Thank you Dr. Anzalone for your petition message, we appreciate your thoughts and support for our school district.
Our community is experiencing a difficult time, and it is important to acknowledge that the impact extends beyond just the music teachers. Our hearts go out to all the families affected by these changes. We may not fully understand the challenging budget situation you are facing, but we know that we all want the best for our community, and this is not easy for anyone involved.
Our music teachers are not only educators for our children; their influence extends beyond their classroom because they have become our community celebrators. They foster a sense of belonging for everyone in this town and provide parents and music lovers with opportunities to connect through concerts, theater performances, and volunteer work. We cannot emphasize enough how valuable their role is because they bring us together despite our differences and disagreements. We were honored to see that our school board members all attended The Music Man at Liberty Middle School this weekend.
Our music teachers serve a role similar to that of coaches. The Camas School District understands the importance of after-school activities where children can connect, as evidenced by our multiple no-cut sports. Our music performances serve the same purpose for many families.
Music also creates a bridge amongst the many different people who live in our town. The band performs at football events, and during the middle school musicals parents volunteer and collaborate to create something special. The orchestra performs at the yearly musical, drawing attendees from outside our community. Music students sing Christmas songs downtown and at the retirement center. All of these activities connect people and build a sense of belonging. Plenty of evidence exists about how a sense of belonging positively impacts individuals and communities, and without this sense of belonging, kids choose destructive behaviors. The cuts the district are enacting amount to 20% at our largest middle schools. Middle school is such an important time in a person’s life, where music begins to take on a deeper meaning. Thank you so much for signing our petition and supporting music in Camas Public Schools!
We cannot afford to lose these uniquely gifted music educators from our community simply because they may need to find jobs elsewhere. Our students need them, and our community needs them now more than ever. We all have the best interests of our community in mind, so let’s work together to find creative solutions to some of our challenges.