Grants
Encore Singers Become Music Teachers
Amount Requested: $5,000
Duration of Grant: 10/31/09-11/30/09
Number of Students: 35
Grade level: 11-12
Subject(s): Service Project
Grant Proposal:
Upper Darby High School was invited to participate at the 25th anniversary of the annual Fall Forum of the Coalition of Essential Schools. The theme of the forum is "Changing Schools, Changing Lives". Upper Darby has partnered with CES for the past five years as they have helped UDHS implement its Freshman Academy and the Smaller Learning Communities initiatives. CES wanted to showcase Upper Darby High School for the excellence achieved everyday with its comprehensive curriculum - outstanding offerings in the core subjects, and specifically excellence in music, the fine arts, athletics, and all of its extracurricular opportunities. The High School is seizing the opportunity to do a service project, and travel to New Orleans (site of the Fall Forum) and change the lives of students in schools in the Lower 9th ward - still absolutely devastated now many years after Katrina. These schools are open but only offer core subjects - Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. No music or arts are offered and most schools still have not rebuilt their libraries. Physical Education takes place outside in the stifling New Orleans heat and humidity with no facilities and little equipment.