016 McDougle Elementary School PTA Narrative School Profile McDougle Elementary School (MES) has a population of 516 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:248 • African-American:76 • Hispanic:81 • Caucasian:298 • Male:268 • Asian:33 • Multiracial:28 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 49 students classified as English Language Learners (ELL). MES also has over 30 students in our Exceptional Children program, who are educated in regular classrooms and/or self-contained classrooms, according to their specific needs. Our self-contained classroom program consists of two Life Skills classrooms for students with severe and profound learning challenges (7 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 performance for which we currently seek funding offers a unique learning opportunity for our students during the 2016-17 school year. School's Arts Programs We are working with the Carrboro Arts Center to confirm booking of two performers (three shows total) during the 2016-17 school year, and we anticipate adding another one to two performances later in the school year. The Arts Center performances planned are as follows: • Origami Tales (November 2016) • Hear the Sound (January 2017) • North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (February 2017) The PTA Cultural Arts Program also funds 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 Y 9 Y 9 g these residencies.