Students learn and grow through the arts in Richland District Two

Last spring, the US Department of Education awarded Richland School District 2 a $5.4 million grant to establish four new magnet programs designed to “improve performance through arts, communication, and technology” (ImPACT). Funds from the grant, the largest ever received by the district, were earmarked for Conder Elementary, Forest Lake Elementary, Dent Middle School, and Richland Northeast High School.

The Columbia Star will highlight the four schools during the coming weeks.

ImPACT director Sara Wheeler says the district was chosen to receive the award based on a proposal, which included creative, innovative, and themed programs. Staff members created a unique program for each school that was a complimentary fit to augment existing programs.

The result was the creation of high quality academic magnet programs with specific areas of concentration: arts infusion at Conder, technology integration at Forest Lake, fine arts media literacy at Dent, and a stellar newly-designed convergence media program at Richland Northeast.

Each of the programs permeates throughout the school’s curriculum, with the exception of RNE’s CAVPLEX, a magnet program within the school.

Wheeler says the program is designed to create a cultural corridor in which the possibilities for learning are endless.

Implementation began this fall and will continue for a three–year period funded by the grant. Students and parents interested in learning more about ImPACT or its application process may call Wheeler’s office at 699-2800 ext. 2814 or log onto www.richland2.org.