Newtown's Music Department Recognized
Newtownâs Music Department Recognized
By Eliza Hallabeck
This week Newtownâs Director of Music Michelle Hiscavitch received an official statement from Governor Dannel P. Malloy congratulating the district as being named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation in April.
The announcement made by NAMM in April marked the districtâs fourth time overall earning the distinction, and its third year in a row of being named a Best Community for Music Education.
Ms Hiscavitch said this week the added recognition from Governor Malloy âshows people the arts are important to students.â
Music, she said, can be the light in a studentâs day, adding the Best Community for Music Education distinction helps support the districtâs drive to help create well-rounded individuals.
âI think it is great recognition for our teachers, to our town, that we are educating the whole child,â said Ms Hiscavitch.
This year marked NAMMâs 13th Annual Best Communities for Music Education survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the United States for commitment and support of music education as part of the core curriculum. As reported by The Bee in April, in all, 176 communities out of 237 that submitted surveys were recognized, including 166 school districts and ten schools. According to the foundation, there are 13,619 school districts in the United States.
Each school receiving the âBest Communityâ designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the surveyâs grading process.
âThis award is a tremendous distinction,â the official statement from Gov Malloy reads, âbeing given only to schools and districts that score in the 80th percentile or higher in the surveyâs grading process. Thank you for your work to bring arts education to Connecticut students. Congratulations on receiving this national recognition, and best wishes in your future educational endeavors.â
The NAMM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs from the international music products industry, according to the foundation.