Eustis Middle School Has Improved Test Scores AGAIN! Does being a band member have anything to do with this?

The 8th graders of Eustis Middle School blazed a trail to the top of the list in Lake County, topping all other middle schools in every category!
EMS was tops in the county amongst the 9 middle schools with a percentage of 57%. That was not only tops in the county, but was also above the state average. 
By the way, EMS was the only school to be above the state average at the 3.5 level!

How Do We Know If Participating In Our Band Program Helped With This? 

We Have About 125 students. 

Well over ten percent of the school 

belong to our band program. 

What else can be done? We need even more children to complete our program because learning music notation makes learning easier.

About 20 percent of the City of Eustis’ population of 18,600 residents is student age.

• Right here at our school we have a student population of approximately 1,050 students, which is a large student body. About 28% of the total Eustis student population is at our school, Eustis Middle. 
• 36 percent of our students are minorities.
• 51 percent of the total student population qualify for and receive free or reduced lunch
• Math proficiency is 10-20 percent lower at our school than the statewide average.

Our fine school rates well on FCAT scoring, ranking 72 out of 100, and our school consistently earns an A rating, something of which we are very proud

The numbers show that Eustis High School ranks 50 out of 100 on the FCAT exam.

We feel that we can help to raise that number by at least 25% percent on the FCAT standardized exam at the high school if we continue to improve our music education program here in the middle school level.

We know that Eustis High School has a 77% graduation rate, something to be proud of! The graduation rate is high among other cities, but we feel that it could be, and would be, improved upon with improvements to our music program.

Research proves that the long term benefits of a strong music education program can help to raise the graduation rates to 94% and beyond.

Currently, only about 17% of our high school graduates continue on to earn a higher education degree, with only 5 percent earning graduate or higher degrees. This is a number that our program aims to change.

However, among those with a long-term music education, 80% are likely to go on to earn a masters degree or better. In addition, statistics show that of people with a doctorate degree, 80% are well trained in at least one musical instrument. Truly, the statistics show the benefits of a music education! 

 Congratulations Eighth Graders! Move on up to The Eustis High School Panthers and keep up on that learning! 

You guys are the next leaders, teachers and community of our tomorrow! 

And Our future is brighter for it!
Information is from http://lake.k12.fl.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=2214&ModuleInstanceID=14454&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=44501&PageID=10109 

Instrumental Adoption Program

 

The Eustis Music Association is driven by a passion to promote music education. The Foundation's mission is supported and accomplished through raising money for music scholarships, donating musical instruments and products to the under-privileged, and donating the use of music instruments to the music education community. 

Lots of families have used musical instruments that their children have outgrown or simply no longer use, and they are just taking up space. Now you can give another child the joy of music and a tax deduction.

"From the minute a child is taught how to play an instrument, he's no longer poor. He becomes a child in progress, heading for a professional level, who'll later become a citizen" - Maestro Jose Abreu, founder of El Sistema music program.

Allowing for the advantage of re-testing, the results of the study revealed that there is significant improvement for underprivileged children in the the following areas:

• Receptive and expressive Language
• Letter ID
• Puzzle assembly
• Numeracy in the areas of verbal counting, and estimation magnitudes
• Fluid and quantitative reasoning
• Critical thinking

Research has proven this over and over again. Although the results could not conclusively say that music training by itself is responsible for the increase in these areas of cognitive thinking for underprivileged children, it does support the hypothesis that music can be highly effective as a means to an end, the end being improved cognitive function and increased IQ.

What the studies show is that the small group and one-on-one interactions with teachers provided increased opportunities for attention training and training in social interaction, both of which are listed as lacking in school aged children in surveys conducted amongst teachers by the Pew Research Group.

In an age where the forms of stimulation commonly craved by underprivileged children can be counterproductive to positive thought and interaction, music provides an outlet to stimulate healthy cognitive and expressive development. Music can also reinforce positive social interactions and provide much needed opportunities for attention span development.  It is becoming more evident that music and social development for all children (especially underprivileged children) go hand in hand.

Click here to fill out our instrument adoption form.

Group Photos 2012-2013 Eustis Middle School Mustang Band

Group Photos For 

Advanced Band

Steel Drum Band

and

Jazz Band

2012-2013

 

Thank You To All Members Of Our Band!

Mr. Ricke had almost 150 students this year!

We would like to see over 200!

So please ask your guidance counselor at the beginning of the school year to make sure you have band class in your schedule. This works best if you do all of this during open house. Right before school opens. Please keep a watch and I will post a reminder as well as the date!

We are looking for Local Sponsors

LOCAL SPONSORS ARE NEEDED!

We are trying to fund our local scholorship program that The Mustang Music Association calls The MSP 

(Mustang Scholarship Program).

 

This program funds the following 

1. Any Needed Shirts or Uniforms
2. Any Needed Books
3. Instrumental loans
4. Instrument Repair Fund
5. Universal Parade Bus and Ticket
6. Summer Band Camp Program

Our goal if to raise $5,000 during this 2013-2014 school year to fund this program. This program has been implemented in our Mustang Family for a long time now. BUT The Mustang Music Association is doing more and more to make sure funding is there when needed.

If your family or small business is interested in supporting the band please see the sponsorship form below.

Currently, in order to participate in the band program, students are required to purchase or rent an instrument, buy a uniform, provide entry fees for competitions and absorb the transportation cost for these trips. 

 Most of the funds have to be provided by the parents.

Our goal through community support is to help offset some of these expenses and to provide those students with the greatest financial needs the opportunity to be able to participate in our school’s music program through scholarships. Boys and girls who are active in the arts, especially in a music program, are shown to maintain higher GPA’s, are more likely to complete a higher level of education and in turn give back to their community.

Donating to the Eustis Mustang Band Program 

is an investment in our future!

Please become an EMS Music Education Partner today.

Blue level and above donations will be recognized in BOTH the Eustis Middle School and Eustis High School Band literature throughout the coming school year.

This equals twice the exposure for your business!

Thank you, we appreciate your consideration and support.

Cherrice Purvee, Eustis Mustang Music Association President, eustismustangmusicassociation@gmail.com

Under the direction of Mr. Gerald Ricke, EMS Band Instructor, rickeg@lake.k12.fl.us

Make checks payable to Eustis Mustang Music Association and include your business card.
18725 Bates Ave. Eustis, FL. 32736 Phone 352-357-6220

 All donations will receive an honorable mention on our band blog

http://eustismustangband.blogspot.com

$10.00____ $25.00____ $50.00____ $100.00____ $250.00____ $500.00____ $1000.00____

Partnership will be recognized in the following way:

Level         Amount                                                    Recognition

Blue         $100.00           Name recognition in all High School and Middle School Programs

Gold         $250.00           Business card ad in all High School and Middle School Programs

Mustang     $500.00         Gold level plus a link to website on EMS Mustang Band Webpage

Director     $1000.00        Mustang level plus your business/name on the EMS Mustang Band Trailer

If you are interested in sponsoring our music education program please click here for a printable form.

Next Years Band Calander...

“►” indicates a change or an

Fall Semester - All Dates and Times are tentative and subject to change

AUGUST

12) Eustis Mustang Music Association (EMMA) 6pm Ems Band Room

23 - Sept. 4) Fall Fundraiser- 13 DAYS- Students must have parental permission to participate

26) Former Steel Drum Member meeting 8am.

27) Beginner Instrumental Music display – 4:30-6:30pm – EMS Band Room

SEPTEMBER

9) EMMA Meeting – 6:00pm EMS Band Room – 2^nd Monday of each month

9&16) Steel Drum Auditions - Times TBA

11&25) Music Mentors (MM) High school students mentoring MS Students - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have ride here at 4p!

21) All State Band Auditions- Location – Clermont Middle School, 8am-1pm-audition times TBA

23) Weekly Steel Band Rehearsals Begin 8:00 am

OCTOBER

4) Beginner Assessment Trial period 7 week evaluation sent home with beginners.

11) MS Marching Band Night @ Eustis High – 5p-end

9&23) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

14) EMMA 6:00 pm EMS Room

14) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

18) Band shirt order DEADLINE – order forms and $ are due today to have shirt for the winter concert.

18) Last Day of Music Trial Period

NOVEMBER

1) Sign up DEADLINE for Solo and Ensemble contest – entry form and fee is due today.

2) FYI – High School Marching Contest – Leesburg - 10 am to conclusion – Middle School Students wearing EMS Band shirt admitted at no charge.

4) EMMA, 6:00 pm EMS Band Room – This is the 1st Monday.

4) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

This is the 1st Monday.

6&20) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

14 or 21) Winter Music Concert, 1^st Baptist Church of Eustis, on State Highway 44, (Orange Ave) 7pm Seating and Warm-Up 6:15 pm

DECEMBER

3) District 19 Concert Honor Band Auditions- Belleview HS- times TBA

4&10) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

TBA) Band Picture Day by Gigante Productions- all bands in uniform-during class

5) Golden Triangle Christmas Jazz Concert - TBA

6) Solo/Ensemble selection chosen, purchased, and handed in to Mr. Ricke

TBA) Leesburg Holiday Music Series- Towne Square Downtown Leesburg- Jazz Band – time TBA

9) EMMA 6:00 pm

9) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

Spring Semester - All Dates and Times are tentative and subject to change

JANUARY

8-11) FMEA – All-State Band – Tampa Convention Center

13) EMMA 6:00 pm

13) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

15&29) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

23-25) District 19 Honor band rehearsals and Concert - Th. & Fri. rehearsals TBA-Sat. morning rehearsal, afternoon concert. Location-South Lake HS.

31-Feb 11) Spring Fund Raiser - Butter Braid Pastry - 11 DAYS- Students must have parental permission to participate

FEBRUARY

3) All District Jazz Auditions Carver MS – 5-9pm

6) Jazz A Thon - 4-8pm - Ems Band Room - dinner provided – Required jazz attendance

10) EMMA, 6:00pm EMS Band Room

10) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

12&26) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

20) Jazz Contest District 19 at LSCC HS-REQUIRED OF ALL JAZZ BAND MEMBERS-NO EXCEPTIONS-Times TBA

21&22) District 19 Solo/Ensemble @ Tavares HS-times TBA

MARCH

1) Washington's Birthday Festival Parade-ALL EMS BAND MEMBERS

10) EMMA, 6:00pm EMS Band Room.

10) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

12&26) MM - EMS Band Room 3-4:00pm. Have rides here at 4p!

20) Jazz workshop w/jazz revue guest soloist - TBA – 8-11:00am @ MS Jazz – 12:30 -4:00 @HS jazz

21) Jazz Revue – MS & HS Bands – First Baptist Church of Eustis- times TBA

APRIL

1) Advanced Band-A- Thon 4-8pm - dinner provided – Required concert attendance

3-5) District 19 MS Jazz Honor Band Festival – Forest HS, Ocala

11&12) District 19 Concert Band Music Performance Assessment – REQUIRED OF ALL

ADVANCED BAND MEMBERS-NO EXCEPTIONS-Lake Minneola HS - specific date/times TBA

14) EMMA, 6:00pm EMS Band Room.

14) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm!

25/26) Lakeside Jazz Festival

MAY

TBA) FMEA Steel Drum Festival – UCF - Steel Drum members- TBA

5) Booster meeting 6:00pm EMS Band Room - – This is the 1^st Monday

5) Steel Drum Rehearsal w/Mr. Anderson – 4:00 -6:00pm –Pick up PROMPTLY at 6:00pm! This is the 1^st Monday

15or 22) Spring Concert

TBA) EMS Band Performance Music USA=Adv Band, Jazz Band, and Parade Band @ Universal Orlando -ALL EMS BAND STUDENTS

22 or 29) Band Banquet and/or Awards – TBA

TBA) Recruitment concert – Jazz band to elementary schools.

June

10-13 or 16-19 - TBA) EMS Summer Band Camp

We need a new banner for next year

Vote On A Summer Community Yard-sale. 

We are in the need a new banner this year. This banner is used in every parade or festival. We use it at every concert or event we hold. Our banner is very dull and does not represent our school pride with the bright colors we need.
This new poll is asking if anyone would like to be a part of a community yard sale. This does not just mean the time. There are other things that we can do together! Proceeds going to the new banner.

Extra funds will be put directly into our BAND BANQUET FUNDS! This means less monies for all of our families  to spend for that end of the year banquet!

Please take our short poll regarding this idea.

It is a secret poll so no information will be released.

I will be the only person with access to this information.

Please CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR POLL

Please CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR BAND BANQUET POLL 

(If you have not done so)

United In Praise Granted Us! Please Share!

Thank you to our entire 

Eustis Mustang Band family!

Please use the share buttons located on the bottom of this page to let your family and friends know about this generous program!

It was in the middle of the year that I got up and with my hands waving in the air and in my normal hyper behavior I mentioned we needed to have a definite community outreach program.

But WHAT and HOW do we do it.

I remember parents making so many suggestions that it was hard to digest.

It is clear in my mind that Mr. Garcia, Anna's husband suggested a group camp. He said that if we were to do a concert at this venue we could inspire over 100 children that are at this camp because they are all underprivileged.

That was in the infancy of the Mustang Caring for School and Community Program.

The program matured as months went by and we made suggestions at every meeting.

Than it grew up into a program that will benefit our community for years to come!

Thanks to us ALL coming together and letting our voices be heard!

A child benefits a great deal when they are in a long term music program!

Please find information about our MCSC Program at this link eustismustangband.blogspot.com

 

On 6-3-2013 a few of our band family members met at The First Baptist Church to meet with United In Praise Board Members.

The presentation went so well. 

1. We had a beginning presentation with short introduction.
2. David DiMassino first explained how the program that Mr. Ricke has worked hard develop benefited his daughters. Mr. DiMassino has a current 7th grade student and a former student who is a senior at the high school. Than he gave the statistical facts about our county, the school population, and the hard facts about students that do not participate in a music program. These statistics will be available in another blog during our corporation grant process this summer so please look for that.
3. Than Teri Ern gave an inspiring story about her daughter who is a current 7th grade student and how on bad days she can play music and it makes her feel better. Afterwards Mrs. Ern listed the reasons that a long term music education program can effect young children and their learning.
4. Kenneth Purvee followed with the reason integrating arts into school is so important. He told the board that he and other children often think band is a period in school that is fun, talking and an easy "A" in school. BUT by the second or third day they do not come to class with anything on their mind other than music. He also stated that music education makes him a better student and he knows it opens doors to college later.
5. Darian DiMassino came up after and using her wonderful stage presence helped make the point that children that go through the program have the skills to be more mature and ready to do what it takes in school than others in her piers. She also mentioned that she has the same friends she met in the first days of the 6th grade.
6. Once Darian was finished I explained the four components of our program. In each component is a separate cause however they all wrap around the band getting more children in our band. And that means especially the children who can not afford an instrument.
7. A question section followed and during that we were taught some ideas. There is always a place to learn. I will write a new blog page explaining some of the ideas we can do as a band family.

It was not only speakers who took part of this. Lauren DiMassino and Marcus Nix were both there to show the different sections of our band.
We had Association Members, Parents, Intermediate Band, Advanced Band, Steel Drum and Jazz Band students representing us! 

IT TAKES MANY OF US TO MAKE THINGS  HAPPEN!

Click here to see our Facebook Request for this meeting

Click here to see and LIKE our Acceptance Letter.

Please find information on the United In Praise here at this link. It is something that everyone should read. Because you might just find yourself interested in joining! https://www.facebook.com/unitedinpraise

We did learn of some other community programs that are in the need of help. Many local food pantries. So in the year 2013-2014 the Eustis Mustang Music Association will organize a food drive twice per year. Probably before spring break and before Christmas break. But this is something we will vote on this August 12th at our first meeting!