As
Arlington's students and teachers enjoy the field trips and field days
of the last weeks of school, the Arlington Schools Foundation
celebrates the results of our work in the 2008-09 school year. We are
especially excited about our efforts on behalf of the arts, which we
want to be an integral part of every Arlington child's school
experience. We thank Superintendent Kathy Bodie, Social Studies
Director Kerry Dunne, and all the elementary school principals and
teachers who have worked so hard to put our Enriching Elementary
Education initiative into practice. Most of all, we want to thank
you--for making this work possible.
Thanks to Enriching Elementary Education, second graders in all seven elementary schools enjoyed the district's new Japan
curriculum, developed by teachers in ASF-sponsored workshops last
summer. Besides visiting the Japan House at the Children's Museum,
students learned about topics like Japanese geography, communities,
money, clothing, and writing. One of the highlights of the curriculum
is its integration of art and music.
Projects in these areas included origami, Japanese masks, woodcuts of
Mount Fuji, paper carp, murals of Japanese scenes, Japanese songs, and
Taiko drum performances.
Thompson
2nd grader Grace Biondi learns about Japan at the Children's Museum's
authentic "Japan House"; Japanese masks made by Bishop 2nd graders;
and a Japanese drummer from Odeiko New England visits Arlington's
elementary schools.
This summer, ASF is
sponsoring social studies curriculum
development workshops for third and fourth grade teachers. Third grade
teachers from every elementary school will meet to plan their new
History of Massachusetts curriculum, and fourth grade teachers will be
working on learning goals, activities, and resources for their study of
North American Geography. As in the other grades which have
participated in collaborative planning, a key focus for these workshops
will be creating learning activities that connect the social studies
curriculum with literacy, math, science, music, and art.
Further expanding the scope of Enriching Elementary Education, ASF has
funded the purchase of innovative materials to support the new social
studies curricula in every elementary school. From floor maps, to
website subscriptions, to music materials from Latin America, Japan,
and Africa,
these resources will stimulate diverse activities and engage all
students in learning. New history and geography textbooks present
the most up-to-date content in appealing formats, and teacher resource
kits will help teachers expand upon their content.
Along with classroom music programs, this year, thanks to a
generous anonymous donor, ASF also has been able to support Arlington's
Instrumental Music program. One of the many unfortunate side effects
of the current economic situation has been a steady rise in fees for
activities like music lessons. In its first year, the Arlington Public Schools Musical Instrument Support Project
provided aid to 18 students otherwise likely to drop out of the music
program. In the coming year, the reach of the program will expand to
include instrument rental, along with lessons, and we look forward to
increasing the numbers of students served. ASF has invested the
anonymous donor's original gift to enable long-term support for this
invaluable effort.
Feeling inspired to help us support Arlington's teachers and students?
Make a donation on the Arlington Schools Foundation website.
As
Arlington's students and teachers enjoy the field trips and field days
of the last weeks of school, the Arlington Schools Foundation
celebrates the results of our work in the 2008-09 school year. We are
especially excited about our efforts on behalf of the arts, which we
want to be an integral part of every Arlington child's school
experience. We thank Superintendent Kathy Bodie, Social Studies
Director Kerry Dunne, and all the elementary school principals and
teachers who have worked so hard to put our Enriching Elementary
Education initiative into practice. Most of all, we want to thank
you--for making this work possible. 
