CultureLEAP Awarded Grants for Cultural Programming in the Worcester Public Schools

WORCESTER, MA – CultureLEAP has been awarded two grants for cultural programming in the Worcester Public Schools to take place during the 2010-2011 school year:

The Amelia Peabody Foundation has awarded $10,000 to pilot the EcoTarium’s Mission Explore- Astronomy program with eight 5th grade classrooms. The program will support science, math, and English language arts curriculum and will impact approximately 200 students.

Ernie Boch Jr.’s Music Drives Us Foundation has awarded $10,000 to implement the Music-To-Go program of Music Worcester’s Music Guild, in partnership with the Joy of Music Program, with all 6th graders in the 34 elementary schools in the district. The program will support music and math curriculum and will impact approximately 1,500 students.

Both programs will be integrated directly into curriculum the students are learning in the classroom and will meet Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks. These hands-on cultural learning experiences bring learning alive for students and are designed to support academic achievement, promote creativity and critical thinking, and spark curiosity and a love of learning.

Throughout the 2009-2010 school year, over 5,000 students and teachers have been exposed to the wealth of cultural resources in Worcester County through programming with CultureLEAP’s cultural partners. CultureLEAP is a coalition of cultural institutions, funding partners, and the Worcester Public Schools that links students and teachers with the extensive cultural resources of Worcester County. By matching these connections to the curriculum of the Worcester Public Schools, students learning experiences are expanded beyond school walls

The Amelia Peabody Foundation seeks to increase the number, range, and depth of positive learning experiences available to materially disadvantaged young people living in the cities and towns of Massachusetts.

Ernie Boch Jr.’s Music Drives Us Foundation supports music in New England and seeks out organizations and individuals that are interested in using music as a tool for all segments of society and for all age groups.

CultureLEAP programs have also been funded through the generosity of Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Cultural Commission, Webster Five Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Abbott Labs, CC Lowell, Checkerboard, and many residents of Worcester County who support arts-integrated education.

If you would like more information, please contact Kristin Bafaro, CultureLEAP Executive Director, at 508-735-9567. 

cultureleap.worcesterschools.org