Valley of the Sun Early Childhood Association

Objective 1: 100% Teacher Participation in Professional Development
Flip this Playground - Harmony Garden
Measured by: Attendance at music workshop and collaborative professional development meetings.
Outcome: Teachers are comfortable and familiar with use of instruments, songs and rhymes.

Objective 2: 100% Teacher Participation in Documenting Student Outcomes
Measured by: Use of diverse classroom assessment data, such as formative, summative, performance-based, portfolio, and student observations. Results are used in conjunction with district, state, and national assessment data to form a picture of student learning.
Outcome: Teachers integrate outdoor learning with assessments already utilized by the school district and Head Start. Teachers no longer view outdoor play as a break from learning.

Objective 3: Measured Rise in Student English Language Development (2020-2021 school year)
Measured by: Use of diverse classroom assessment data, such as formative, summative, performance-based, portfolio, and student observations. Results are used in conjunction with district, state, and national assessment data to form a picture of student learning.
Outcome: Students participate in Harmony Music Garden with small groups and on their own initiative, playing instruments and singing songs.

Harmony Music Garden:
We are transforming dirt playground into a wheelchair accessible music garden. To accomplish this task, we will hire a landscaper to design and install walkways, planters, irrigation, and footings for the musical instruments (hardscape). Once the hardscape is installed, we will purchase plants and shrubs for the garden. Together with the parent committee and volunteers, we will create a beautiful space for children to learn. We will hire an acoustical musician from Harmony Freenotes to train the teaching staff on how to use these instruments. This professional development is critical to learning outcomes. We are mindful that teachers will not engage children in this space if they are not comfortable themselves with the instruments.
Freenotes Harmony is the industry leader in outdoor musical instruments. These innovatively designed instruments are durable, sustainable, and perfectly tuned sound sculptures that enhance any outdoor space. Installations can be found in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Workshops provided by Freenotes nurture each person’s innate and unique creative expression. Playing Freenotes provides immediate gratification and fosters confidence in the ability to play music. Creating repeated patterns of melody, harmony, and rhythm opens the door to exploring and interacting with music. Language and learning are melded together in this enjoyable experience.
Projects at Title 1 schools are difficult to fund as the families are not a source for fundraising. Families contribute to the project through in-kind and volunteering their time. Valley of the Sun has received a portion of the funding for Harmony Music Garden at Sunrise Elementary through a grant from the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. We have also received small donations toward the purchase of plants and scrubs for the gardens.

We are 100% volunteer organization with no grant staff employed. We believe our work speaks volumes and that outcomes drive contributions.

We successfully collaborated with Maricopa County Head Start and Deer Valley School District in transforming playgrounds for children. We have opened up a grant application, inviting other Title 1 schools to apply.

In 2021 and 2022 we explanded our reach to Avondale Elementary School District, Alhambra School District, and the City of Phoenix Head Start. Also, in the fall of 2022 we installed our Mariposa Library Garden at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Phoenix.