Vega Productions again brought the Easy Dunker along with a silent auction, raffle and free breakfast (for everyone who stopped by early) to the Bella Madre Festival over Memorial Day weekend. Vega was raising money for music and art programs in schools that surround Harmony Park outside of Geneva, MN. Over $1,000.00 total was raised - so thank you to everyone who bid on silent auction items, paid for dunk tank balls and raffle tickets and special thanks to the brave souls who slid onto the hot seat for a dunking!

Thank you to Ryan Kiehn and Mindzeye Photography and Branden Eastwood for the great shots and to Chris and the Bella crew for a wonderful weekend! Stay tuned for information regarding our final donation...

On Friday May 14, 2009, Vega Productions made a donation to the Rochester Public School System as a result of the Family Jam IV Concert which was held earlier this year. The school requested 12 iFlip camcorders to record their music students practicing as well as a 10 DVD orchestra instructional set. The entire donation totaled 13 iFlip camcorders and the 10 DVD set with a total value of $1500.00.

Thank you to MJG Productions, artist Chuck Hues, Ability Building Center of Rochester, Kroger, Pharmaceutical Specialties, and to all of the bands(Mr. Sticky, Two Many Banjos and Steeztronic) who played at the event.

Labels: Rochester, Two Many Banjos, Vega Productions

Here is a profile of Maxfield Magnet Elementary School along with their need and how Rock the Boat II will help this school by building new music and art programs and enhancing existing programs.

School Name:
Maxfield Magnet School
380 N. Victoria Street
St. Paul, MN 55104

Principal:
Belinda Green
belinda.green@spps.org

Phone: (651) 293-8680
Website: http://maxfield.spps.org/%5C
School hours: 9:05 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.

Enrollment (2007-2008)
Maxfield: 317

School Demographics (2007)
African American: 85%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 3%
American Indian : 0%
Hispanic/Latino: 3%
Caucasian: 3%
Free and reduced lunch qualified: 93%
Special Education: 16%
English language learners: 13%

Saint Paul Schools (SPPS) District Profile:
One of the country’s most diverse and successful urban districts, SPPS serves over 38,000 students SPPSs student population is diverse. Students hail from countries throughout the world, speak more than 70 languages and dialects, and come to the district with an array of educational experiences and skills. Their experiences help us create a multicultural educational energy that supplements classroom lessons and helps all students and staff develop a better understanding of the world in which they live.

Vega Fundraiser to Benefit Maxfield Magnet:
Vega Productions has the unique opportunity to support instrumental, vocal and African drumming music education and instruction at Maxfield Magnet School. Maxfield is an elementary school serving students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school’s
vision is to provide students a place where they can grow and reach their highest potential. As a community of students, staff, and parents, Maxfield is developing a culture of respect and peace. Through collaboration, high expectations, and community partnerships, Maxfield ensures students achieve high academic success and celebrate their accomplishments.

The arts are a valued component of this vision and are essential to the success of Maxfield’s children. In 2008-2009, a grant application to bring visual arts professional development, curriculum and art supplies to Maxfield students and staff, was written and funded; this was a start to bringing more arts to the school. Maxfield is extremely interested in adding more arts instruction, student arts experiences and arts professional development for teachers. They wish to become an arts focused school. Music creation, performance and exposure are exciting and Maxfield staff realize that the arts are powerful and will help students to develop both interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities. The arts play an important part in reaching and retaining Maxfield’s at-risk students as they progress from grade to grade.

Need:
No Child Left Behind federal law identifies the arts as a core academic subject, like math, science, and language arts, and schools have an obligation to provide a quality education in these core subject areas. This year especially, the District faces extreme budget cuts. A decrease in funds affects all areas of pubic education – from staffing to instructional supplies and materials. Musical instruments and other arts materials are costly and arts education has historically been a content area that is first to be reduced. Next academic year, the elementary instrumental staffing will be reduced to half. Ten teachers will be serving 47 elementary schools. Additional resources are needed to adequately fund arts education in the schools, especially in these challenging economically times.

Maxfield students have extremely limited visual and performing arts instruction. There is no visual arts, theatre or dance specialists in the school. In fiscal year 2010, their current instrumental teacher’s allocation will drop from .5 to .1 – instrumental music instruction will be provided for just one day a week for fifth and sixth grade students next year. Despite this challenging picture, Maxfield is determined to bring more arts to students to further engage them and create a school that celebrates a form of expression that universal, yet unique to every child.

Maxfield Students:
Maxfield students are unique in that they represent the highest elementary school population of free and reduced eligibility in the district, the 4th highest students of color percentage and highest population of homeless students who are bussed from St. Paul, Minneapolis, surrounding suburbs and as far as Hastings. The school also serves two classrooms of pre-kindergarten students. The arts are an effective way to reach thee students who everyday deal with the challenges of having their basic human needs met.

Results:
By bringing more musical instruments and arts resources into the school, the resulets expected are that Maxfield students will have increased and in-depth music learning experiences involving creating, performing and responding to the arts. They will develop greater high-level critical thinking skills and for Maxfield’s homeless and the at-risk youth, the arts will be a creative outlet that helps them connect to their feelings and with others and to the school as community.

For more information please contact:
Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez
Supervisor, Visual and Performing Arts
Saint Paul Public Schools
345 Plato Boulevard E.
Saint Paul, MN 55107

Phone: 651 744-1302
Fax: 651 744-1399
jan.spencer@spps.org
http://thecenter.spps.org/arts.html