Becoming ‘world-changing warriors’

In the East Meadow School District, students, parents and community members alike recently learned to become “world-changing warriors” through the music and stories of acclaimed musician Jared Campbell.

Campbell, an award-winning singer/songwriter who has toured the country speaking at hundreds of schools and conferences and shared stages with national acts like Jason Mraz, Gavin Degraw and Journey, has hosted assemblies in several local schools this year. He also gave a special presentation to the community at a Project ACCESS — A Community Committed to Educating Students for Success — workshop on Jan. 27 at the Leon J. Campo Salisbury Center.

ACCESS, a subcommittee of the PTA’s curriculum council, sponsors educational programs for parents throughout the academic year. Its main goal is to provide parents with strategies to help their children achieve the highest level of academic success. ACCESS is a cooperative effort of the district administration, teachers and parents.

Denise Michaelis, the PTA Council chairperson for ACCESS, said that Campbell’s assembly, — known as the Blue Project, — was held at W.T. Clarke Middle and High School first. Michaelis heard about it from her children, asked to attend, and was blown away by how the children became engaged in character education through song.

The Blue Project an interactive live concert “presented to students at their level,” according to Campbell’s website. He said he allows young people to open up to practical life lessons through the power of music.

“All of the good information is there,” Michaelis previously told the Herald of his program, “it was just presented differently. I think that’s how we have to keep looking at things — keep it current and try to connect with the kids in new ways.”

The committee felt that it was important for parents from across the district to experience the program many students already had so that these values are reinforced at home. That’s why they hosted the workshop, in conjunction with the East Meadow Kiwanis Club, last month.