SCF Virtual Academy
Registration Will Reopen In The Fall!
Presented By
The Sandler Center Foundation’s Virtual Academy, presented by the Helen G. Gifford Foundation, is a digital hub for arts-educational videos. We invite educators to register for our FREE, virtual programming tailored for students, K-8. Choose from a different selection of videos which vary in length each month, all centered around keeping the A in STEAM with a variety of topics.
You may sign up for this month's Virtual Academy now. Expect to hear from us within three business days upon receiving your completed application. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check back with us soon for new programming options.
Have a question? Email education@sandlercenterfoundation.org.
Registration is required.
Programs vary in length.
Confirmed Registrants will receive access links and study guides within 3 business days.
HERE'S A SAMPLE OF PREVIOUS PROGRAMMING:
STONE SOUP & OTHER HEARTWARMING TALES
Grades: Pre-K through 8th
Themes: Holiday, Literature, and Literacy
The holiday season is about more than simply celebrating traditions and culture with friends and family. It is also about the spirit of giving and learning to share with others no matter our circumstances. Three classic short stories – “Stone Soup,” “The Gift of the Magi,” and “The Drum” – help young audiences learn about what it means to give a gift with an open heart.
Produced by Bright Star Touring Theatre
THE HI WAY: ANTI-BULLYING
Grades: Pre-K through 4th
Themes: Bullying and bully prevention, social-emotional learning, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Culture
Join Keoki and his friend Blue as they learn to use their voices to spread “aloha" throughout their elementary school. This episode of the Emmy award winning show The HI Way combines songs, puppets, interviews, advice and practical strategies for standing up to bullying behavior. Built from over ten years of Drama Education work in Hawaii classrooms the show was entirely created by Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s team of theatrical artists and educators and is designed to be a resource for students and teachers looking to explore social-emotional health with fun, age-appropriate material.
Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
ONCE UPON A TIME: CINDERELLA & JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Grades: Pre-K through 8th
Themes: Literature and Literacy
Join Lenny and Mabel, “The Greatest Actors in the World,” as they bring two classic tales to the stage. Dance at the ball with Cinderella and challenge the giant with Jack and the Beanstalk as these stories come to life in front of your very eyes! Fun and interactive, this show is great for younger audiences or anyone who is young at heart.
Produced by Bright Star Touring Theatre
GUS GOES GREEN
Grades: K through 5th
Themes: STEM, Environmental Conservation
Just in time for Earth Day, this play follows “Gus” (a giant dog puppet) who leads audiences on a STEM-inspired adventure around the globe. He uses clever resources to find creative solutions for a thirsty man in the desert, a wacky inventor, a toy maker and one very funny bug. Audience volunteers join Gus on stage to engineer a device for gathering water, build a unique toy from recycled materials and more! By the end of the play Gus and his friends use Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to find smart solutions to real-life issues. This show is designed to encourage young people to help the Earth through recycling, energy conservation and creative thinking.
Produced by Bright Star Touring Theatre
Sandler Virtual Academy was developed when local educators and school administration expressed a need for performance-based, educational opportunities to address the widening gap in children’s literacy learning losses after the peak of the pandemic. The program provides digital access to curriculum-based arts performances aligned with Virginia standards of learning for K-8th grade levels.
Throughout the academic year, we offer digital performances by resident companies and other performing arts organizations across the nation. Topics range from literature and literacy, history and social studies, music and dance, bullying, character education, to STEM subjects and more. Each video is accompanied by a professionally crafted study guide to maximize learning opportunities in- and outside of the classroom. Teachers are asked to complete a brief application and follow-up survey to gain access to Virtual Academy; they provide information critical to the development of the program.
SCF’s Virtual Academy has grown to become the largest children’s literacy-focused digital arts education initiative in Virginia and has served more than 55,000 children, their teachers, and families since 2021.
WHAT REGISTERED SCHOOLS SAY
“The historic information will benefit our students. Learning about important people who represent part of our student population will give them a sense of pride and determination. Some of the important people discussed are part of the social studies curriculum.”
Lynnhaven Elementary, Virginia Beach - 400 Participating Students
“We would love for our kindergarten students to experience a program that ties into our learning curriculum for Earth Day.”
Three Oaks Elementary, Virginia Beach - 130 Participating Students
We would like to extend a special thanks to this year’s partners.
Innovation is born of necessity. When pandemic restrictions made gathering at the Sandler Center a risk, SCF developed new ways to accomplish our mission, including the development of our Virtual Academy for students.
Alleviating health, transportation and staffing concerns, our Virtual Academy takes the action directly to children in their schools, either in live performances or online.
Since 2021, the Sandler Center Foundation has reached more than 55,000 students and teachers.
Because academic test scores plummeted after the pandemic, your support for this critical programming is more important than ever. Can we count on you to give today to support the development of children’s hearts and minds in this post-pandemic world?
