Music Monday: Celebrating Character Education through the Arts

Close to 150 students from Rainbow Schools will come together on Monday, May 2, 2011 for a unique Music Monday event celebrating character education through the arts.

Original songs, drama, dance, videos and visual art works will be presented at a public concert at 7 pm in the Sheridan Auditorium at Sudbury Secondary School. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost to attend. Donations will be accepted to support a designated local charity whose work impacts children and youth.

Students and their teachers have been working with community artist Pandora Topp and Rainbow District School Board Arts Education Co-ordinator Ralph McIntosh since early March. Students were invited to research an aspect of character education, one of the seven Grandfather teachings, or a social justice issue related to the curriculum to create original art works.

Art works include drama and dance presentations, sculptures, quilting, a martial arts display, and several original songs. The evening will end with all participants singing the Music Monday theme song.

“The public concert is a culmination of their efforts,” says Ralph McIntosh. “It will be a wonderful showcase of character and creativity as students communicate important messages through the arts.”

Participating schools include Algonquin Road Public School, R.L. Beattie Public School, Churchill Public School, Lansdowne Public School, Long Lake Public School, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Princess Anne Public School, Cyril Varney Public School and Wembley Public School.

“The first Monday in May is always Music Monday, a national celebration of publicly-funded music education,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “It is also the beginning of Education Week, an ideal time to celebrate character education through the arts. Both provide the foundation for well-rounded citizens and serve to foster student success.”

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Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.