Moreland School District gives winning performance

By Melissa Matchak

For the Moreland School District, educating their first- through fifth- grade students about music and dance has been rewarding. The district was recently chosen as the recipient of the Glenn W. Hoffmann award, in recognition of their performing arts program.

The Hoffmann award is given once a year by the Santa Clara County School Board Association to honor an innovative program that has been around for two years or less in any one district. The award is being given to nine different programs in the county this year.

Kristie Porter, a member of the Santa Clara County School Boards Association, said the criteria for the award include the program's student focus, the impact the program has on student performance, the cost effectiveness of the program, the innovation and creativity of the program and the program's ability to be replicated and used at another school.

Loretta Carter, the assistant superintendent for the Moreland School District, said their performing arts program is taught by teachers in the district who travel to six elementary schools to teach music, dance and drama to students in first through fifth grade once a week at each school. She said the students learn how to read music, about different types of music and dance and about different kinds of drama performances.

"The teachers do a very nice job of incorporating music, singing and instruments, such as conga drums and xylophones," Carter said. "They also do drama, such as hand motions to a song or dance."

Carter said the performing arts program is in its fourth year, and the students have two opportunities per year to participate in a performance in front of parents or other students. The elementary schools involved in the program are Anderson Village, Baker, Country Lane, Easterbrook, Latimer and Payne.

"The program gives the kids a great experience," Carter said.

Porter, who observed Moreland district's performing arts program, said the program scored high within the criteria, and was given the award for several reasons.

"I liked that the program went across all grades," Porter said. "The program also integrated ethnic diversity in learning and as part of the curriculum."

The county school boards association sends applications to the districts so they can apply for this award. Porter said the award goes to programs in a number of categories, including middle and elementary school programs, small budget programs, community college programs and others.

The Hoffmann award, which was created in 1988, will be presented to the Moreland School District along with the other winners on Oct. 25, at the Hyatt in San Jose, where each winning program will be highlighted.

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