In June, the Special Education Foundation received news that, for the first time, we would be recipients of a Program Grant from the Regional Arts Commission (RAC). RAC is a leading public catalyst for arts and culture in St. Louis, leveraging the power of creativity to strengthen and enrich our community.

The Program Grant awarded to SEF supports our Arts in the Classroom initiative, SEF Presents!, which brings music, theater, and dance performances to special education students in St. Louis County.

For the last 18 months, SEF has been partnering with local arts organizations to bring performances to the schools operated by the Special School Districts.

With the additional support from RAC, plus the generous support of Arts in the Classroom donors to SEF, the 2024 - 25 school year will be packed with a variety of performances that will dazzle and delight students across St. Louis County.

Here are some of the benefits of bringing these performances to students.

Cognitive Benefits

• Enhanced sensory experiences: Live performances provide rich sensory input, stimulating auditory, visual, and sometimes tactile senses, which can be particularly beneficial for students with sensory processing disorders.
• Improved attention and focus: Engaging with a live performance requires sustained attention, helping to develop focus and concentration skills.
• Increased vocabulary and language development: Exposure to new words and concepts through storytelling and music can expand language skills.
• Development of critical thinking: Analyzing performances encourages students to think critically about the plot, characters, and musical elements.

Social and Emotional Benefits

• Increased empathy and understanding: Experiencing diverse characters and stories can foster empathy and understanding of different perspectives.
• Improved social skills: Attending performances in a group setting can enhance social interaction and communication skills.
• Boosted self-esteem and confidence: Experiencing shared enjoyment with others can boost self-esteem and confidence.
• Emotional expression and release: Music, dance, and theater can provide an outlet for emotional expression and catharsis.

Academic Benefits

• Improved literacy skills: Attending plays and musicals can enhance reading comprehension and vocabulary development.
• Enhanced creativity: Exposure to various art forms can inspire creativity and imagination.
• Better understanding of different cultures: Performances often explore diverse cultures and perspectives, broadening students' worldview.

Overall Well-being

• Reduced stress and anxiety: Immersive experiences can provide a welcome distraction from daily challenges and promote relaxation.
• Increased joy and happiness: Experiencing the beauty and power of live performance can bring immense joy and happiness.
• Sense of belonging: Attending performances with others can create a sense of community and belonging.

We’re so excited to be partnering during the 2024 - 25 school year with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the St. Louis Symphony, Jazz St. Louis, Metro Theater Company, The Black Rep, and The Imaginary Theater Company from The Rep. We hope to add others as the year progresses.

The SEF Presents! season begins in October with Metro Theater’s “An Unlikely Hero” at Ackerman and Litzsinger Schools. An additional performance will be held in November at Northview High School.

“An Unlikely Hero” is a new Superhero play by Emilio Rodriguez

Southview School and Neuwoehner High School will also be hosting SEF Presents! performances during the school year.

Check our the events calendar on our website for future performances.