Edmonds-Woodway High School Music Boosters

Action Alert | 6th Grade Instrumental Update | What YOU Can Do | Why Music Matters

ACTION ALERT

Please take a moment of your time today to help support school funding! Funded schools helps fund our music programs.
Use this form to send a message to Governor Ferguson and urge him to support the Legislature’s budget compromise and protect the progress we’ve made!

Learn more about school funding:

• Read this recent, informative Op-Ed in the Herald – “Lawmakers must abide duty for ample K-12 funding”, authored by Dr. Nancy Katims – School Board President, Dr. Rebecca Minor – Edmonds School District Superintendent, and Andi Nofziger – President of the Edmonds Education Association.
• Marie Sullivan, Legislative Consultant for the Washington State PTA has an informative weekly blog post with the latest news and the upcoming week’s votes on Education Bills. Visit WA State PTA: Focus on Advocacy to learn more.

Learn more about what you can do to help.

6TH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE IN 2025/2026 SCHOOL YEAR

6TH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAMS will continue in the ‘25/‘26 school year thanks to the Edmonds School District, Edmonds Education Association, and your support! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Balancing Act Survey and shared support for our district’s young musicians! Your voice matters.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Write your legislators to support basic school funding so that programs like our music program won’t be cut
   • EWHS is served primarily by State District 21
     • Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self – email here
     • Representative Strom Peterson – email here
     • Senator Marko Lilias – email here
2. Email your school Principal and Vice Principals to let them know how important music is to your family
   • Contact info: EWHS Directory
3. Attend Edmonds School District Board Meetings to advocate for 6th grade instrumental music
   • You can find the ESD Schedule of Board Meetings here.
   • These discussions are one of the primary ways we make our voices heard, so it’s very important that families come to represent our students.
   • Please review the agendas posted.
4. Stay informed by bookmarking / joining the following sites
   • WA State PTA: Focus on Advocacy
     • Follow Marie Sullivan’s weekly reports in the blog
   • EWHS Advocacy Page
     • Join FB: Edmonds-Woodway Music
     • Join Instagram: ewhs_music
5. Respond to future Action Alerts when bills reach critical points in the legislature
   • Sign up for Action Alerts to get up-to-date information on things you can do to help our schools

To find your Legislators, search by address in the district finder tool.

WHY MUSIC MATTERS

1. Studies show that offering more music and arts in schools is associated with lower absenteeism rates and higher school attendance rates.
2. Studies show that music can improve well-being, and reduce anxiety and depression.
3. Studies show that students of music do better in school – scoring better in exams in other subjects like math, English, and science, compared to their peers.
4. Music teaches students to work together as a team, collaborate, and develop their listening skills.
5. Music programs build community and promote a sense of belonging.
6. Studies show a correlation between music and increased language acquisition, development, and comprehension for primary and foreign languages, including both spoken and written language.
7. Music can help with college acceptance. It is a way to “stand out” compared to other applicants. It shows development in skills such as group work, leadership, community, and commitment. Music can help students gain scholarship opportunities.
8. The list goes on! Creativity, discipline, cultural awareness, memory and cognitive development, and so on.

LINKS

• Edmonds District Budget Information
• Follow the MTHS Save The Music page
• Washington State PTA Advocacy
  • Sign up for Action Alerts
  • The WSPTA blog is a great source of information
• Washington Education Association