Measure N to build ecARTS PAC

I am Kevin Glaser, President of ecARTS, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to building a state-of-the-art performing arts center and gallery on the campus of El Camino High School that will serve the entire San JuanUnified School District and Sacramento community.

 

The SJUSD Board of Education unanimously approved Measure N for this November's ballot asking voters to authorize $350 million in bonds to support modernization and repair of schools that are now more than 50 years old.

 

WHY ecARTS CARE ABOUT THIS BOND MEASURE:

In addition to modernization and repair, Measure N will provide the necessary funding to build a performing arts center on the campus of El Camino High School that will serve the entire San Juan UnifiedSchool District and the greater Sacramento area. The performing arts center perfectly aligns with Measure N’s guidelines to meet the academic, technological, creative, and career needs of today’s K-12 students. 

 

Thanks to Measure N, future generations of students, staff, administrators, and community groups will have the opportunity to hold public forums, graduations, music and drama performances, lectures, and art exhibitions in a modern facility with state of the art lighting, sound, comfortable seating, and a pleasing environment. A far cry from the gyms, cafeterias and libraries upon which we currently rely.  

SUPPORT SAN JUANSCHOOLS AND MEASURE N  

ATTENTION former, current, and future EC Arts parents and students!

·         Please volunteer just 2 hours of your time to work a phone bank or neighborhood walk.

·         To sign up, got to: http://www.yesonmeasuren.org/get-involved/

·         High school students – receive credit! If you volunteer, you may receive credit with the approval of your political science instructors.  

FIND OUT MORE ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

·  Facebook

·  Twitter

ENDORSE MEASURE N

·  Email: alyson.willey@yesonmeasuren.org to confirm that your name may be used publicly to endorse Measure N.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY VOTING YES ON MEASURE N ON NOVEMBER 6^TH

·  Encourage your friends and family to vote yes as well.

·  You may request a lawn sign at: alyson.willey@yesonmeasuren.org to show your support of Measure N and local schools.

MEASURE N SPECIFICS (Ö indicates where the performing arts center fits into Measure N's criteria):

ü  Modernization of classrooms with current learning technology to support teaching and improve learning.

ü  Installation of other technology infrastructure to support classroom tools.

ü  New, energy efficient, classrooms.

ü  Repair and renovation of bathrooms at campuses to continue providing healthy and safe facilities.

ü  Installation of energy efficient equipment at schools to save on utility bills.

ü  Renovation and construction of physical education and career tech facilities that provide needed job skills for students and our economy.

·         Repair and replacement of deteriorated roofs for improved energy efficiency and longevity.

·         Repair and replacement of deteriorating underground sewer and water lines.

·         Improvements to ensure campus security during and after the school day.

·         Repair and upgrades for safety alarms at schools to protect learning materials and the community's investment.

ecARTS Spearheads El Camino Alumni Association

In 2014, El Camino High School will celebrate the 60^th anniversary of its first graduation! As a gift to the school, ecARTS spearheaded the creation of the El Camino Alumni Association to allow alumni and retired staff members to maintain a connection to their past while simultaneously staying abreast of the ECHS of the future. The ECAA is a ground-breaking development for a school with a long history of talented, community-oriented alumni and staff.

Since its first class graduted in 1954, El Camino High School has never had an organized alumni association. This summer ecARTS, with help from Athletic Boosters, PTSA, students, faculty, and alumni, brainstormed ideas for the creation of a formal El Camino Alumni Association. The current Strategic Plan of the San Juan Unified School District mandates stronger alumni ties to its schools. The school district not only supports our alumni association idea, but may use it as a model for other schools in the district.

A soon-to-be-unveiled website will be the portal to an interactive forum that allows members to stay informed of current activities around the campus as well connecting graduates with reunion committees. An event calendar, school merchandise, and access to ticketed events will also be available. Additionally, the current administration at ECHS recognizes the benefit of the unique contributions of El Camino’s alumni as valued partners in support of learning and hopes to invite community professionals to share their experiences and talents with students.

Watch for our fall launch announcement! The El Camino Alumni Association hopes to usher in a new age of communication between campus and community.

Happy Anniversary, El Camino High School. From ecARTS.

Status update

Our last blog post was May of 2011, but rest assured we have not been idle. In fact, quite the contrary! We hired a fund raising consultant to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of a performing arts center on the campus of El Camino High School. First, we have a new website which fully outlines our vision.

Feasibility study results
The consultant conducted private interviews with alumni, business leaders, and community members selected based on their potential ability to donate $100,000 or more to the campaign. The findings of the study indicate that the need is real and the community is intrigued, but the facility must serve the entire San Juan Unified School District—one of ecARTS’ original stipulations. So we’re definitely on the right track.

Lack of performance space
As a follow-up to the feasibility study, we created an exhaustive list of available performance venues within a 10 mile radius of El Camino High School. The results point to a lack of affordable theater space with 500-600 seats for San Juan Unified students.

Arts programs surveys
Additionally, we surveyed the leaders of SJUSD arts programs and community-based arts programs. The overwhelming findings of these surveys indicate that groups are more than ready for a state-of-the-art theater with a professional stage, sound system, dressing rooms, reception area, and enough seats to accommodate audience members.

Where do we go from here?
Divide and conquer is our new mantra.

1.       Based on survey responses, the Design Committee has created a list of features to be included in the performing arts center with relative square footage requirements. Area architects are providing valuable input and cost estimates.

2.       The Communications Committee is working with the Boosters and PTSA at El Camino High School to develop a comprehensive database of alumni and friends.

Tell your friends, SJUSD alumni, and community businesses about ecARTS’ plan to become a hub for the arts in the Arden-Arcade area.

San Juan School Board Pledges Support for New Performing Arts Center

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education pledged its support in a recent board meeting for the ecARTS Visual and Performing Arts Center at El Camino High School. The Board’s vote of support is a significant milestone and comes as ecARTS celebrates its first anniversary as an official nonprofit organization.

Although school and facility construction is traditionally funded by local taxes or special bond measures, ecARTS is relying instead on private donations and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations.

“Research has conclusively linked participation in the visual and performing arts with higher achievements from students. Moreover, it enhances cognitive abilities which serve students throughout their lives,” said Kevin Glaser, President of ecARTS and the Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair at El Camino. “This performing arts center will not only provide a necessary state-of-the-art facility for El Camino students, but it will be an asset for all students in the San Juan School District and the community at large. We intend to offer educational clinics and summer programs for all community members with a desire to experience the arts. That is our vision; that is our goal,” Glaser said.

“I wish to thank Superintendent of Education, Dr. Pat Jaurequi, whose leadership and encouragement throughout this process has been exceptional; Mr. Kent Kern, SJUSD Interim Senior Director, Facilities and Planning for his oversight and input to the resolution process; and the entire San Juan Board of Education for its unanimous support of ecARTS in adopting Resolution 2564,” added Glaser.

Media Contact: performatec@yahoo.com

1,200 Surprises from El Camino's Student Government Students

April 8 was a BIG day for ecARTS. Members of El Camino's Student Government presented a check in the amount of $1,200 to the El Camino Band specifically designated for the ecARTS theatre project. The entire student government class visited the band room and sang at take-off of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You." The lyrics to the song were re-written specifically for the EC Band and their participation at the recent Powder Puff football game and all the other events the band does on the campus at El Camino. To watch the presentation, click the video link below.

Thank you Student Government!

The "Who Do You Know?" Game

We are looking for connections to major companies such as Smart Water, Geico Insurance, Capitol Coors, 7UP, Raley's, and Coke. If you know someone (or know someone who knows someone), we would love to hear about it. Please email us at performatec@yahoo.com.

On a performance-related note, spring is performance time across the San Juan Unified School District (visit the district's Artsworthy newsletter for a full line up.) On tap this weekend:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
El Camino High School
March 11, 12 at 7:00 pm
Does losing make you a loser? This hilarious musical will take you through the twists and turns of the lives of six young spellers who struggle with puberty and their group of adult advisors mired in their own childhoods.

Tickets available at the door.
$7 students, children, seniors; $9 adults
Contact Sheryl Lee with questions: shlee@sanjuan.edu or 916.971.7996 x 4377

The Magic of Music

Think back to your high school teen years. Remember hearing that song that captured so perfectly the relationship with your significant other? Or the trademark song for your class? Or the music that pumped you up before a big game?

In Sunday’s Sacramento Bee (Feb. 13, 2011), Bruce Maiman discusses the personal and universal magic of music (“Music and its transformative power”). According to Maiman, “Part of music’s magic is that its effects are very personal. Music has the power to cause emotions to well up within us– peaceful, relaxing, exciting, festive, foreboding, unsettling, stimulating, invigorating, and more. These feelings are gripping—often irresistible—and they seem to emerge from nowhere. The color our moods, affect our perceptions and generate a behavioral pattern.

“We now know that music increases the release of endorphins—the body’s feel good chemical—hence soothing the savage beast (or reducing your blood pressure. Newer research also suggests musical training enhances the brain's cognitive abilities. Children taking music lessons have experienced higher IQ scores, increased literacy and mathematical skills, even greater sensitivity to emotional cues in social contexts, two skills critical to emotional intelligence.”

The magic of music lives in these emotional responses. The academic subjects like math and science educate us, while the arts help us make sense of our world. And where better to explore the magic of music than in school band or choir?

Support ecARTS. Educate. Inspire. Entertain.

Last Day for Showcase of Talent Tickets

Today is the last day to purchase your Showcase of Talent tickets to support ecARTS and the student groups who make up the evening's entertainment. Bring friends and family! Munch on delectable creations by Hannibals Catering.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm

Citrus Heights Community Center

The playbill  includes:

• Rio Americano High School Jazz Combo (under the direction of Josh Murray)
• Deterding Elementary School Choir (under the direction of George Dozet)
• Arden Middle School: Choir (under the direction of Pam Mitchell)
• Solo Piano Performance by Justin Eccleston of Orange Grove Adult School
• Del Campo High School Choir (under the direction of Pam Mitchell)
• Solo Dance Performance by Encina High School student Leo Maldonado-Ramirez
• Monologues and Scenes by El Camino High School Theater Students (under the direction of Sheryl Lee)
• El Camino High School Carter Trio Jazz Combo (under the direction of Kevin Glaser)

Tickets, details and directions available at:  

ecARTS Showcase of Talent | Nov. 20

Music~Art~Theater~Food

All the fixings for a great evening out. Bring family and friends. Enjoy performances by:

• Arden Middle School: Choir
• El Camino High School: Monologues by Theater Students
• Rio Americano High School: Jazz Combo
• Deterding Elementary School: Choir
• Orange Grove Adult Ed: Solo Piano
• Del Campo High School: Choir
• Encina High School: Solo Dance
• El Camino High School: Jazz Combo

Saturday, November 20, 2010

7:00 - 9:30 pm

Citrus Heights Community Center

Tickets, details and directions available at:  

The ecARTS Showcase of Talent

Come for the music, the theater, the art exhibits, and the delicious food (catered by renowned Sacramento caterer, Hannibals). Be part of the excitement as featured vocalists, musicians, actors, and visual artists from San Juan Unified School District arts programs entertain you.

Advanced registration required.

Date:     Saturday, November 20, 2010
Time:    7:00 - 9:30 pm
Where: Citrus Heights Community Center

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.

~John Lubbock

Bring your shades!

We'll color your life with the brightness of our students.

ecARTS is a non-profit organization committed to building a premier performance and gallery venue for students in the San Juan Unified School District and the community at large.

Showcase of Talent -- Drama, Music, Art Exhibits, Food & Drink

Celebrate with ecARTS during our Showcase of Talent kick-off event on Saturday, November 20, 2011 featuring talented students from San Juan Unified School District. Discover why our students deserve a performing arts center and gallery.

Reservations required. Visit our event page for tickets and registration information.

ecARTS Pepsi Application Pending

ecARTS applied for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant. If our application is accepted, we need your help! Similar to the $7,500 Raley's grant we won with your help, we need you to vote EVERY DAY from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. (Don't worry. We'll send emails to remind you.)

This is a national grant and only SIX $50,000 grants are awarded. Please be sure you spread the word to friends and family. Every vote counts!

Stay tuned. We'll update you on the progress of our application.

Invitation from El Camino Band/Choir Director, Kevin Glaser

Dear Friend of ecARTS:

I would like to invite you to a very special concert next Friday evening, October 15th, featuring the El Camino Bands and Choir. This concert is special for a couple of reasons. First, this is our first formal concert of the year and the El Camino music students have worked extremely hard to present a wonderful concert so early in the school year. As an educational program, this is where we establish a foundation that will take us forward through the rest of the year as we master the fundamentals and expertise that help us reach that all empowering title of “musician”. This concert is also special because it is the first time in my 17 years at El Camino that the Band and Choir will perform together in a formal setting. As the one and only music director, this was a logical decision.

I know your Friday evenings are “sacred” and reserved for relaxing at home knowing you get two days away from the stress and demands of work. However, if you feel the urge, your presence would mean a lot to the students. There is no charge for the concert, which begins at 7:30pm and will be held at the former Loretto High School gym. The school is now called Alexander Twilight Academy and is located at 2360 El Camino Avenue.

The theme of the concert is “The History of Pop Music”. The show will take the audience on a musical journey from ancient African drumming through contemporary rhythm and blues (and everything else in between). Below is a list of the music that will be performed.

Hope to see you there.

Kevin

The History of Pop Music Program
Dona Nobis Pacem - From the Roman Catholic Mass
Down In The Valley - Early American Folk Song
Music, Music, Music - 1950’s Pop
We’re The Men - Novelty Pop
Build Me Up Buttercup - 1960’s Pop Rock
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine - 1960’s Pop Musical
Night Train - The Blues
The Entertainer - Early 1900’s Ragtime
A String Of Pearls - 1940’s Big Band Swing
Four Brothers - 1940’s Big Band Swing
Getaway - 1970’s Pop Funk
Hava Nagila - Israeli Folk Song
Poet and Peasant Overture - 1800’s Opera
Lest We Forget - Patriotic Tribute
Malaguena - Popular Spanish
The Simpsons - Modern Cartoon
We Shall Lift Lamps Of Courage - Inspirational
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Traditional Hymn
Danny Boy - Irish Folksong
Stars and Stripes Forever - Patriotic March
Disney At The Movies - Movie Soundtracks

Kevin Glaser Interviewed on NBC/KCRA 3

Kevin Glaser tell Walt Gray of NBC/KCRA 3 all about our ecARTS performing arts center project. Watch here: Band Leader Raising Money For Auditorium - Video - KCRA Sacramento

ecARTS on NBC's Education Nation

Channel 3 news will air a story on the state of education in our area, including a special feature on El Camino visual and performing arts.  The story is to air during the 5:00 pm newscast on Wednesday, 9/29. 

Kevin Glaser/ecARTS to be featured on KCRA 3

Kevin Glaser was interviewd by KCRA 3 anchor, Walt Gray, on Thurday for a special report for NBC News Education Nation. Mr. Gray showed particular interest in our performing arts center. We'll keep you posted on air time.

A Note from Our President, Kevin Glaser

As we begin the new school year, many wonderful things are on the horizon for ecARTS. Our primary purpose and goal remains the same; to build a 600-seat state of the art performing center and art gallery on the campus of El Camino High School that will benefit all students in the San Juan Unified School District and the community at-large. At this time we have two projects we would like to share with you and encourage you to participate in.

Founders Campaign
Our current fundraising effort is the formation of a Founders Club. ecARTS invites you to become a member of our Founders Club with a donation of $1,000 to be used for conceptual drawings and an environmental study of the proposed site. All contributors to the Founders Club will be recognized by name on a permanent display to be placed in the lobby of the new arts facility. Individual, family, or business donations are all welcome. This campaign will run through December 31, 2010 with the goal of raising $100,000.

Click the Founders Campaign link above our video for our letter and donation form. We encourage you to share this campaign letter with everyone you know and join us in this project that will have a direct effect on the education of our youth, inspire their talents, and enrich their lives through the arts.

Showcase of Talent
On November 20, 2010, ecARTS will hold a "Showcase of Talent" fundraising event in which SJUSD performing and visual arts students will have the opportunity to perform or exhibit their work to folks who would be interested in supporting this project through financial donations. The goal of the event is to impress potential funding sources by showing how strong and vibrant the arts programs are the San Juan Unified School District. The Citrus Heights Community Center has been booked for the evening of Saturday, November 20th for event, which will include catered food and drink and, of course, our own students showcasing their wonderful talents. This event will provide an excellent venue for supporting our Founders Campaign.

We encourage you to visit our blogspot at www.performatec.blogspot.com to stay informed and up-to-date about our progress. If you have questions, need additional information or would like to be on our ecARTS mailing list, please contact Kevin Glaser at the is email address below.

Kevin Glaser, Band/Choir Director
VAPA Department Chair
El Camino High School
(916) 971-7449
performatec@yahoo.com
View the Eagle Band/Choir Website at:
http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/kglaser/

Exciting NEW developments at ecARTS

1) We have incorporated our organization as Perform at ecArts, Inc., a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. We registered the corporation with the California Secretary of State on May 19, 2010, and are currently applying for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, as well as California tax-exempt status.

2) Save the Date:  Our kick-off gala event is scheduled for Saturday, November 20 at the Citrus Heights Community Center. The evening will feature visual and performing art students from around the SJUSD. Watch for more information!

3) Growing ecARTS: Watch for an ecARTS presentation at a PTA meeting in your school. Soon our ad will appear in your school's newsletter, too.

Founders Campaign Kick-Off Official

ecARTS invites you to become a member of our Founders Club with a donation of $1,000 or more. This campaign will run through December 31, 2010 with the need to raise $100,000 (we increased our original goal from our May 16 post). Founders Club money will be used for conceptual drawings and an environmental study of the proposed site. All contributors to the Founders Club will be recognized by name on a permanent display to be placed in the lobby of the new arts facility. All donations are tax deductible.

Click on the Founders Campaign tab above to read our appeal letter. All gifts may be sent to:
ecARTS
Performing Arts Center at El Camino High School
4300 El Camino Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821

Next ecARTS Meeting

Our next ecARTS planning meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 22 in the El Camino Music building at 7:00 pm. Please feel free to join us.

If you are interested in our Communications & Fund Raising sub-committee, our next meeting is July 14 at 7:00 pm. Please email performatec@yahoo.com for the location.