Any students wishing to apply for the Richard N Shattuck Scholarship, the deadline has been extended to June 8. Please visit https://semmea.org/shattuck-scholarship/ for more information. All applications must be submitted electronically.
Support the Arts in Randolph
SE District Members,
The following letter was sent to the Randolph School Committee denouncing recent cuts to the Fine Arts in their school district.
We are writing this letter today out of deep concern for the students and community members of Randolph. It has recently come to light that the school district is planning to cut all art, music, and physical education for the 2020-2021 school year. The Southeastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association considers this to be a short-sighted and disastrous action that will negatively impact the community and its members for years to come.
As defined in the ESSA, “music and the arts” are part of a well-rounded education. Massachusetts is proud to have rigorous music and art standards to guide the implementation of these programs in every school district. Any student who does not have access to the arts as part of their school day is receiving an inadequate education at best.
Furthermore, the nation has undergone a collective trauma. The students will need the arts more than ever when they return to school. Their arts classrooms create a welcoming environment, support social and emotional well-being, and teach empathy, self-reflection, critical thinking, and cooperation in ways that no other discipline can offer. To cut these programs is to deprive the students of access to these much-needed supports.
It only takes one year to dismantle a music program. It takes a decade to build it back. We urge you to reconsider these austerity measures. We stand with an overwhelming number of national arts organizations in stating: “It is imperative that all students have access to an equitable delivery of arts education that includes dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts that supports their educational, social, and emotional well-being, taught by certified professional arts educators in partnership with community arts providers.”
Sincerely,
Southeastern Massachusetts Educators Association Executive Board
Jillian Griffin, Chairperson
Please join the “Support the Students of Randolph” Facebook group to help support reinstating the Arts in Randolph.
2020-2021 Dates
For planning purposes, here are the approved dates for the 20-21 school year:
9/11-9/12/2020 – Rescheduled Junior Festival
10/6/20 – Fall General Membership Meeting
11/21/20 – Senior Auditions, King Philip HS
12/5/20 – Junior Auditions, Furnace Brook MS
1/8-1/9/2021 – Senior Festival
1/23/21 – All-State Auditions
3/4-3/6/2021 – All State Festival
3/12-3/13/2021 – Junior Festival
Rescheduled Junior Festival
Save the date! The 2020 Junior Festival has been rescheduled for September 11-12.
- All currently accepted students, including students who will be in 10th grade, will be eligible to participate
- Students who are unable to participate due to a family commitment, will not be penalized and may still audition for 20-21 festival season
- Students who have moved to another district, such as private or vocational school, will still be eligible to participate, but will be listed under their previous school.
Additional details will be forthcoming. Thank you for your patience in this unprecedented time, and please keep yourselves healthy.
Junior Festival Update
The district board has been working diligently to try and reschedule our 2020 Junior District Festival. Thank you for your patience as we work out details and try to pin down a new date. We will keep you updated as soon as we have new information for you and your students.
