Please ensure that band and orchestra continue to be an option for IB students at W-L. Having a broad range of experiences during high school that INCLUDES the arts is so vital to students' education, and should be treated as just as much of priority as the remainder of the IB curriculum. Thank you for ensuring that these critical music offerings are available to ALL students at W-L.
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Laurie Lenz
3 years ago
Making students choose between IB and music makes no sense and diminishes the IB program. I’m so tired of my kids having to choose between music and all the other things they want to do. In middle school they couldn’t do music and art, or music and theater, or music and STEM. Now they have to choose music or IB. Stop putting these options in competition!
J
Jessica Pignataro
3 years ago
I’m a veteran School Counselor and can speak to the strong connection between music/arts and academic success. It is impossible to understand why the administration would choose to exclude musicians/artists from IB courses (and vice versa). You have a responsibility to provide opportunities for academic rigor AND allow students to explore their talents in the visual and performing arts. Anyone proficient in master scheduling should be able to make this happen, if they care enough about the students to put in the work.
N
Nicole Pignataro
3 years ago
How sad that a decision would be made where students would have to choose between music and arts or the IB program! Students should have every opportunity to access every program within reason and this is completely unreasonable! We want well rounded students and this isn’t the way. When we talk about student connection to schools, when we talk about students social and emotional wellness and then take away the opportunity to access the very programs designed to meet those needs, we have failed our children. Please do better by our children and rethink your decision to make IB students have to choose between music/art and pursuing the full IB program!
G
Gretta Sandberg
3 years ago
Featured
I have been a high school orchestra director for over half a century…..I KNOW how much a music program does for each individual student AND for the community at large. PLEASE keep the music programs intact!!
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Linda Hardy
3 years ago
My daughter completed the IB diploma and participated each year in choir at W-L. Both were important to her and prepared her in different ways for college and beyond. Please do not make students choose between IB and their love of music.
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Linda Allen
3 years ago
Keep music for juniors and seniors!
S
Simeng Suy
3 years ago
Every year my son has to go through a lot of stress trying to fit in his orchestra schedule with IB requirements. He had to shuttle IB courses and endless emails back and forth with teachers and counselor before school starts because the Fall schedule didn’t come out till 1 week prior to the Fall semester.
A
Alvina McHale
3 years ago
In my experience as a parent, I learned over and over again that if young people are highly motivated but the workload will be difficult, what a wonderful life lesson it is to learn that in stretching oneself, we learn so much about ourselves and our capacity to work hard. Why would an Arlington school deny that life lesson to some terrific and talented young people?
C
Cheryl Colbert
3 years ago
I agree with the comments others have made.
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Victoria Fisher
3 years ago
I would have been lost without the arts in high school (choir/band) on the path to my college degree. Please do not make this change.
L
Linda Wirtz
3 years ago
Music is a vital part of education. This decision is not well thought out and will be detrimental to the students.
C
Christina Headrick
3 years ago
Don’t make this change. The arts are a core part of an education. What an AWFUL proposal.
K
Kurt Eberly
3 years ago
Music is creative and expressive and should be an integral part of the IB program! This is a no-brainer. Thanks!
D
Diann Vaughan
3 years ago
The arts is such a pivotal part of education, and shouldn’t be taken away from students because they are wanting the rigor of the full IB program as well.
A
Alicia Roundy
3 years ago
My daughter is a rising Freshman committed to doing full IB. She also is super excited to do percussion in both band and marching band. I hope a change is made so that students can do both.
P
Patricia Rodriguez
3 years ago
My son did music all four years and IB. He is now working in the music business. It would be a shame to deny this in the future
A
Anonymous
3 years ago
Think of the message you are sending to your students by excluding band from the IB program.
E
Elisa Rosman
3 years ago
IB & Arts education should not be mutually excusive!
Community Member
Please ensure that band and orchestra continue to be an option for IB students at W-L. Having a broad range of experiences during high school that INCLUDES the arts is so vital to students' education, and should be treated as just as much of priority as the remainder of the IB curriculum. Thank you for ensuring that these critical music offerings are available to ALL students at W-L.
Making students choose between IB and music makes no sense and diminishes the IB program. I’m so tired of my kids having to choose between music and all the other things they want to do. In middle school they couldn’t do music and art, or music and theater, or music and STEM. Now they have to choose music or IB. Stop putting these options in competition!
I’m a veteran School Counselor and can speak to the strong connection between music/arts and academic success. It is impossible to understand why the administration would choose to exclude musicians/artists from IB courses (and vice versa). You have a responsibility to provide opportunities for academic rigor AND allow students to explore their talents in the visual and performing arts. Anyone proficient in master scheduling should be able to make this happen, if they care enough about the students to put in the work.
How sad that a decision would be made where students would have to choose between music and arts or the IB program! Students should have every opportunity to access every program within reason and this is completely unreasonable! We want well rounded students and this isn’t the way. When we talk about student connection to schools, when we talk about students social and emotional wellness and then take away the opportunity to access the very programs designed to meet those needs, we have failed our children. Please do better by our children and rethink your decision to make IB students have to choose between music/art and pursuing the full IB program!
I have been a high school orchestra director for over half a century…..I KNOW how much a music program does for each individual student AND for the community at large. PLEASE keep the music programs intact!!
My daughter completed the IB diploma and participated each year in choir at W-L. Both were important to her and prepared her in different ways for college and beyond. Please do not make students choose between IB and their love of music.
Keep music for juniors and seniors!
Every year my son has to go through a lot of stress trying to fit in his orchestra schedule with IB requirements. He had to shuttle IB courses and endless emails back and forth with teachers and counselor before school starts because the Fall schedule didn’t come out till 1 week prior to the Fall semester.
In my experience as a parent, I learned over and over again that if young people are highly motivated but the workload will be difficult, what a wonderful life lesson it is to learn that in stretching oneself, we learn so much about ourselves and our capacity to work hard. Why would an Arlington school deny that life lesson to some terrific and talented young people?
I agree with the comments others have made.
I would have been lost without the arts in high school (choir/band) on the path to my college degree. Please do not make this change.
Music is a vital part of education. This decision is not well thought out and will be detrimental to the students.
Don’t make this change. The arts are a core part of an education. What an AWFUL proposal.
Music is creative and expressive and should be an integral part of the IB program! This is a no-brainer. Thanks!
The arts is such a pivotal part of education, and shouldn’t be taken away from students because they are wanting the rigor of the full IB program as well.
My daughter is a rising Freshman committed to doing full IB. She also is super excited to do percussion in both band and marching band. I hope a change is made so that students can do both.
My son did music all four years and IB. He is now working in the music business. It would be a shame to deny this in the future
Think of the message you are sending to your students by excluding band from the IB program.
IB & Arts education should not be mutually excusive!