Save Dan and Sasha!

The arts are the reason we chose to send our child to muscota. Our music and art teachers are fantastic and integral members of our community.

Music and Art support the whole development of the child, including academic goals. Dan and Sasha are both indispensible to our community!

Dan and Sasha are crucial to our community. Muscota is a special school because of the people; Dan and Sasha are central to the way our kids learn, treat one another, and grow. These two people, specifically, give our kids the tools to be successful in whatever they do—music and art, yes, but actually everything new they try.

I was much disturbed to hear that the arts programs were cut from the NYC schools this year due to covid. It's proven scientifically that the arts are a very important part of their education and supports their academic learning. This is an elementary school and to have a plan that doesn't include any art program is unacceptable for any NYC student. Sasha has been an integral part of the school and its DNA for 10 years! Her approach is unique and amazing, the perfect outlet for children to be and create while under her direction. No one manages a classroom better the Sasha. I have had the pleasure knowing her for 8 years with one son being an alumni. I'm serving as an art class parent supporting the art program and it's a highlight of my life contributing to this very important part of Muscota. Dan was hired 4 years ago, and he is in a league of his own. He's enthusiasm, knowledge, patient, and teaching skills are superior as well. Both my sons loved music as soon as he came on board. It's one of the few classes my son looked forward to during the virtual learning this spring. His attention to Dan's instructions were impressive. It was clear that Dan had commended his complete respect and trust. He was encouraging to new music exploration my son was doing. Muscota is a community school built around its arts program, to remove these two curriculums and their dear teachers will be very disruptive and detrimental to the success of this semester and school year. We don;'t only need to ensure they are brought back this year for all the reasons above, but to guarantee their continued tenure with Muscota.

Muscota New School cannot be without its Music and Art programs...and their exceptional teachers. Kindly resend this denial and allow our children some semblance of normalcy through the joyand healing power of art and music. thnx

These teachers are the glue that keeps Muscota together. Our kids thrive in their creativity and I could not imagine a School year without them.

Dan and Sasha are an intricate part of our children’s education at Muscota. Now more than ever, our children need to receive arts instruction which are an important way for many of our children to express themselves. When so much has changed in their lives, being able to maintain some normalcy in whichever areas we can do so, are that more important these days. At a more practical level, having Dan and Sasha be able to teach will allow the classroom teacher to engage with the remote students during that period. Thanks in advance for your attention to this matter. Adria (Victoria 1st grade)

If you need any proof of how integral to the community Dan and Sasha are please review last year's remote learning videos. They recorded more whole school messages than anyone else!

Art with Sasha and music with Dan are a part of what makes my daughter love going to school at Muscota. It's heartbreaking to think that they might not be able to come back this year. Please, please recognize that these subjects are important and healthy for the development of well-rounded, happy kids and a key reason we choose this school in the first place.

Arts education is crucial in our children development. The art and music programs at Muscota have given our son so many opportunities to express himself, to be creative and to collaborative on great projects with his classmates.

Please music and art are exceptionally needed for our school and community.

We need Dan and Sasha?

Muscota’s part time arts teachers are essential! This is the ideal time to fight for our arts teachers. Students need it more than ever and our society does not need more unemployed people. This is the time to do the right thing for all the people of NYC. Keep our part time arts educators!

Please allow us to continue having Dan and Sasha work at Muscota! They are essential and our kids need music and art!

Clearly the right thing is for District 6 to support these irreplaceable teachers in our community.

These programs are what makes the school stand out & shine...

I do understand the difficulty that everyone, including the DOE, is having dealing with all the changes due to Covid. Parents and educators are both trying to find a way for NYC's kids to have as educational and fulfilling a school year as possible. With all the changes going on in everyone's lives, the sense of community and "normalcy" that comes from celebrating Muscota traditions is both grounding and reassuring. Dan and Sasha provide some of the most beloved traditions in the school, ones my son looks forward to and enjoys immensely. I have no doubt that there are wonderful arts and music teachers in the DOE, however they just can't be the integral part of our school community that Dan and Sasha are. They don't just provide arts and music education (though they do that amazingly well) they are also part of the heart and soul of the Muscota community, and would provide a wonderful structure and continuity for Muscota's children this year.

Our kids needs the music and art

Keep the arts!!

5 years ago Featured

Dan and Sasha are both important and integral members of the Muscota community. In addition to classroom instruction, they are the driving force behind deeply important Muscota traditions like Candlelight Night and the annual art show.