SCF Virtual Academy
Celebrating 5 Years Of Impact
Registration Is Open!
Virtual Academy is sponsored in part by the Helen G. Gifford Foundation, the Richard and Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust, and the Howard W. & Katherine L. Gwaltney Foundation.
The Sandler Center Foundation’s Virtual Academy 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.
ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING SCF VIRTUAL ACADEMY PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE BY REGISTRATION ONLY
Gus Goes Green: Earth Day Edition
Grades: K - 5th
Themes: STEM
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
The Velveteen Rabbit
Grades: Pre-K—3rd
Themes: Bully Prevention and Character Education, Literature and Literacy
Celebrate Women’s History Month with our show We Can Do It: A Celebration of Women’s History. This is the perfect show to inform and inspire audiences – girls and boys alike! An incredible adventure featuring some of the world’s most remarkable female pioneers, your audience will discover incredible and groundbreaking women like Amelia Earhart, Susan B. Anthony and more!
Produced by Bright Star Touring Theatre
Money
Grades: K—4th
Themes: Economics, Currency, Spending & Saving
This episode of the Emmy Award Winning television show, The HIWay, specifically focuses on financial literacy. Keoki and his friends learn about spending, saving, currency, and different ways to define what we value in life. It is never too early to start thinking about one’s financial health and Honolulu Theatre for Youth was very grateful to have developed the episode in collaboration with experts who felt the same. Knowing that finances can be a source of stress, Honolulu theatre for Youth created fun, age-appropriate scenes and songs with the goal of
opening up healthy conversations, engaging curiosity, and encouraging healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
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 performances will enhance VBCPS's language arts and social studies curriculums content. It will also enhance listening skills. I am always looking for unique ways to engage with our curriculum, and I believe these performances will provide just that for my students. Many of my students have never attended a play or performance, so this program is the next best thing!"
Thalia Elementary School, Virginia Beach
“Students learn about plants and animals and the cycles of the seasons. They also learn to work in cooperative groups and make friends. These lessons support those skills."
Birdneck Elementary School, Virginia Beach
“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
“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
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?
