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Project Goals Our goal as the PTA is to provide necessary resources to support the <br />highest quality educational environment possible, including exposure to the <br />performing arts, particularly for our economically disadvantaged students <br />who may not have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular arts <br />events. At Estes Hills, 29% of our students participate in the Free and <br />Reduced Lunch Program and may not have time and transportation outside <br />of school. The Cultural Enrichment Program would not exist at Estes Hills <br />without the PTA’s funding and support. <br />Over the past few years, income to our PTA and thus the Cultural <br />Enrichment Program budget has decreased. This has been due in part to a <br />decrease in the sustaining funds historically provided by the PTA Thrift <br />Shops, and a decline in state funding for education, which has resulted in <br />greater demands on the PTA’s budget (e.g., providing assistance to <br />teachers and specials programs for supplies and equipment). Artists’ costs <br />have also risen; 8 performances costed us $3,500 in 2016-17, whereas <br />this year we spent $6,350. As a result, we have increased our performing <br />arts budget which takes PTA funds from other programs. W e made the <br />decision that performing arts is a priority; however, we are reliant on the <br />grant funds to achieve the full budget, and to provide our students with <br />cultural opportunities that they otherwise might not experience. <br />Cirruculum and <br />Enrichment <br />Estes Hills Elementary School follows North Carolina Essential Standards <br />for Art Education. Via the PTA cultural arts program, we supplement the <br />curriculum with a deliberate mix of music, dance, and theater. The goal of <br />the K-5 music curriculum is music literacy (particularly singing, percussion, <br />and recorders), response, and cultural context. W ith the PTA cultural arts <br />program, we ensure that half of the performances are multi-cultural, often <br />African and/or Latin in origin, to match the demographics of the school. <br />This year we plan to bring in an African-American New Orleans jazz group <br />and a Congolese traditional musician, both with active student <br />participation. Similarly, the school arts curriculum emphasizes the elements <br />of art, community, and culture. Our performance schedule attempts to <br />highlight the visual arts by hosting two unique theater groups this year: <br />aerial theater and shadow puppetry. The goal is for students to see the <br />concepts they learn about in music and art class in a live performance, and <br />better appreciate the talent of the artists in their community. <br />Audience Description Our intended audience is the entire Estes Hills Elementary student body, <br />Pre-K through 5th grade, for a total of 359 students. Our student body is <br />evenly divided along gender lines (49% Male / 51% Female) and has a <br />diverse racial composition: W hite (57%), Black (11%), Hispanic (11%), <br />Asian (8%), and Multi-racial (12%). At Estes Hills, 29% of students <br />participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Our teachers and <br />staff (60% W hite, 29% Black, 6% Hispanic, and 5% Asian) also greatly <br />enjoy and benefit from the performances, which also serve as exposure to <br />local artists. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 29D07BFE-C479-466C-8F7C-D1E51121B1FE