Graham School to receive instruments from Guitar Center Music Foundation
Fourth grade students at Graham School sang in their music class on Thursday, February 8, 2024, but soon several of them will have new instruments to play. Graham School was recently approved to receive a grant from the Guitar Center Music Foundation for musical equipment.
The Guitar Center Music Foundation awards up to $5,000 in musical equipment to schools across the US that are chosen based on need. Guitar Center will supply the school with new instruments and mouthpieces for instruments, so Graham School will also be able to repair and utilize equipment they already have.
“When I started this position on November 30, I was excited and hopeful about how we could build our arts programs districtwide in music, theater, visual arts and dance,” said Creative Executive Director Angela Hall. “Just two and a half months later from when I first started, Graham School receiving this grant just keeps the hope and passion alive inside of me!”
Several music teachers from schools across the District applied for the grant after Ms. Hall notified them of it, but only Graham was selected for the award. Guitar Center will deliver the equipment to Graham School, and the instruments will be added to their supplies for students interested in playing them. Their music teacher plans to use the equipment to start a fourth-grade band.
“Having a school band will help in many ways,” said Anthony Stelmach, music teacher at Graham. “It helps the students with confidence, and they learn to work with a team since some of them don’t do sports. Everyone has their own role, and they’re working together to create that cohesive sound as a unit. Music also involves mathematics with rhythms, tempo and form, so they’re just making different connections which is very helpful.”
Students are looking forward to the new instruments, and some have already chosen the ones they want to play.
“I’m really excited because there will be so many new sounds, and it will sound amazing,” said Amber Booker, fourth grade student at Graham. “I want to play the trombone because it’s like a bass, and I really like the way it sounds when people play it.”
The fourth-grade band will start off with only brass instruments. Mr. Stelmach hopes that the relationship with Guitar Center will continue into upcoming years, so they can introduce new instruments and grade levels to the band. The school intends to request woodwinds and other instruments to complete their band.
“I think that for a school like Graham, the idea that someone is giving them something that they need is morale building,” said Ms. Hall. “Everyone was just excited that a basic need for us is being met. It just makes me feel so incredibly fantastic.”
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Students in Tabitha Shelton’s sixth-grade class warmly welcomed Sgt. Rasheem Thomas to their classroom last week to have a discussion and learn about what it means to be a veteran. Sgt. Thomas served in the United States Marine Corps for a decade and continues to live a life of service by teaching others, keeping people safe and being an active member of his community.
On Monday, November 4, 2024, first graders at the Graham School took part in a fun and educational mock election. Students chose between the candidates “Duck” and “Farmer” based on the children’s book “Duck for President,” by Doreen Cronin. They are eagerly awaiting the results. Through this activity, students got a hands-on opportunity to learn about voting and the democratic process.
Graham School welcomed the Mount Vernon Fire Department on Thursday and Friday, October 24 and 25, 2024. The pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade classes enjoyed a demonstration on subjects such as “stop, drop and roll,” calling 911, and what an escape plan was. They were also able to sit on the fire truck and carry the fire hose. What a great experience for the little scholars! Thank you to the Mount Vernon Fire Department!
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Over 100 fathers, grandfathers and father figures walked into school with their children for Graham School’s Dads Day on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. They also joined the kickoff of Graham School’s reading challenge and read with their children outside.