Offering oversight to a number of schools in El Paso, Texas, the Burnham Wood Charter School District prepares children for adulthood by integrating arts education with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The Da Vinci School for Science & the Arts, part of the Burnham Wood Charter School District, supports a number of charitable initiatives, including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which is held annually to raise funds for cancer research.On March 1, 2015, almost 80 students from the school’s Student Council, alongside 20 parents and sponsors, volunteered during the race. Offering encouragement to all racers, often waving banners and posters in the process, the students ensured everybody reached the finish line. They also offered directions throughout the downtown course for the 12,000 people who participated in the race.The school achieved the distinction of having the most student volunteers for the event and were commended for playing a large role in its success.
Following an additional ten-year renewal of its charter by the Texas Education Association in 2016, Burnham Wood Charter School District and its sister charter, Vista del Futuro Charter School continue provide exemplary education to students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade through three campuses in El Paso, Texas. In September, Burnham Wood District’s sister charter, Vista del Futuro Charter School, received the honor of becoming the only El Paso School awarded the 2016 National Blue Ribbon.A select group of 279 public and 50 private schools hold the esteemed title of a National Blue Ribbon School, which honors schools for high student performance and addressing the achievement gaps among student subgroups. Sponsored by the US Department of Education, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program serves as an identifying marker of the most skilled and effective educators in the country. Furthermore, the title represents the full diversity of American schools and awards schools for making commitments toward the treatment of minorities. In order to receive nomination as a National Blue Ribbon School, a public or charter school must receive nomination from their Chief State School Officer. Only schools within the top 15 percent, in regards to student achievement, will receive consideration, with assessment measures provided by numerous state assessments. Schools that join the National Blue Ribbon open doors to a number of unique opportunities, such as attracting new financial assistances, volunteers, and business partners. For additional information on the National Blue Ribbon School Program, visit nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov.
Burnham Wood Charter School District manages three charter schools held under the El Paso Education Initiative, a nonprofit that maintains a dedication to improving education for students in the El Paso, Texas, community. Schools within the Burnham Wood District include the Da Vinci School of Arts and Science, which will participate in the World Music Days showcasing its Visual Arts and Music Program, in memory of Daniel Pearl, in October. Da Vinci was one of the first schools in the Southwest to join the Daniel Pearl initiative that promotes Peace and Harmony through our mutual connections to the Fine Arts.An international network of conferences occurring throughout October, the Daniel Pearl World Music Days uses the power of music to foster commitment towards tolerance and humanity. It incorporates the performances of nearly 14,000 artists across 140 countries and promotes awareness as its driving factor, which means participation requires no financial contribution. Participation requires only the registration of a performance in name of Daniel Pearl with World Music Days during the month of October. World Music Days also presents the eStage, an online multimedia gallery and internet radio station that features an assortment of original music, lyrics, stories, photographs, and other works of creative expression. It supports the belief that music, journalism, and dialogue can transcend cultural divides and facilitate international friendships. Submitted materials also follow the theme of Harmony for Humanity.The Daniel Pearl Foundation launched World Music Days in 2002 to honor Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and killed by Pakistan terrorists four months after 9/11. Beyond his involvement with the Wall Street Journal, Pearl was a talented musician who left behind a legacy of international cross-cultural friendships and participation in musical groups in every community he lived in.
