October 2011
Connecting the people of Vancouver Public Schools

Download Riding the waves of music 10-13-2011 (3.61 MB)

Duration: 3:54 m

Riding the waves of music


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Music saved me. I often tell audiences this personal story to illustrate the importance of the arts and our district’s deep commitment to educating the whole child. In fact, if it weren’t for the dedicated music educators in the Bethel School District who nurtured my passion in music, college would not have been possible. A music scholarship to the University of Puget Sound was my ticket out of generational poverty. As a trombonist, I played in the university wind ensemble and jazz band. For more than a decade, music inspired and consumed me. I suspect that our outstanding music educators in VPS have influenced thousands of students’ and graduates’ lives in similar ways.

This year, Vancouver Public Schools will roll out a “Balanced Scorecard” that reports on multiple measures across seven areas: student learning results; student and stakeholder satisfaction results; budgetary and financial results; employee results; organizational effectiveness results; leadership, character and social responsibility results; and national benchmarking results. The purpose of this scorecard is twofold. First, to tell a more complete story of student, staff, school, and district success. Second, to use the data to inform future action positively. The measures are broader and more balanced than just state assessment results.

One of the key performance indicators on the scorecard, for example, tracks evidence that our students have access to a breadth of program offerings that are responsive to students’ needs—including the arts. Our 2010-11 scorecard reports that 100 percent of our students in grades 1-5 participate in the arts. Sixty-six percent of our middle school students, and 34 percent of our high school students participate too. That’s remarkable, really, when so many other districts across our country have been forced to make painful program reduction decisions over the past several years due to state budget cuts. Even more compelling than the hard data are the anecdotal stories, the “soft” evidence that breathes life into the measures. They make the metrics dance.

Let me tell you a bit about one amazing bus ride.  On August 24 at Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, 60 students from around the county spent a day with staff from the John Lennon Foundation Educational Tour Bus learning how to use state of the art music and video recording technology, equipment and software. Seven VPS students were selected to create and produce a complete music video in the mobile recording studio, interacting with professional engineers and producers.

You’ve got to check out the production story segment.

AVID video

And watch the music video.  Created in just ONE day.  

John Lennon Bus Music Video

Emily Bryan, Salena Walker, Daniel Beggs, Nick Shaw, Stone Laurilla, Isaac Chamberlain and Alosha Weyman

Now, how’s that for evidence of success?  We can’t measure it with a “fill-in the bubble” test, but we know it when we see it.  Finally, some public policy makers are beginning to see it, too. 

I know that we are deeply committed to educating the whole person—preparing our young people with the knowledge, skills, and habits for post secondary success. You are inspiring a generation of young people to pursue their passions to the fullest. And, our nation and community will be served better because of it.

Thanks again for all that you do.

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Episode 001: Helping a new student find her way home
Episode 002: Walking together for kids
Episode 003: "Heart work" endures
Episode 004: Mentoring "pays it forward"
Episode 005: Teachers inspire a family
Episode 006: Employees brighten the work environment
Episode 007: Our own prodigal son
Episode 008: A community mourns the loss of Gordon Patterson
Episode 009: Harvesting dreams
Episode 010: Seeing challenges as opportunities
Episode 011: Attitude makes the difference
Episode 012: Putting students first
Episode 013: Coming home
Episode 014: Superheroes of Vancouver Public Schools
Episode 015: Highlighting "Bright Spots"
Episode 016: Gifts for the future
Episode 017: Equitable funding for our children
Episode 018: Working together to meet our students needs
Episode 019: Rx for student success: Instructional rounds
Episode 020: Riding the waves of music
Episode 021: Discovering one's voice; there's an app for that
Episode 022: Graduation…The key to a better life
Episode 023: Wrestling against the odds
Episode 024: One employee, one school district to watch
Episode 025: Gifted young poets inspire and excel
Episode 026: Fortitude
Episode 027: Being present
Episode 028: New year's resolutions
Episode 029: Springing into new beginnings
Episode 030: Lessons from the NSBA Education Technology Site Visit
Episode 031: Phoenix rising—and graduating—from the ashes
Episode 032: Storytelling
Episode 033: From the community come reasons to be thankful
Episode 034: The giving spirit
Episode 035: Lewis and Clark transforms with blended learning
Episode 036: New technology tools
Episode 037: Success stories draw governor, mayor
Episode 038: All I really need to know
Episode 039: As one chapter ends, another begins
Episode 040: Jumping over achievement gaps
Episode 041: Compassion strengthens district

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