Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dr. David Leach has noted his intention to move Ms. Elissa Maynard from WVMS to the elementary schools next year. This move would effectively eliminate Wire Choir, which so many of the MS orchestra students love.
Many of the Wire Choir members were in tears when they found out about the change and loss of a favorite teacher. Some are considering dropping the orchestral instruments completely.
BENEFITS TO KEEPING HER IN THE MS:
- Ms. Maynard allows the students to play modern music, which challenges them to rethink the use of the orchestral instruments;
- There is a mutual respect between Ms. Maynard and the students.
- She has them to participate in community events, such as concerts on the Green
- Students from the elementary program will grow more with her in the MS, allowing them numerous years of interaction and development in her classes.
Since Ms. Maynard uses her multi-faceted talents to bring orchestral instruction out of the classical arena, the students are challenged and engaged. Her talents would be squandered on the elementary students who are just beginning their studies in orchestra.
PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE WIRE CHOIR AND MS STRINGS PROGRAM!
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Updates
June 16, 2015
The administration is still refusing to meet with us to discuss losing the Wire Choir program. Post this petition to your Facebook page today and email Dr. Leach directly to tell him why Ms. Maynard belongs in the middle school.
June 16, 2015
The momentum behind this petition is proving that the administration cannot ignore the value of the Wire Choir. Take this energy and email your representative on the school board today to demand they keep Ms. Maynard where she belongs.
16 Comments
Mrs. Maynard's programs motivate children to play string instruments and elevate their level of performance. At string concerts, the conversation often returns to how Wire Choir inspires students to participate in and continue with orchestra. Mrs. Maynard has a gift. She is able to build an appreciation of music in students at an age where orchestra often becomes "uncool". This "gift" did not happen by magic however. It took years of hard work and dedication to build up her programs. Please do not throw that away. It is rich programs such as hers that make a good school great.
Ms. Maynard has done such an amazing job at instilling a love for music in the children she teaches. Her wire choir is the main reason many of the kids take a stringed instrument. To lose the momentum this fabulous group has added to the music program is criminal, and reason enough to keep her at the middle school!
Ms. Maynard changed my daughter's life. She went from mild curiosity to a love of the violin... A love that has driven her to do NYSSMA even when she swore she'd never do it. Moving Ms. Maynard would be a huge mistake. Huge. Please don't do it.
When I was a student in Ms. Maynard's class 7 years ago it was the best year of my life. I loved wire choir. It is where I met some of my best friends that I still have to this day. I loved it so much that the night of one of my performances with Ms. Maynard I had fallen and at the time was in a lot of pain. My mom wanted to take me to the ER but I wouldn't let her because I didn't want to miss playing for Ms. Maynard. Later to find out after that I had actually broke my foot/leg in 3 places! So needless to say Ms. Maynard has/had such an impact on my life that I wouldn't let anything stop me from performing for her!
Our 5th grade daughter told us that Mrs. Maynard inspires her. We have never heard her say that about any of her other teachers. If she loses Mrs. Maynard she is not going to continue in Orchestra. I know she is not the only student that feels that way, What a shame!
My youngest daughter is going to be a Junior, and has been playing the violin since she was in 4th grade. She actually quit after 4th grade, as she was uninspired. Then, in 6th grade, she met Mrs Maynard. This woman turned her musical life around. The music program has been exceptional, and getting to know Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Blaikner personally, has been wonderful. If it was not for Mrs. Leonard, Vicki would probably have given up on the violin after the elementary school. The music experience in the Elementary School was very different. Something that you may not know: Mrs. Leonard is like the Pied Piper of music. Her students happily follow her around playing the instrument for which she has developed their love. Every time she performs, whether it is at a school function, Wire Choir, or the Sugar Loaf Summer Festival, she invites her students to be a part of her performances. The experience they gain by doing that is immeasurable. My daughter LOVES being a part of the Wire Choir (she is a co-leader, which is a title Mrs. Leonard gave the older students) and she feels like she is a part of something that really matters. She has developed a love of her instrument, and Mrs. Leonard has guided her from the beginning. She tried out for Chamber Orchestra, and was accepted. She has participated in All County and NYSSMA, and is really proud of her accomplishments. Her mentor every step of the way, was Mrs. Leonard. Please don't underestimate the value of this woman in Warwick's Music Department. Her energy, enthusiasm and absolute love of her instrument is contagious. A teacher teaches, Mrs. Maynard inspires. There is a huge difference. The importance of a quality music department in the years that children are "finding themselves" (Middle School) can not be undervalued. If these children drop out of the music department because of lack of guidance, there is a much greater potential that they will fill their time with something that is not as po
Update: Dr. Leach is supposedly reconsidering his decision to place Mrs. Maynard in the elementary school. A final decision will be made over the summer. Thank you guys for writing heartfelt emails and letters. Every single one of you made a huge difference. I am extremely proud that we were able to take our passions for music and put it in writing. Mrs. Maynard is a wonderful MIDDLE SCHOOL teacher. It's where she belongs. It's where her family is. Hopefully, the district officials will feel the same way. Love you all and go orch dorks!! ~Brianna Flood, co-leader of Wire Choir
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dr. David Leach has noted his intention to move Ms. Elissa Maynard from WVMS to the elementary schools next year. This move would effectively eliminate Wire Choir, which so many of the MS orchestra students love.
Many of the Wire Choir members were in tears when they found out about the change and loss of a favorite teacher. Some are considering dropping the orchestral instruments completely.
BENEFITS TO KEEPING HER IN THE MS:
- Ms. Maynard allows the students to play modern music, which challenges them to rethink the use of the orchestral instruments;
- There is a mutual respect between Ms. Maynard and the students.
- She has them to participate in community events, such as concerts on the Green
- Students from the elementary program will grow more with her in the MS, allowing them numerous years of interaction and development in her classes.
Since Ms. Maynard uses her multi-faceted talents to bring orchestral instruction out of the classical arena, the students are challenged and engaged. Her talents would be squandered on the elementary students who are just beginning their studies in orchestra.
PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE WIRE CHOIR AND MS STRINGS PROGRAM!
Updates
June 16, 2015
The administration is still refusing to meet with us to discuss losing the Wire Choir program. Post this petition to your Facebook page today and email Dr. Leach directly to tell him why Ms. Maynard belongs in the middle school.
June 16, 2015
The momentum behind this petition is proving that the administration cannot ignore the value of the Wire Choir. Take this energy and email your representative on the school board today to demand they keep Ms. Maynard where she belongs.
16 Comments
Mrs Maynard is THE reason that my daughter picked up violin again in the 6th grade. She took in during 4th grade, and was not inspired. She dropped it in 5th grade and then met Mrs. Maynard -- she changed her view of music and my daughter is now going into 11th grade and is part of the Chamber (honors) Orchestra, NYSSMA, All County and Wire Choir! Please keep Mrs Maynard where she can do the greater good for the older students that may not continue without her!
Mrs. Maynard's programs motivate children to play string instruments and elevate their level of performance. At string concerts, the conversation often returns to how Wire Choir inspires students to participate in and continue with orchestra. Mrs. Maynard has a gift. She is able to build an appreciation of music in students at an age where orchestra often becomes "uncool". This "gift" did not happen by magic however. It took years of hard work and dedication to build up her programs. Please do not throw that away. It is rich programs such as hers that make a good school great.
Ms. Maynard has done such an amazing job at instilling a love for music in the children she teaches. Her wire choir is the main reason many of the kids take a stringed instrument. To lose the momentum this fabulous group has added to the music program is criminal, and reason enough to keep her at the middle school!
Ms. Maynard changed my daughter's life. She went from mild curiosity to a love of the violin... A love that has driven her to do NYSSMA even when she swore she'd never do it. Moving Ms. Maynard would be a huge mistake. Huge. Please don't do it.
When I was a student in Ms. Maynard's class 7 years ago it was the best year of my life. I loved wire choir. It is where I met some of my best friends that I still have to this day. I loved it so much that the night of one of my performances with Ms. Maynard I had fallen and at the time was in a lot of pain. My mom wanted to take me to the ER but I wouldn't let her because I didn't want to miss playing for Ms. Maynard. Later to find out after that I had actually broke my foot/leg in 3 places! So needless to say Ms. Maynard has/had such an impact on my life that I wouldn't let anything stop me from performing for her!
Our 5th grade daughter told us that Mrs. Maynard inspires her. We have never heard her say that about any of her other teachers. If she loses Mrs. Maynard she is not going to continue in Orchestra. I know she is not the only student that feels that way, What a shame!
My youngest daughter is going to be a Junior, and has been playing the violin since she was in 4th grade. She actually quit after 4th grade, as she was uninspired. Then, in 6th grade, she met Mrs Maynard. This woman turned her musical life around. The music program has been exceptional, and getting to know Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Blaikner personally, has been wonderful. If it was not for Mrs. Leonard, Vicki would probably have given up on the violin after the elementary school. The music experience in the Elementary School was very different. Something that you may not know: Mrs. Leonard is like the Pied Piper of music. Her students happily follow her around playing the instrument for which she has developed their love. Every time she performs, whether it is at a school function, Wire Choir, or the Sugar Loaf Summer Festival, she invites her students to be a part of her performances. The experience they gain by doing that is immeasurable. My daughter LOVES being a part of the Wire Choir (she is a co-leader, which is a title Mrs. Leonard gave the older students) and she feels like she is a part of something that really matters. She has developed a love of her instrument, and Mrs. Leonard has guided her from the beginning. She tried out for Chamber Orchestra, and was accepted. She has participated in All County and NYSSMA, and is really proud of her accomplishments. Her mentor every step of the way, was Mrs. Leonard. Please don't underestimate the value of this woman in Warwick's Music Department. Her energy, enthusiasm and absolute love of her instrument is contagious. A teacher teaches, Mrs. Maynard inspires. There is a huge difference. The importance of a quality music department in the years that children are "finding themselves" (Middle School) can not be undervalued. If these children drop out of the music department because of lack of guidance, there is a much greater potential that they will fill their time with something that is not as po
Update: Dr. Leach is supposedly reconsidering his decision to place Mrs. Maynard in the elementary school. A final decision will be made over the summer. Thank you guys for writing heartfelt emails and letters. Every single one of you made a huge difference. I am extremely proud that we were able to take our passions for music and put it in writing. Mrs. Maynard is a wonderful MIDDLE SCHOOL teacher. It's where she belongs. It's where her family is. Hopefully, the district officials will feel the same way. Love you all and go orch dorks!! ~Brianna Flood, co-leader of Wire Choir
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Mrs Maynard is THE reason that my daughter picked up violin again in the 6th grade. She took in during 4th grade, and was not inspired. She dropped it in 5th grade and then met Mrs. Maynard -- she changed her view of music and my daughter is now going into 11th grade and is part of the Chamber (honors) Orchestra, NYSSMA, All County and Wire Choir! Please keep Mrs Maynard where she can do the greater good for the older students that may not continue without her!