From the District mailbox:

For those of you with whom I have been lax in recent communication, CityMuse is my non-profit, after-school program that teaches music to elementary kids Grades 2-5 in Long Beach.  The program is based on scientific research–and my personal experiences teaching in LA–that show how children exposed to quality music programs score higher in school, are more creative critical thinkers, and have better discipline and self-esteem than students without music education.  Because of budget cuts in California over the years, and the unfortunate standardized test focus of “No Child Left Behind”, it has become necessary for private programs to step in and provide the arts education that our kids desperately need.

Depending on financing (of course) and our on-going search with Long Beach Unified to find space(s), we are hoping for our initial 2nd grade program of 250 kids to start this September with the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.  Then, another group will be added the following school year as the 2nd graders move up to 3rd, until we establish the ongoing, four-year program–Grades 2, 3, 4, & 5–of 1,000 students.

Please forward the link to all your millionaire friends who care about quality after-school programs for elementary kids!  There’s a handy page on the site for (tax-deductible) donations…

Thanks,
Kirk
www.citymuse.org
e-mail: info@citymuse.org

Tags: citymuse, lbusd, Long Beach, music programs, school