Mount Rainier Elementary School is a Title 1 public school in Prince George's County, MD, serving 325 children, more than half of whom are first generation Americans or recent migrants. We are a community anchored in diversity, sustainability and the arts.  Our students live in the Gateway Arts District towns of Mount Rainier, Brentwood and North Brentwood.

The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is working to infuse these community values in our children's education. We know how essential the arts are to cognitive and social development. Prince George's County Public School District supports arts education and environmental literacy nominally, but the district lacks the funds to fully support a robust arts integration in our schools. 

Your donations fully or partially support the following programs this school year!​

• Kindergarten: Growing Up Green!
  • Curriculum Connections: Identify and explore the many characteristics of plant life in all of its forms: seeds, seedlings, mature plants, flowers, and fruit.
  • Check out the Spring 2017 program! http://www.yamd.org/growing-green-mount-rainier-elementary-school/
• ​K, 2nd, 4th and 6th grades:  Bomani
  • Bomoni will be working with teachers and students in grades K, 2, 4, and 6. He will be facilitating a student- written rap, on composting. (Yes, composting!) See the link for more information about the artist. https://babagotbars.wordpress.com/about/b-a-r-s-residencies-workshops/
• ​Inspired Classrooms.  Arts Integration Committee will partner with local artists, teachers and students in 1st and 5th grades to bring a design perspective to their classroom space.
• Teacher Professional Development
  • creatED professional learning by Crayola that supports a cohort of nine teachers on the arts integration team.
• 1st, 3rd and 5th grade programs to be annouced soon!

Past donation have funded:

• Multi-grade- ArtWorks after school Art Club program
• Kindergarten - Pam Negrin, Textiles (art and environmental science)  
• 1st Grade - Sssuna, African Dance & Storytelling (literacy and dance)
• 2nd Grade - Anna Menendez, Flamenco Dance Residency (math and dance)
• 3rd Grade - RockCreek (steel drum making and playing)
• 4th Grade - Anna Menendez, Flamenco Dance Residency (math and dance)
• 5th Grade - RockCreek (steel drum making and playing)
• 6th Grade - Anna Menendez, Flamenco Dance Residency (math and dance)
• Multi-grade Summer Program - Karen Brown, Migration Series (literacy and mixed media book making)

Our goal for this online campaign is to raise $7,000 - we need an additional $3,500 to meet our goal.  Any amount above our goal will go to performance festivals and art competition entry fees, supplies and new programs.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are also working to connect our schools with artists and other professionals in the community. In February 2017, artists in the community volunteered to work with the 6th graders on their "Mt. Rainier Music Hall of Fame" visual art show which was displayed at the Gateway Media Arts Lab. Students created portraits of musicians from all genres and time periods and researched their lives and contributions to music history. Students also had the opportunity to compose original music for the event, and to jam with local musicians at the Mediterranean Cafe. 

If you cannot lend a dime, but can lend an hour or two of your time, please let us know. It takes a village to raise a generation!

“Our elementary school PTO’s are where the entire community can come together to support creative outlets and academic achievement for the children of the Gateway Arts District. Red Dirt Studio is proud to support the Arts in Education Fund and ask you to join us.”
— Margaret Boozer, Founder/Director, Red Dirt Studio