Miami-Beach-Cultural-Institutions-to-Take-Center-Stage-in-Public-School-Curriculum
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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2019
Miami Beach Cultural Institutions Take Center Stage in
Public School Curriculum
—With Launch of STEAM Plus Pilot Program in Conjunction with Miami-Dade County
Public School System—
Miami Beach, FL – Beginning this month, thousands of Miami Beach public school
children will discover the science of gravity by studying a ballerina’s graceful
performance or learn the complexities of coding in the context of measurements of
music. Students will be taught music by some of the world’s greatest young musicians
and learn art from museum scholars and curators.
The City of Miami Beach, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools
System (M-DCPS), is bringing arts and culture to the core curriculum of its local public
schools with the launch of the STEAM Plus pilot program. In partnership with six of the
City’s prestigious and world-class cultural institutions — The Bass, Miami City Ballet,
New World Symphony, Wolfsonian Museum, Jewish Museum of Florida and Young
Musicians Unite — this initiative will be part of the daily curriculum and will combine the
existing subjects of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with age-
appropriate cultural education curated and taught by artists and professionals from
Miami Beach cultural institutions.
“This collaboration will create unique education initiatives that are exciting and
elevating,” shared Mayor Dan Gelber. “Each of these world class institutions will animate
our schools and our children’s imaginations with their art, music and culture.”
The six institutions will bring the cultural scene directly into the classrooms of Biscayne
Elementary, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, Nautilus Middle School, North Beach
Elementary, Miami Beach Senior High School and South Pointe Elementary. Taking
Miami-Dade County Public School System’s STEAM initiative to a new level, the
innovative programming will also help local public schools achieve STEAM designation if
they haven’t already.
“This is the best possible investment Miami Beach city officials could have made for
students and families. It serves as a significant enhancement to the long-standing
partnership between M-DCPS and the City of Miami Beach,” expressed Superintendent
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
Alberto M. Carvalho. “The Mayor and City Commission have demonstrated clear
leadership which is pivotal to providing instructional resources that are making teaching
and learning exciting for educators and students.”
After the pilot project is completed, the City plans to collaborate in the fall with additional
institutions, including The Irie Foundation and Miami New Drama, among others, to
introduce rhythm arts and drama, as well as expand the initiative to all grades and
schools. For more information, visit http://stem.dadeschools.net/.
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About The Bass
(Partnered with North Beach Elementary, Nautilus Middle School, Biscayne ES, South
Pointe ES, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, and Miami Beach SHS) The Bass IDEAS
education initiative uses art as a catalyst for creativity and growth. The Bass will engage
students to think creatively to solve real world problems such as sea level rise, climate
change and poverty. Students will learn how arts integration with other subject areas
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is especially important to our communities
in South Florida and throughout the world. Students will create art works that can
displayed at the Bass Creativity Center.
About Miami City Ballet
(Partnered with Nautilus MS, Biscayne ES, South Pointe ES, and Fienberg Fisher K-8
Center) Through creative movement and production design students will explore the
world of dance and movement. These classes will assist in creating group interaction,
creativity, body awareness, and classroom etiquette while collaborating with other
subject areas like math, science, technology and engineering. From learning how the
gravitational pull helps us move around, discovering how movement effects our bodies,
to measuring the distance it takes to have sets cross the stage. Some partnerships will
culminate in a short showcase displaying what students have learned.
About New World Symphony
(Partnered with Miami Beach SHS) Currently working with Miami Beach Senior High
School’s music programs to provide a creative approach toward activating the
imaginations of youth through musical activities focused on classroom engagement and
discovery of classical music. Students are introduced to new instruments, pieces and
equipment when working with the New World Symphony artists, world renown
musicians. Students will learn how science, math and engineering has helped pave the
way for music throughout time.
About The Wolfsonian–FIU
(Partnered with Nautilus MS) The Wolfsonian is offering an intensive variant of its
already-established STEAM X Design and Zines for Progress programs, reformatted for
delivery in two Grade 8 classes at Nautilus Middle School. In-class delivery involves a
series of three visits to each classroom by a teaching artist, as well as one field trip to
The Wolfsonian. This amounts to seven distinct touch points between The Wolfsonian
and Nautilus Middle School.
About Jewish Museum of Florida
(Partnered with North Beach ES, South Pointe ES, and Miami Beach SHS) Dedicated to
telling the story of more than 250 years of Florida Jewish history, arts and culture, with a
growing collection of more than 100,000 items, the Jewish Museum will be educating
students on the curating process of a museum, printmaking and the importance of
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic
community.
STEAM in everyday life. Students will learn the ancient practice of lithographs, and
printmaking. Students will learn the importance of mixing the proper chemicals so that
they react in the correct way, while learning of the process it takes for an exhibition team
and curator to create the exhibitions and displays you find in museums. Through
engineering, technology and mathematics the preparators build and tear down spaces of
the museum to create the end product guests often see.
About Young Musicians Unite
(Partnered with Nautilus MS, Fienberg Fisher K-8 Center, and Miami Beach SHS) Young
Musicians Unite (YMU) will be providing teaching artists to help students learn the
importance of STEAM in the music world through coding, recording, and practice.
Students will learn the science behind each instrument, how each horn creates sound
waves that travel through the horn and into our ears. Through peer to peer mentoring,
YMU engages students of different backgrounds and brings them together through a
shared passion for music. YMU will be assisting schools struggling to maintain their
instruments and equipment by teaching students how to repair their own instruments
and supplying the tools needed to continue growing each program.
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