CSEE elementary students take field as pep band

Younger students at the Charter School of Educational Excellence now perform at varsity athletic events. The school introduced an elementary pep band on October 15 during its varsity flag football homecoming game. More than 300 spectators filled the venue for that initial appearance.

Danielle Rendina, the CEO of the school, described the performance as phenomenal. She noted that the presence of the young musicians improved the game environment. Rendina stated that involving music and arts programs in the athletic program has benefited both the students and the school community. She emphasized that every department matters to the institution.

The elementary group is part of a wider investment in the arts at the K-12 school. In 2023, the school opened a new stage at its high school. That facility is designed to help students learn theatrical rigging and other skills for careers in media, including at Lionsgate Studios in Yonkers. Since the stage opened, the school has produced musicals such as The Addams Family, Godspell, and the Seussical.

The new pep band joins an existing roster of musical groups at the school. These include a high school marching band, backing bands for musicals, and choirs. The next public performance for the elementary band is scheduled for November 5 at 4:30 p.m. It will take place during the CSEE Middle School flag football Turkey Bowl.

Educational research supports the integration of music into the curriculum. A 2019 report by the Journal of Educational Psychology found that students in British Columbia who took music courses in elementary and high school scored better on exams. Those students outperformed their nonmusical peers in subjects including math and science.