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What is Music In Our Schools Month®?
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages. You can read more about it here: Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®) - NAfME
How will OMEA be involved in MIOSM®?
In the past, MIOSM® has been largely celebrated at individual school sites across Oregon. This year, OMEA will be piloting a state-wide MIOSM® Action Committee coordinated by the Advocacy chairs.
Why should OMEA be involved in MIOSM®?
MIOSM® is the largest nationally-coordinated music advocacy event. It is supported and championed by NAfME and their Advocacy Leadership Force. It is a chance for Oregon to be meaningfully involved in national-level advocacy and to harness the power of NAfME as we advocate for protecting and advancing music education.
What are the goals of the MIOSM® Action Committee?
Designate at least one person per OMEA district as the MIOSM® Captain/Liaison
Meet once every 5 or 6 weeks (virtually) for one hour to coordinate state-wide activities
Create a month-by-month checklist to build up to March activities, including sharing lesson plans
Assign duties for committee members to spearhead activities during the month of March, including:
Social Media Highlights
Creating shareable advocacy materials
Toolkit for teachers and parents to share with stakeholders, including:
School administrators
District administrators (superintendents) and school board members
Local political leaders (city councils, mayors, State representatives, members of Congress)
I want to be involved! How do I sign up?
Fill out this quick GoogleForm, or reach out to Laura Arthur, Advocacy Co-chair, at larthur@pps.net. You do not need to commit to coming to meetings to be part of the committee. Thanks for considering!
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