Newsletter Spring 2020 Inspiring Kids to Reach Their Full PotentiaL All artwork by MVMS 7th Grade students This newsletter was produced prior to Covid 19 and Distance Learning. What Makes a Well Rounded Student? Kiddo! Funded Programs Art Band Bel Canto (Girls Chorus) Bluegrass Band Cambiata (Boys Chorus) Chamber Choir Classroom Aides Concert Choir Curriculum- Integrated Drama Dance General Music Guitar Ensemble Instructional Technology Jazz Band Library Aides Music Tech Orchestra Physical Education Poetry Robotics Sixth Grade Chorus Teacher Grants World Language World Music Ensemble Kiddo! is our leading partner for providing vital programs Mill Valley School District relies on Kiddo! for essential in our district, from music and arts education to class- financial support to provide students with experiences room and library aides to innovative teaching grants and and a balanced education that makes all of us proud to so much more. The support from Kiddo! is part of what be a part of this community. It’s all about the sup- makes Mill Valley an incredible place to learn and grow. port; YOUR support of Kiddo!, our staff’s support of our Your financial support to Kiddo! allows our district to students, and Kiddo! support for the programs across develop globally-minded, compassionate, resilient, and our district. Thank you for your continued commitment courageous students to learn and lead change in their to our schools. world. We are so thankful for your part in our excellent schools! Yours in Education, Since 1982, millions of dollars have been provided to supplement Mill Valley School District’s budget. Many of you, our parents, community, and staff, attended our schools yourselves. You benefited from a long-standing commitment to art, music, drama, poetry, dance, P.E., technology support, teacher grants, and library and Superintendent classroom aides. Thank you for continuing this support for future students. kiddo! Budget 2019-2020 School Year INCOME Parents & Parent-Owned Business Partners $2,457,225 Company Matching Gifts 200,000 Endowment Distribution 219,000 Restricted Grants 127,00 Misc. Grants & Other 143,705 Program Reserve Distribution 100,000 Alumni/Grandparents/Community 70,00 Community Business Partners 82,237 Shopping Programs & Events 37,000 Total Income $3,436,868 Expenses Music (Teachers & Supplies) $959,153 Art (Teachers & Supplies) 839,495 Instructional Classroom & Library Aides 410,000 Physical Education 360,000 World Language Pilot Program 126,000 Instructional Technology 123,200 Dance, Drama & Poetry 148,568 Teacher Grants 70,300 Global Studies 50,000 Non-Program Expenses** 350,152 Total Expenses $3,436,868 ** Non-Program Expenses include tax prep, audit, credit card processing, fundraising, office supplies and equipment, staff, printing, and insurance. Kiddo! is rated 4 out of 4 stars on CharityNavigator.com Inspiring kids to reach their full potential In Mill Valley, we focus on providing a balanced education that Outstanding instrumental and vocal music, visual arts, dance and develops the whole child. This means offering high-quality core movement, poetry, drama, Spanish, and global studies programs – and content and arts education programs that build the academic skill set much more – are made possible through the generous financial support and artistic talents of our students. These programs prepare our kids of Kiddo!. Through these classes, students are able to explore different to be critical thinkers, skilled communicators, and creative individuals. facets of themselves, grow their talents in a variety of areas, and shine Maintaining a focus on academics and the arts is integral to ensuring in different ways. With Kiddo!-funded programs, student learning is students are equipped with broad-based knowledge and attributes extended well beyond the basics, giving them opportunities to stretch that enable them to maximize their full potential and thrive in our their thinking and be inspired to reach their full potential. schools and beyond. Simply put, support from Kiddo! allows us to focus on academic Providing a well-rounded education also serves to grow student excellence and artistic expression in our schools. Kiddo! helps us interests and passions that engage kids and get them excited to deliver an unparalleled program to over 2,900 students who think come to school every day. For some, this means diving into hands- critically, express themselves creatively, and excel in our classrooms on science investigations, or exploring how revolutions in the past and beyond. Thank you for giving to Kiddo! every year and improving have direct connections to present day conflicts, or discussing the the quality of education in Mill Valley schools. development of a character over the course of a book. For others, their passions lie in the art room where they can express themselves creatively, or in the music room where students come together to create dynamic musical pieces, or in the Spanish classroom where Director of Curriculum & Instruction they sing songs and learn to communicate in a new language. Mill Valley School District We are fortunate in Mill Valley to be able to offer such high-quality programs that allow students to engage in wide-ranging experiences and develop diverse interests. This is possible, in large part, to the support that Kiddo! provides our schools. A Look Inside Art and Music Education These programs would not be possible without your contributions to Kiddo! Kiddo!’s primary focus is to provide funding for arts education. Research continues to reinforce the value of the arts in cognitive development and improving students’ overall academic performance. Kiddo! provides the funds for all art and music teacher salaries and benefits, supplies, program materials, and equipment for all classes. Visual Art Music Students learn to express personal ideas and feelings using their In grades K-5, students learn about the five elements of music: imagination, memory, and observation. They learn to value originality, pitch, rhythm, expression, form, and texture. The music curriculum artistic freedom, and the art process. The curriculum places art- is designed to teach these elements, and provide various musical making at the center; and aesthetics, art criticism, and history grow experiences, such as performing, reading, listening, describing, out of and serve students’ creative experiences. With opportunities creating, and music appreciation. A new layer of musical foundation is to make choices, students cope with ambiguity and uncertainty, as built as students progress from one grade to the next. Through a variety they exercise judgment in solving their own artistic problems. Through of musical pieces, students experience multicultural perspectives. the making of their own art, students learn to invent, experiment, Students are involved in the creative process through instruments, take risks, make mistakes, and learn from each other. The visual arts movement, and composition. curriculum is student-centered, emphasizing development of their imagination and sensory perception. It integrates six curriculum strands, Through instrumental performance in grades 4-8, chorus for grades including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture/ceramics, crafts and 3-5, and the middle school choral program, students apply their already photography. developed understanding of musical concepts. They attain mastery of several skill areas such as tone quality, pitch, tuning and intonation, All K-5 classrooms receive specialized small group art instruction each and rhythmic and melodic perception. By participating in Chorus, Choir, week for the entire school year. For kindergarten, 4th and 5th grade World Music Ensemble, Orchestra, Band, Jazz Band, or Bluegrass students, half of the class alternates every other week, providing the Band, students receive performance opportunities to share their skills art teachers, as well as the classroom teachers, the ability to work with with the community through public concerts and competitions. small groups of students. Grades 1-3 receive approximately half of their sessions in the half class and the remainder with the entire class. Music Technology This class is designed to introduce students to the world of digital audio Middle school students have the option to attend art throughout the through the exploration of music production and sound engineering school year, attending two studio art classes per week. The curriculum using programs such as GarageBand and Music Studio. Students learn continues to build on elementary concepts as students explore more to create their own music compositions and arrangements to produce sophisticated visual art elements. digital audio recordings. Enriched Education Can Transform Your Child’s Life Our public schools remain underfunded. Fortunately, Kiddo! continues to play a vital role in helping to fund the gap. Since 1982, Kiddo! has been helping to inspire all Mill Valley School District children to reach their full potential by funding quality, comprehensive educational programs in the arts and other worthy initiatives. These deeply-rooted convictions have shaped Kiddo!’s path and how we serve our community. Without funding support from Kiddo!, the opportunity for many K-8 children to realize their greatest potential diminishes. We all know the skills and lessons learned by having a well-rounded education that includes the arts can transform a child’s life. You, our parents, business leaders, educators and community members, are critical