The Westport Public Schools today were among 307 U.S. school districts cited as a “Best Community for Music Education.”
The designation was made by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM), in conjunction with the SupportMusic Foundation, and the National Association for Music Education.
The Best Communities designation recognizes collaborative, from-the-ground-up efforts of teachers, administrators, students and parents who continually work to keep comprehensive music education as an integral part of the core curriculum, an announcement said.
More than 2,000 districts applied for national recognition in the program, now in its 14th year. Other Connecticut districts recognized with this award include Bethel, Canton, Cheshire, Glastonbury, Newtown, and Weston.
As part of the national celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, the Westport Public Schools will be presenting the Westport Band Festival on Wednesday, at 7:30 pm in the Staples High School Gymnasium.
The program will feature the combined seventh grade and combined eighth grade bands of Coleytown and Bedford Middle Schools, and the combined Staples High School bands -– more than 300 students in all.
The concert is free and requires no ticket for admission. “All are invited to this one-hour concert celebration of Westport’s grades 7-12 bands and Music in Our Schools Month,” an announcement said.
Congratulations to all the students and teachers involved in our Westport Music programs, to supportive parents, and a special thanks to David Winer, Supervisor of Music for Westport K-12!
Note for Staples Music! The Staples Music Parents Association also works hard to support the Staples orchestra, band and choral programs, and welcomes all Staples parents—including current 8th grade parents—to inquire about how parents can lend a hand at Staples.
(Join the Staples music parent community with Staples Music Parents on Facebook. Parents who would like to become involved can send an inquiry to : staplesmusicparents@gmail.com. )
It’s about time Westport’s K-12 music was recognized for its excellence!
Music education is a vital contributor to academic success all the way up through high school. I’m proud to live in a town that recognizes that there are benefits to a strong music program in addition to the value of music education itself.
Morgan Patrick – Staples ‘10