In 2023, videos/art forms again were submitted by the participating students at the Sandy Springs-located public schools (middle schools and high schools) explaining why the arts were so impactful to them. Using the school’s arts teachers as judges, three finalists were named for those schools.

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In addition, some school’s music students participated in the statewide Large Group Participation Evaluation (LGPE). LGPE is sponsored by the Georgia Music Education Association and is an evaluation process for musical performance and sight-reading abilities for individual students, performing groups and teachers. LGPE affords a valuable opportunity and motivation for learning. Finalists were then determined.

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Over 1,300 students participated, and each school received $8,250 to enhance their arts programming. Schools purchased much needed art supplies such as instruments (clarinets, saxophones, violins, cellos, etc.), class art supplies (paint, brushes, palettes, clay, etc.), sheet music, tools for theatre set constructions and costume creation, lighting equipment to boost production options, supplies and equipment for an annual arts festival, and other needs that arise in the creation of student artwork and performances.

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We are proud of each way students were involved in an art contest format for our “Art in Action” program.

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Our student-to-student mentoring program that started in 2023 will conclude in the Spring of 2024.

 

A new initiative to reach out to elementary schools occurred this year. We partnered with two elementary schools: Woodland Elementary and Lake Forest Elementary.

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We worked with Woodland Elementary to provide instruments loved by the kids – ukuleles! The school was unable to continue leasing them; therefore, we funded the purchase of 30 ukuleles for the school’s music program. We also partnered with Lake Forest Elementary to send 20 children to summer camp in Sandy Springs at La Dee Da Children’s Art Studio in 2024.

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We have now supported six of the 11 public schools in Sandy Springs! We plan on continuing to reach out to other public elementary schools in the future.