Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen board honors musicians

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Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen Superintendent of Schools Dr. Adrienne Robb-Fund proudly announced at the Jan. 22 Board of Education meeting at Willow Road Elementary School that 49 of the district’s musicians were selected to participate in the 2012-13 Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Festival.

Additionally, two Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen string students – Wheeler Avenue fifth-grade violinist Tracy Sanon and Wheeler Avenue sixth-grader Alex Wong – earned spots in the Long Island String Festival Association Festival. The school board, along with Robb-Fund, recognized the students’ hard work by presenting them with certificates in front of an appreciative crowd of family members, music teachers, classmates and district faculty.

“Tonight is an exciting night. It’s one where we get to honor the 49 participants who took part in the Nassau County Music Educators Association All-County Music Festival held recently at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts,” Robb-Fund told the board meeting attendees. “I was honored to have been there, and it was fabulous. We are also pleased to honor students who were part of the LISFA Festival. We honored our art students a few months ago. Music and arts education matters.”

Robb-Fund told the meeting attendees that 1,400 students from Valley Stream UFSD Thirteen participate in performing groups, and she was happy to announce the benefits of music and arts education. “It increases student engagement and allows the child to become more confident,” she said of the field. “The child learns positive habits, behaviors and attitudes. They learn that practice – whether it be in music or drawing, or learning multiplication facts or long division – helps learning improve. Music and art enhance creativity and critical thinking. They help students learn language and mathematics. When children participate in music and art, they learn teamwork.”