The George Washington Elementary Boosters Club received a $10,000 matched donation from Warner Bros. Entertainment on the last day of school, May 26, at a school-wide concert.
“Our Boosters main focus is to fundraise for weekly music instruction in grades Pre-K, TK, Kindergarten and first grade because the District funds weekly music instruction in grades second through fifth,” explained Washington Principal Brandi Young.
“Our school also started a Washington Band this year in fourth and fifth grade,” she added. “Fifty-five students have learned to read music and play an instrument such as flute, percussion, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.”
The Washington Boosters Club pays for two teachers from Education Through Music – Los Angeles (ETM-LA) to lead weekly vocal classes for TK – 1 and the fourth- and fifth-grade band. Erik Garcia teaches TK – 1 and Dr. Rachel Hockenberry leads the band.
Anne Reinking teaches the BUSD-funded weekly music program at the school for second through fifth graders.
Additionally, Garri Dance Studio was hired to teach weekly dance instruction for six weeks to every student at Washington Elementary through the Boosters program.
Young’s Burbank Business Partner is Mary-Elizabeth Michaels from Warner Bros. Michaels, along with Warner Bros.’ Lisa Rawlins, helped start the Washington Elementary Boosters Club during the 2015-16 school year.
Washington Boosters held two Match $10,000 campaigns during the 2015-16 school year. At the Winter Concert, $5235.14 was raised by Washington families and supporters. At the school’s first ever Spring Dance on March 18, the second Match $10,000 campaign was held.
“With the efforts of our wonderful Washington families and Burbank Partners, we were able to raise a total of $14,413.40!” said Young.
“Our goal is $20,000 per school year in order to continue these wonderful music programs as well as [to] assist our fifth graders with attending Outdoor Science School in Thousand Pines, California.”
Washington Elementary Boosters Club is more than half way towards reaching their goal of $20,000 and are still accepting donations at: www.supportburbankschools.org/washington.
