Obama School Ministry Team
Nancy Heege, Obama School Ministry Team
Plato said, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” And there is a documented connection in children’s academic success between learning math and learning music. Knowing that there was no weekly classroom music program at Obama School, a plan was put in place to form a partnership program with the school and Walker West Music Academy.
We’re grateful to the congregation for supporting the Obama Sunshine Fund and Walker West through Sunday offerings, which provided partial funding for the music program this year. Recently, we learned that a generous Unity Church member donated the remaining $1,500 needed to begin the program.
On Thursdays, children spend time online with a teacher and a videographer, creating video pieces of hip hop or jazz. Each episode is about twenty minutes long. The episodes were to be edited and ready for viewing yet this winter. This has been an enrichment to the scholars' virtual learning routine and has benefited both Obama School and Walker West.
Walker West shared this in their October 2020 newsletter: In a new partnership with Obama Elementary, we expand on our mission and highlight the K-5 student voice, despite limited access to music education in public schools. A series of online videos and mindfulness activities combine cultural representation with interviews of musicians and musical demonstrations. The host and narrator of the series is ten-years-old and videos are presented via remote learning this school year.
Thanks again to all who contributed!
Plato said, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” And there is a documented connection in children’s academic success between learning math and learning music. Knowing that there was no weekly classroom music program at Obama School, a plan was put in place to form a partnership program with the school and Walker West Music Academy.
We’re grateful to the congregation for supporting the Obama Sunshine Fund and Walker West through Sunday offerings, which provided partial funding for the music program this year. Recently, we learned that a generous Unity Church member donated the remaining $1,500 needed to begin the program.
On Thursdays, children spend time online with a teacher and a videographer, creating video pieces of hip hop or jazz. Each episode is about twenty minutes long. The episodes were to be edited and ready for viewing yet this winter. This has been an enrichment to the scholars' virtual learning routine and has benefited both Obama School and Walker West.
Walker West shared this in their October 2020 newsletter: In a new partnership with Obama Elementary, we expand on our mission and highlight the K-5 student voice, despite limited access to music education in public schools. A series of online videos and mindfulness activities combine cultural representation with interviews of musicians and musical demonstrations. The host and narrator of the series is ten-years-old and videos are presented via remote learning this school year.
Thanks again to all who contributed!
