Schools invited to register for annual Young People’s Concerts and Link Up classroom curriculum
Elementary schools are invited to register for the annual Young People’s Concerts (YPC) by October 1 at tcoe.org/YoungPeoplesConcerts. The concerts, held in partnership with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, incorporate the Link Up curriculum from Carnegie Hall/Weill Music Institute. Using Link Up, elementary students (grades 3-5) are introduced to the orchestra through an interactive music curriculum which teaches them to sing and play the recorder in the classroom.
The culminating event for Link Up is a live student performance with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra on April 19, 2027, at the Visalia Fox Theatre.
Kate Stover, TCOE’s Visual and Performing Arts curriculum specialist, will conduct a training for all registered schools on October 6. New this year is a student art and writing contest open to YPC participants. Through original artwork, poems, or short stories, students are asked to convey how music moves, inspires, or helps them learn. Selected submissions will be featured at a Sequoia Symphony Orchestra concert.
Since 1959, YPC has served to introduce Tulare County elementary students to symphonic music and musical performance opportunities available to them in middle and high school.
Circle J - Norris Ranch is hosting its family astronomy event October 2 and October 30
Enjoy an evening under Circle J’s dark skies viewing planets, constellations, and star clusters at the annual Family Astronomy Night. Astronomers will be on hand to help visitors navigate the night skies beginning at 7:00 p.m. on October 2. Circle J will host a second Family Astronomy Night on October 30 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The evening also includes stories and mythologies of our celestial neighbors and night hikes. Astronomy nights are open to the public with suggested donations of $5 per person or $15 per family.
A part of the SCICON program, Circle J - Norris Ranch is a beautiful 620-acre field study site in the Sierra foothills. Located at 41893 Yokohl Valley Road in Springville, Circle J offers a wide variety of field study opportunities for students of all ages.
Register for the Family Astronomy Night at tcoe.org/circlej/astronomynight. For more information, contact circlej@tcoe.org or call/text 559-359-8575.
Teachers invited to register student artwork for the annual Student Art Exhibition
TCOE’s annual Student Art Exhibition will be held online during California Arts in Education month, March 1-31, 2027. Open to students in grades PK-12, the annual exhibition showcases the county’s gifted young artists who create two- and three-dimensional pieces utilizing a variety of mediums.
Teachers interested in participating in the exhibition should preregister by November 2. All artwork is due to event coordinators by December 4. For registration information, please visit tcoe.org/StudentArt.
Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Kate Stover, Amanda Driver