Stamford Public Schools Announces Collaboration With Intempo

Information via Stamford Public Schools.

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Public Schools (SPS) has announced a collaboration with Stamford-based youth development organization Intempo to continue offering high-quality classical and intercultural music education to SPS New Arrivals Classrooms (NAC).

NAC supports students in grades 1-12 who have been in the U.S. for one year or less and have minimal English, providing intensive English language development.

New Arrivals students participate in SPS music, art and physical education programs, just like any other elementary student. The collaboration with Intempo adds high-quality music education as an additional enrichment experience in the classroom.

The program is made possible through direct support from SPS and in-kind donations sought by Intempo. Programmatic expansion since 2021 was made possible through a two-year grant from Impact Fairfield County.

Intempo has been providing interactive, intercultural music programs to SPS classrooms since 2019. The New Arrivals Program at SPS is part of a broader program that also engages public school students in Norwalk Public Schools.

"We are making every effort to bring visibility to the children who are newcomers in our town, and what better way to help them learn a new language than through something positive such as singing and making music together. Music is a third language for them and Intempo faculty is pleased to support the district and classroom teachers in accelerating their English language acquisition," said Intempo founder and CEO Angélica Durrell in a news release.

The New Arrivals Program uses a research-based curriculum to help students become confident English speakers and engaged students through music instruction. Last year, more than 200 students participated in the specialized music program in Stamford and Norwalk.

"Stamford Public Schools has had a long partnership with Intempo," added SPS Coordinator of English Learners Dr. Monica Lahiri-Hoherchak. "The programs have aligned their enriching music experience to the topics that students are already focusing on in the New Arrivals classroom. This allows students to use the same vocabulary in multiple ways."

According to SPS, Intempo has operated an after-school music program for Stamford elementary students since 2017. Its after-school music program at Roxbury Elementary School offers an introductory class, tailored to students’ age, interests, and abilities.

All students in the Stamford Public Schools explore music through movement, theory and performance opportunities. Students study music history and world music through listening and analysis. One of the goals of the SPS music program is to enrich the lives of students by exposing them to diverse musical and cultural experiences.