The band students at Sampson Middle School have an opportunity for a unique learning experience thanks to a grant from the Simple Gifts grant fund.

SMS band teacher Vevlyn Lowe wrote a grant that would allow her to receive funding that would cover the cost of transportation and other costs associated with travel for master musicians to come to the school and provide master level classes for students.

“The master classes for students provide an intimate setting for students to get direct instruction on their techniques and assistance in improving their talents,” Faith Jackson, community liaison and grant writer for Clinton City Schools, said. “The classes are a smaller setting with the master teacher and students can focus on improving their skills with a master musician.”

Lowe was able to receive the $3,000 grant through Simple Gifts Fund in May 2016 and will be used for the 2016-17 school year.

According to Jackson, grants that are funded for Clinton City Schools provide system teachers and students with additional resources or experiences.

As a former classroom teacher, Jackson said grants are important to enhancing the learning experience for all students.

“When a grantor funds a grant request, they are truly assisting in preparing the future, together with Clinton City Schools,” Jackson explained.

A grant can not only fund resources for classrooms, but experiences for the teachers who can then bring what they have learned back to the students. According to Jackson, students have been able to host guest speakers, authors, musicians, artist and more, visit museums, utilize hands-on manipulatives, and go on life-changing trips.

“Our teachers have been able to increase their classroom resources and participate in professional development through the utilization of grants,” Jackson said. “Clinton City Schools offers professional development to our teachers, through grant funding our teachers are able to have flexibility and attend as much as they can apply and get funded to attend.

According to Jackson, just this year teachers have been able to attend professional development and training in New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Yellowstone National Park, and Brazil, with little to no out-of-pocket expense, nor cost to Clinton City Schools. A teacher from Sampson Middle School was able to follow the Trail of Tears route and bring back information to her language arts students.

“Our teachers and our students, through grants, are getting experiences that cannot be comprehended through a text book or a virtual tour,” Jackson shared. “We are grateful for the grantors that are willing and have a desire to support our teachers and our students.”

A master teacher from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke works with a seventh grade Sampson Middle School band student on his percussion skills.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Band1.jpgA master teacher from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke works with a seventh grade Sampson Middle School band student on his percussion skills.

A seventh grade Sampson Middle School band student practices during a lesson with a teacher that was brought in with funds given to the school by a Simple Gifts Fund grant.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Band2.jpgA seventh grade Sampson Middle School band student practices during a lesson with a teacher that was brought in with funds given to the school by a Simple Gifts Fund grant.
SMS to receive musician master classes through grant

By Kristy D. Carter

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Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.