WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 
Middle School is a difficult time for many students and finding a place to belong can take a while. At Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, 108 students are currently enrolled in the band program. Band is a place where our students can proficiently learn how to play flute, clarinet, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion instruments. It is also where they can learn to read music and experience being part of a team in an academic setting. This is a place where students have a sense of BELONGING in a safe, nurturing and enriching environment. 

Sadler-Means is a small, all-girls public middle school in the Austin Independent School District where 78% of our students are considered “at risk” of dropping out of school and 90% are considered “economically disadvantaged.” I struggled whether to use the above labels for our girls, but I want our donors to understand the life challenges these students face every day. 

The fine arts are often what keep our students showing up to school. This is a place where they find classmates they identify with. They perform with their colleagues, take field trips with them and experience the joy of making music TOGETHER. And if you weren’t aware, music actually re-wires the brain. It is an essential part of development. Watch this if you don’t believe me: 
https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_how_playing_an_instrument_benefits_your_brain?language=en

WHO AM I? 
I am Laura Smetzer, the band director at the Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy. I am a lifelong musician and educator. I am passionate about teaching young students and helping them play music as beautifully as they can. I am also their biggest cheerleader. I want these girls to succeed in music, in their relationships, and in LIFE, and I believe music CAN help bring that success. 

SO WHAT ARE WE RAISING MONEY FOR? 
We have the opportunity to perform at the Soundwaves Music Festival in May where the girls will experience their first adjudicated contest. They will perform three musical selections of varying styles in front of three judges and audience members. They will be graded on how well they have prepared the music, how well they play in tune and how well they play together - among other elements. The ensemble will be judged on their individual performance as well as against all of the other middle school orchestras in the same school classification. Following the performance, the girls will spend the remainder of the day at the Schlitterbahn Water Park, an experience most of them have never had. It will be a day of music, friendship and fun which will certainly continue to bond them to their love of music and band. 

COST? 
Students have participated in a fundraiser during the fall and spring sememster by selling chocolate bars.  While this fundraiser does bring in a little money it is nowhere near what each students needs to cover the cost for this trip.  Students who did not fundraise will pay a nominal fee to participate in the experience (skin in the game...) but the remainder of the trip will be funded through your generous donations and student led musical performances. 
CONTEST ENTRY FEE: $300
FEE FOR EACH STUDENT: $51
TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM EVENT: $600
BAND  TSHIRTS (if we raise enough) $8 per student
ADDITIONAL TICKETS FOR CHAPERONES: $51

Any money raised OVER what we need for this trip will be used to expand our antiquate band music library.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We can’t do this without YOU! Even the smallest donation will get us a step closer to our goal. Thank you from all of us in the Sadler Means Band!!