Yonkers Charter School Adds Elementary Band to Athletic Roster

A group of elementary students played their first public set for the Charter School of Educational Excellence on October 15. The new pep band performed at the varsity flag football homecoming game, an event that drew more than 300 spectators to a sold-out venue.

Danielle Rendina, the school’s chief executive officer, said the band performed well. She stated that their presence improved the atmosphere at the game. Rendina noted that integrating music into athletics benefits students and the wider school community. She added that every department matters to the school’s culture.

The elementary pep band is the newest addition to the school’s musical groups. The K-12 institution already maintains a high school marching band, backing bands for musicals, and choirs. This move extends the school’s focus on the arts to the earliest grade levels.

The school has invested in arts infrastructure in recent years. In 2023, it opened a new stage at its high school. The facility is designed to teach students theatrical rigging and other technical skills. Rendina pointed to nearby media stages, including those at Lionsgate Studios in Yonkers, as potential employers for graduates. Since the stage opened, the school has produced shows including The Addams Family, Godspell, and the Seussical.

The band will return to the field on November 5 at 4:30 p.m. They are scheduled to perform during the middle school’s flag football Turkey Bowl. The school cites research linking instrument practice to academic gains. A 2019 report by the Journal of Educational Psychology found that students in British Columbia who took music courses scored higher in math and science than their peers who did not take such classes.