National
Anthem Project
September 8, 2006
September
14 is the second annual National
Anthem Project observance. This
multi-year educational campaign to restore America’s voice
through music education is sponsored by MENC: The National Association
for Music Education.
Plano
ISD National Anthem Video
The
campaign began as a result of a recent Harris Poll that showed
that two out of three Americans don’t know
the words to “The
Star-Spangled Banner,” and many are unaware of the historical
events that inspired the penning of the song.
 The
campaign aims to shine the spotlight on the importance of school
music programs,
as this is where most Americans learn the national anthem and
other patriotic songs.
Kathy Kuddes, Director of Fine Arts, reports that, several Plano
schools will participate in this nation-wide event, through
student performances
of the "Star Spangled Banner" and through music lessons
built around the poem and tune. Other schools have more elaborate
celebrations planned.
School Events
At Thomas Elementary School, local veterans will participate
in their National Anthem Project. Students and staff at Wells
Elementary will be wearing red, white and blue on the 14th,
in addition to their morning performance of this historic musical
selection.
At the Jasper High School pep rally, the combined
Jasper Choirs will lead the student body in the singing of
the National Anthem.
Jackson will be reading a short history of the National Anthem
during morning announcements. Students will also sing "The
Star-Spangled Banner" school wide during announcements.
The music classes will have lessons revolving around the song.
At Mathews Elementary, all students in second through fifth grade
have watched a video about the story of our National Anthem. Each
day
this week, students will share facts about the National Anthem.
September 14, all students will stand and sing "The Star Spangled
Banner" together as a school, and a group of students will lead
the singing
over
the intercom.
 Students
at Saigling and Wells (pictured)
elementary schools will wear red, white and blue and sing the National
Anthem
as a school
at
9:00
a.m.
tomorrow.
Rose Mary Haggar Elementary School will once
again celebrate the "Star
Spangled Banner" birthday. Students have studied the battle
at Fort McHenry and how Francis Scott Key wrote the song. On Sept.
14, students and staff will all stop and sing the National Anthem
in rememberence of that special event. The fifth graders have been
creating pictures to display outside the music room.
On September 11, during morning video announcements at Bethany Elementary School, 18 fourth and fifth grade students explained
the history
of the
National
Anthem, while a slide show played behind them and the "Star Spangled
Banner"
played in the background.
The Sons of the American Revolution also came and presented colors.
At the end of the program, all of the students stood and waved
their flags as everyone sang the "Star Spangled Banner." The
school will also sing the National Anthem from classrooms with
the music over the intercom
system on September 14.
Forman Elementary will be singing
the National Anthem during our morning broadcast, and students
will receive instruction during music class on the history of the
"Star Spangled Banner" and performance etiquette.
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