Welcome to Music Class
Dear Loma Portal Families,
I am so honored to be Loma Portal's new music teacher this year. I had the opportunity to get to know some of our amazing Loma Portal families when I taught kindergarten at Loma Portal for 10 years. I retired in the spring of 2013 after teaching in San Diego City Schools for 34 years.
The students at Loma Portal are fortunate to have a dedicated PTA which funds a Music Enrichment Program for all students in kindergarten through third grade. I am hoping to develop a quality music program that is worthy of the dedicated fundraising efforts of our parents and community as well as our talented students.
I will use the district adopted music theory program, Making Music, as a resource in meeting California and National Standards. Since this is our Centennial year, we will learn about composures and musicians that have created music in the past 100 years. We will perform a selection of those songs this spring during our Centennial Celebration. In September, we began our studies by focusing on the Beatles' music from the 1960's.
I will implement a "Visiting Musician" program in which students, families and community members can share their musical talents with the students. If you, a family member, or a friend are a vocalist or play a musical instrument and would like to join us for an informal presentation/performance, please contact me. Pete Mechalas, the guitarist from the Temple of the Dad, is already scheduled as our first "Visiting Musician." I also hope to organize grade level or school assemblies that focus on music and musicians.
Speaking of "Temple of the Dad," the band donated 10 ukuleles to Loma Portal's music program this year. The children will have the opportunity to learn beginning strumming and create original songs to play on the ukuleles.
In order to ensure a safe and happy learning environment for every child we have three rules in Music Class. They are:
Make safe choices
Make kind choices
Make smart learning choices
Children will work toward earning a "Big Splash Award"which will be given to students who make positive choices in our Music Class. I will maintain weekly communication with the classroom teachers regarding student behavior. The progression of consequences for inappropriate behavior is: verbal warnings,time-out, restriction of privileges, and communication with the teacher,administrator, and/or parent.
We have many special projects planned that will require extra support in our class. If you would like to be a parent/community volunteer for the music program, please contact me.
This year our school will be "Alive with the Sound of Music." We hope to sing a tribute song for our Veteran's Day celebration. We are planning a holiday sing-a-long during December. We will perform a selection of songs that represent the past 100 years for our Centennial Celebration this spring. I am looking forward to an exciting year learning and singing with your children.
Candace Szalay
School Phone: 619-417-0962
Email: [email protected]