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AUGUSTA — Several western and central Maine schools have been awarded a grant for band instruments as part of the state’s Maine Kids Rock Initiative.
The state Department of Education announced that 22 school districts have been awarded $5,000 worth of modern band instruments, per school, as part of an expansion of the program.
“The Maine Kids Rock initiative has been a huge success so far,” said Maine Department of Education Commissioner Robert G. Hasson Jr. “We are thrilled to be expanding it by an additional 22 schools in Maine that would not otherwise be able to afford the instruments and specialized training.” in its second year, the initiative is a program developed between the Maine Department of Education and national nonprofit Little Kids Rock.
Selected schools receive all of the instruments and resources necessary to run modern band programs, and partner teachers will receive extensive, direct coaching through Little Kids Rock’s training course Modern Band 102 this fall.
Western and central Maine schools among the 22 new members this year are Andover Elementary School, Hall-Dale High School, Leavitt Area High School, Turner; Molly Ockett Middle School, Fryeburg; Monmouth Middle School; Sherwood Heights and Walton Elementary schools, Auburn; Spruce Mountain Middle School, Jay; Winslow Elementary School and Winslow Junior High School.
Area schools among the 10 initial schools are Crescent Park Elementary School, Bethel; Woodstock Elementary, Woodstock; Meroby Elementary School, Mexico; Rumford Elementary School; Waterville Senior High School.
To be eligible for participation, districts must agree to offer modern band taught by a certified music teacher during the 2018-2019 school year.
Priority is given to schools who serve 50 percent or more free or reduced eligible students. The 22 additional schools join the initiative’s 10 pilot schools, which will continue in the program and receive frequent, targeted professional development. Partner teachers in the second-year cohort will attend a series of virtual professional learning sessions offered monthly and covering a range of topics from hip-hop to singing in modern band and taught by staff from the Little Kids Rock organization.
Additionally, all teachers receive free unlimited access to the newest resources in Little Kids Rock’s online hub, Jam Zone. Next spring, new partner schools will be featured in a public performance at the second annual Concert at the Capitol.
Other schools added this year are Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Frenchville; Easton High School; Glenburn School; Greenville Consolidated School; Lee Elementary School; Mattanawcook Junior High School, Mattawamkeag; Miles Lane Elementary School, Bucksport; Searsport Middle/High School; Sebasticook Valley Middle School, Newport; Walker Elementary School, Liberty; Washington Academy, East Machias; Woodland Consolidated School.
Among the 10 returning schools are also Central Community Elementary School, Corinth; East End Community School, Portland; Hitchborn Middle School and Penobscot Valley High School, Howland; Houlton Middle/High School; Katahdin Elementary, Middle and High schools, Stacyville; Medway Middle School; Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast.
