Pieces of Gold Event to Feature Students from Local Elementary, High Schools

March 1, 2012 | Filed under: Annual,Arts,Schools | Posted by: Timothy J. Lavallee

Pieces of Gold 2011 - Reprinted with permission of Wake Education Partnership

A North Forest Pines student, center, participated in the 2011 Pieces of Gold performance.

Wake Forest-area students will perform on stage at Memorial Auditorium in Downtown Raleigh.

The Wake Education Partnership hosts the Pieces of Gold student performance event on Wednesday, March 14 at 7 p.m., and students from North Forest Pines Drive Elementary, Pleasant Union Elementary, and Wake Forest-Rolesville High School will participate.

The performance highlights student talent from around the community and honors the dedication of students, faculty and staff through the artistic Pieces of Gold presentation.

“The opportunity for students to engage in the arts – whether it is through theater, song, dance, visual art or so many other forms – plays a key role in creating graduates who are more creative, innovative and better prepared to deal with the challenges of the world today,” said Wake County schools Superintendent Tony Tata. “This is the kind of event that helps students understand what is possible with extra effort and team work. I congratulate the students and teachers who are a part of the 29th annual Pieces of Gold show and would like to thank Wake Education Partnership for helping make this event the success it is today.”

Steve Parrott, president of Wake Education Partnership, said the Pieces of Gold annual student performance, now in its 29th year, features performances by more than 1,000 Wake County public school students from 30 different schools.

“In addition to being a testament to the talents and hard work of our teachers, students and parents, Pieces of Gold is a tribute to the value that the Wake County Public School System places on the arts and arts education – an important acknowledgement by our schools and community that student achievement means more than performance on standardized tests,” said Parrott.

Proceeds from this year’s ticket sales benefit the Teacher Leadership Grants program, which assists teachers in improving their level of instruction to students through four types of grants including a professional learning team grant and three innovative instruction grants.

Pieces of Gold sponsors include Progress Energy, Capitol Broadcasting, Golden Corral, SAS, Davidson & Jones, Duke Raleigh Hospital, AECOM, Applebee’s and Progressive Business Solutions. Representatives of these organizations will attend an invite-only Principals’ Reception on March 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce to honor the principals from the 30 participating schools.

“We believe that the arts are important to the economic and cultural vitality of the communities we serve,” said Rodney Gaddy, Progress Energy Carolinas Northern Region vice president. “Vibrant arts programs in our schools not only fire the imagination and provide creative outlets, they can help students to be successful across their academic experience as well.”

Click here to purchase tickets to Pieces of Gold.

Images courtesy of Timothy J. Lavallee | Destination Wake Forest

Timothy J. Lavallee

Timothy J. Lavallee lives in Wake Forest. He is a married father of a son, a daughter, and a rescued boxer dog named Belle. He is the co-founder of Destination Wake Forest.