Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser Provides Arts Enrichment at SHP

Attend the Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Sept. 15th to support Fine Arts at SHP. RSVP here.
Since its beginning in 2015, the annual James B. Everitt Chili Cook-Off has supported the Fine Arts Boosters’ (FAB) efforts to offset costs on all major Fine Arts field trips and competitions.
 
In previous years, these enrichment trips included New York City and Disneyland for drama and dance, Los Angeles for band, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for drama.
 
For SHP sophomore Anne-Sophie Lacombe, visiting New York City with the Drama Club fulfilled a lifelong dream to see the city, and proved an unforgettable experience.
 
Not only did we see four Broadway shows, but we took classes with professional Broadway actors and created incredible memories,” said Lacombe. “Through events like the Chili Cook-Off, the drama kids are given options, opportunities, and memories that were unimaginable for some before.”
 
By visiting Los Angeles, band students were able to present music to a larger community, said music teacher Sadie Queally-Sammut. And visits to the Grammy Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall “encourage students to think about music as a lifelong investment and journey, rather than one that is contained in their high school years,” she said.
 
For dance, FAB sponsored entry into a dance competition in Burlingame, “NRG danceProject.” Students completed a routine and took workshops from several dance industry professionals over the course of two days.
 
This type of enrichment is especially integral to an arts education, says dance teacher Lauren Benjamin, for students “to be exposed to the actual context in which dance and theater exist within the world."
 
“It's important students know they have access to these spaces and to know that by participating within any arts discipline, they share in the universal community of artists everywhere. FAB helps to make all of this possible in collaboration with SHS arts educators, and for that I'm grateful," said Benjamin.
 
Funds raised at this year’s Chili Cook-Off will go toward a trip to Disneyland for drama and dance, a possible trip for band, and additional dance competitions.
 
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Sacred Heart Schools Atherton

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton

150 Valparaiso Ave
Atherton, CA 94027
650 322 1866
Founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart, SHS is a Catholic, independent, co-ed day school for students in preschool through grade 12