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General Music Education:
"Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it's essential to being human."
- Jewel - singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist.
General music education is part of every classroom, every week.
Instrumental Music Education:
Instrumental classes in strings, choir and band are held after school. Each class meets twice each week. Band and String ensembles perform at various events and participate in adjudicated music festivals.
Band:
Starting in the fourth grade, students may enroll in Beginning Band. Concert Band is for students in the fifth grade and above who have achieved a sufficient level of ability. This band focuses on refinement of musicianship through a variety of literature.
Beginning Band (4th grade and above)
Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:15-4:00pm
CCDS Concert & Jazz Band (open to 5th grade and up, minimum one year of experience required)
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3:15-4:00pm, Fridays from 1:15 to 2:15pm
Choir:
CCDS Choral Program ~ Ruth Greenfield, director
Singing Class (open to 1st through 4th graders)
Wednesdays from 3:10-4:00 pm
A fun introduction to music through singing. Kids will learn note and
rhythm reading, good vocal production, and ensemble skills through games,
songs and performances. Performances include two open-house type casual
performances, caroling before the holidays, and two formal concerts.
CCDS Concert Choir (open to 5th through 8th graders)
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:10-4:10 pm
A performance choir designed to prepare music students for high school and
college choir experiences. We will average one performance per month, in a
variety of different settings. Students will continue ear and theory training,
sing in multiple harmonies, and even work on their acting skills while
singing. Performances will include festivals (we will be going to Vallejo
again in April), concerts, community events, and a gala of staged musical
theater scenes.
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Art is offered to all students first through sixth grades during the regular school day. Grades 1 through 3 attend art class once per week for ninety minutes, and grades four through five attend art for three hours every three weeks. Sixth and seventh graders have art as an elective option.
The art and drama curriculum follow the Visual and Performing Arts Standards for the state of California, and all art instruction is integrated with the classroom curriculum. Among the topics taught by our credentialed art teacher are:
- art appreciation
- painting
- watercolor
- sculpture
- drawing
- design
- block printing
- art in the garden
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The library is a focal point for CCDS. Several years ago, our parent community raised enough seed money to start our library at CCDS and this effort continues. With help from the Chico Rotary Club, we were able to move our library again this summer.
We now have over 4000 volumes and a part-time staff person dedicated to operations. Each class visits the library every week and students may check out books to bring home. Library time often consists of reading a book as a class and having time to pick out a book to take home, or research for the upper grades, as well as opportunities to look, read and bring home a book for reading fun. Our school celebrates Read Across America every year, and our Librarian hosts the annual Dr. Seuss Birthday breakfast with help from our Parent Teacher Partnership and other volunteers.
To learn more about our Library or to volunteer to help in our Library, e-mail Lesli McCutcheon or phone her at 895-2650 x 225.
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The "CCDS Outdoor Classroom - A Natural Laboratory and Garden" began a few years ago and is a community space that brings students, faculty, and parents together in a spirit of appreciation for our resources.
It provides a dynamic learning environment in a hands-on natural laboratory and assists our school in meeting state standards by integrating basic academic skills with a broad range of subjects:
- nutrition
- ecology
- science
- mathematics
- language
- art
- social studies
- business
The Outdoor Classroom fulfills the CCDS charter by emphasizing environmental education in order to prompt students to perceive systems and patterns, think broadly, and analyze the long-term effects of human activities. It requires ethical behavior, community involvement, and cooperative problem-solving.
This program is entirely funded by donations and grants, including a grant from the Butte Rose Society for a Peace and Friendship Rose Garden.
CCDS has a partnership with River Partners in learning about restoration and habitat along the wetlands in Butte County. Our school, in partnership with River Partners, received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for a Wildland Preserve Learning Center, where we will take an acre of land to be restored and create an Outdoor Learning Center that is hands-on and dynamic, restoring natural habitat and giving our students the opportunity to learn about sustainability and restoration. Our first graders go to a River Partners site every year, and in 2005 we began a 3- to 5-year project where students can learn about planting, replanting, and monitoring a restorative site.
We also received a grant to study recycling and reduce waste at our school. Currently our 6th and 7th grade classes are very involved in recycling, collecting recyclables on a weekly basis.
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