Arts & Entertainment

Museum School Celebrates at Kidsfest

Saturday's outdoor festival for children is more than a fundraiser for the charter school.

By Gina Hill

PR/Marketing Chair For The Museum School

of Avondale Estates opened its doors a little over a year ago. Now, thanks to a grant from the city of , school leaders and parent volunteers like myself are putting together Kidsfest 2011 – Explore Our Little Museum Town!

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The festival is designed to celebrate kids. And bringing attention to our vibrant community and school is just icing on the cake. However, I have to admit the event feels a bit like a birthday party to me – the celebration of a school that has exceeded my wildest expectations.

Opened as the result of neighborhood parents and their years of effort, TMS is a charter school serving kindergarten students through fourth graders with a commitment to add a grade every year up to eighth grade.

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It’s founded on the concept of teaching through hands-on partnerships with museums and other community organizations. Museum learning brings a true understanding of subjects rather than merely asking students to memorize facts.

I would be lying if I said sending my child to – literally – a brand new school wasn’t nerve-racking. But, a year later, the facts speak for themselves.

Tests results show the growth rate for the knowledge and skills of TMS students exceeded the norm in almost every category and doubled or nearly doubled the national rate in many categories. Each class has a maximum of 20 students. The waiting list of students wanting to attend the school is constant.   

But I’m equally impressed by the benefits that can’t be measured. Primarily, my son, now a first grader, loves school. He doesn’t realize it, but he’s being challenged every day, enjoys rising to the occasion, and brags about the results every afternoon as soon as he hops in the car.

Everyone on staff knows my son’s name and he knows theirs. As a parent and volunteer, the school needs me and I feel like an integral part of it. I’ve done everything from clean lunch trays in the cafeteria to help choose a new food service vendor.

Also, I feel the school’s core values – responsibility, respect, cooperation, sustainability, creativity, and kindness – are an important part of any education.

So maybe now you understand my celebratory mood! All the proceeds from the festival will help the school obtain much-needed resources. But Kidsfest 2011 is more than just a fundraiser, much like The Museum School is more than just a school.       

Kidsfest is an outdoor fall event to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the intersection of Pine and Franklin Streets in Avondale Estates. Check the Kidsfest website for a full schedule of events. It is being presented by The Museum School of Avondale Estates and sponsored by the City of Avondale Estates (Platinum Sponsor) and Adams Apples (Founding Sponsor).


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