$25,000 Grant will Launch Band Program at Local Elementary

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation:

Cielo Vista Charter School is preparing to be the only elementary school in Palm Springs Unified School District with a traditional band – complete with woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The band is possible thanks to a $25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight grant presented by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and CBS Local 2.

“Since Cielo Vista became a charter school four years ago, I’ve envisioned a band program here,” said Lynda Lake, Cielo Vista Charter School Principal. “Receiving the grant from the Berger Foundation was the jump start we needed to ensure that all our students who want to participate in the band will have access to instruments.”

Tuition free and unrestricted by geographic boundaries, Cielo Vista Charter School has about 800 students from transitional kindergarten through 6thgrade. About 79 percent of the student body is considered economically disadvantaged, and 39 percent are English Language Learners (ELL). Cielo Vista had been a traditional elementary school in the Palm Springs Unified School District since 1952, but in 2010 it became the district’s only charter school, which means it has more anonymity with its budget and curriculum.

“Cielo Vista has made enrichment programs a priority, and they have seen their students benefit from this philosophy,” said Catharine Reed, Senior Program Officer for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

Last year, Cielo Vista Charter achieved the highest marks of all PSUSD elementary schools on state standardized tests by scoring a 904 API. For the last four years every student has received weekly music instruction from the school’s full-time music teacher Michael Fergon. With the start of 2014-2015 school year, an additional band teacher, Jillian Bacon, was added to the regular schedule, and all students will also be exposed to a variety of instruments.

“This is one of those times where we will truly be able to see a before and after snapshot of what the Coachella Valley grant money can do,” said Mike Stutz, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates CBS Local 2. “We will certainly be back in a few months to see how the band is coming along at Cielo Vista Charter School and how the students are benefitting from this opportunity.”

As part of the award, Cielo Vista Charter School will be featured on CBS Local 2’s “Eye on the Desert,” in public service announcements and on the www.cbslocal2.com website. Cielo Vista Charter School is located at 650 S. Paseo Dorotea, Palm Springs. For more information visit www.cielovistacharter.com or call 760-416-8250.

(Photo: Representatives from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, along with CBS Local 2, presented a Coachella Valley Spotlight check to Cielo Vista Charter School for its music program, which is expanding to include band.)