Morley Community School (MCS) students received the gift of music today in a celebration awarding them a $10,000 grant from national music education charity, MusiCounts.
The funds are being used to purchase new musical equipment for MCS’ ‘School of Rock’ music program — including bass and electric guitars, harmonicas, keyboards, drums and percussion instruments.
The MCS and Edmonton’s Prince Charles Elementary were the two highlighted recipients from MusiCounts’ flagship Band Aid Program — which seeks to award schools in need with new musical equipment.
The two First Nations schools, each receiving a $10,000 grant, were presented their equipment in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network — who were on site to film the event, which will be shown as part of their ‘Aboriginal Day Live’ event June 20.
“Our students, in having top quality products, have an opportunity to achieve at their highest possible level,” said MCS principal Wes Malo.
“Our students see what is available to them in the school and what they are able to achieve with hard work and dedication.”
Malo went on to congratulate music teachers Christy Norwood and Adam Branchaud on their hard work and excellent relationship building with students this year.
The Band Aid Program brought music to 69 schools across the country this school year. To date, $300, 000 has been granted to First Nations schools through the program.
Learn more about the charity at musicounts.ca.
Nakoda Elementary School (NES) Grade 5 student Isis Simeon and her teacher Marie Daumler, have been selected as one of 12 pairs of students and teachers out of 2,000 applicants to be ‘Minister for the Day’.
The pair has won a trip to Edmonton June 3 to meet the new Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (to be announced).
Carissa Matthews, vice principal of NES, said the school is very proud of their student and teacher for receiving the honour.
