Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Best Communities for Music Education Award by the NAMM Foundation. The district is one of 975 school districts nationally to be recognized.

According to NAMM, the schools and communities recognized with the award demonstrate a commitment to ensuring music learning opportunities are available for every student and provide an example for other communities to follow.

“We are honored and beyond excited about being selected to receive the NAMM 2024 Best Communities for Music Education Award,” Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Katherine Sinsabaugh said. “This award highlights all the amazing work our music teachers do in our schools with our students. It acknowledges how our teachers spread the love of music in our community, and it’s also reflective of our whole community’s support of our fine and performing arts programing.”

Now in its 25th year, the designation is awarded to school districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. According to the organization, the award program recognizes the collective efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have been instrumental in making music part of a well-rounded education for every child.

Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. To qualify for the designation, the district submitted an application that included information about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music program and community music-making programs. The program applauded the district for its unwavering commitment to creating an environment where each child can participate in quality, robust music making.

Date Added: 4/5/2024

Second graders at King Street School took on the roles of engineers to design and build their own playgrounds. Under the guidance of teacher Anthony Travaglini, they have been fully immersed in the innovative STEAM project.

Having learned about engineering and the design process, as well as how simple machines are used in playgrounds, the students discussed their importance and applications to this project. Equipped with a small paper tray, construction paper, pipe cleaners, foil, paper tubes and masking tape, the second graders collaborated in groups to create a full playground with different types of fixtures. Each student was tasked with creating one fixture for their playground that was both safe and fun for students to play on.

“This is where the fun began as students had to figure out how to take their designs from a sketch on paper to an actual physical model,” Travaglini said. “The students designed some really interesting and creative fixtures – slides, ball pits, swings, foam pools, soccer fields, water slides, you name it, they created it.”

Travaglini said the project-based activity allowed students to take agency and ownership in their learning while being creative and having some fun.

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Date Added: 3/1/2024