Press Releases

Bellevue Middle School Music Student Gets Accepted into Sewanee International Summer Music Festival
March 29, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sara Strasinger, 7th grader at Bellevue Middle School, plays the bassoon in the Symphonic band and was recently accepted into the Sewanee International Summer Music Festival, a prestigious summer music program held on the campus of University of the South. According to her proud parents, the confidence, maturity and training that she is developing are a direct result of what public schools can accomplish with the right leadership in place. Read the testimonial letter her parents wrote to Dr. Jesse Register!

Kellie Hargis, Bellevue Middle School principal, and Paul Waters, band director, are
so proud of Sarah Strasinger, 7th grade bassoon student, for her recent acceptance into the Sewanee International Summer Music Festival
held this summer on the campus of the University of the South.

March 29, 2010

Dear Dr. Register and Dr. Steele,
My name is Susan Strasinger and my husband Mike and I are the proud parents of a 7th grade Bellevue Middle School student, Sarah Strasinger. Sarah is a bassoon player in the Bellevue Middle School Symphonic band and last week was accepted into the prestigious summer music program Sewanee International Summer Music Festival, held on the campus of University of the South.

I am writing today to highly commend the MNPS Music and Arts programs at Bellevue Middle School, and to commend the leadership shown from the Coordinator of the Fine Arts programs, Carol Crittenden, BMS’s band director, Paul Waters, and the principal at BMS, Dr. Kellie Hargis. My daughter’s acceptance into the prestigious 4-week workshop directly reflects on the superior music education she receives at BMS. From Mrs. Crittenden’s office to Mr. Water’s classroom, MNPS has provided opportunities for Sarah to excel in both her art form and her classroom. The confidence, maturity and training that she is developing are a direct result of what public schools can accomplish with the right leadership in place.

Not even a year ago, Mr. Waters suggested that Sarah switch from flute to bassoon. He expertly recognized her aptitude for the instrument and gave me several reasons why, though it had to do with the jaw or cheeks or something like that. I know a little about music, and when I heard the word "bassoon" I immediately worried about expense. Bassoons are very expensive, but he assured me that he could help me work this out by working with Mrs. Crittenden. She, indeed, was able to find a bassoon for my child to use just to see is she could play, or even get a sound. Mr. Waters arranged for a private instructor to work with her over the summer to see how she took to the instrument. By January, I was searching out summer programs so she could "become one with her instrument" Never having even scene a bassoon up close, I was relying on Mr. Waters and Mrs. Crittenden to guide me and my child through this process. I was not disappointed.

Carol Crittenden, Paul Waters and his principal, Dr. Kellie Hargis, should be commended for their dedication, perseverance, and devotion to providing a learning environment where the Arts curriculum is offered as an integral component of a high level of academic accomplishments. I have personally read studies that demonstrate the high correlation between music students and excellence in academics. Under the direction and guidance of Mr. Waters and Dr. Hargis, BMS has developed a music program that is competitive, challenging and is widely recognized as a superior group of students at many in-state and out of state competitions. The program consistently scores well playing music that is higher in grade level than most middle schools. It is this kind of challenge that attracted us to leave the private school sector and enter the public school sector.

This kind of superiority is what parents desire in all areas of their child’s education. Superior programs such as these should be publicized highly as they are great recruiting tools to retain students at the zoned school. Sarah previously attended a private school here in Nashville, but MNPS's quality fine arts programs in the Hillwood and Overton zones, are what convinced us as a family that we could be assured Sarah would receive an equal but more likely, superior, arts education in more than one school cluster.

Having done the research and now having experienced for several years public education, I firmly believe that it these quality programs that are the “Ambassadors of the MNPS”. The fine arts, sports and now Smaller Learning Academies are truly the spokesmen for their respective schools.

Sarah has now successfully completed many grades in public schools and we are very pleased with the manner in which Bellevue Middle is growing. As decisions are made about budgets and staffing, I hope that you will consider the impact that fine arts makes on academics. While I know there is a magnet school that offers arts education, I have a child who thrives in a comprehensive environment, and we hope that taking many fine arts classes along with high level academic classes will be a choice without having to go to a magnet school. I hope that you will consider creating a Fine Arts academy at one or more of the high schools as I believe this program is truly a “recruiting” program that would service the schools of MNPS well. I believe that MNPS is on its way to becoming a strong academic contender, and would like to be assured of the value the fine arts programs will remain a strong viable program within the district.

I appreciate your time and energy and look forward to working as team each year with Sarah’s teachers.

Respectfully,
Susan and Mike Strasinger

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