"Como um só" support the young musicians of Perosinho

15 students from the Secondary Music Course will have to give up music if we do nothing. The Perosinho Music School did not receive funding from the State and without external support it will be forced to close the Secondary Course.

Specialized arts schools are going through a serious financial crisis because the funds in the contracts that link them to the State have not been reviewed for over a decade. In other words, all schools that offer music courses in a joint system (which is legally completely free for students) receive subsidies that no longer cover the costs inherent in the proper pedagogical and logistical functioning. Every year, schools have to reinvent ways of subsidizing themselves, and cannot charge tuition fees to parents. Furthermore, when it comes to supplementary courses, the situation is even worse, because the rules of the official sponsorship have become incomprehensible and unaffordable, leaving many schools without financial support from the State for secondary courses in this system. This was the case at the Perosinho Music School, in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Let us not forget the importance of artistic education, which undoubtedly plays an essential role in fostering creativity, critical thinking and the integral development of students. Furthermore, these schools are often located in areas where they provide the only specialized educational and cultural offerings, which is why they are essential to enriching the curriculum of young people. In the case of "our" school, in addition to all these characteristics that led us to choose artistic education for our children from the 5th grade onwards, there is an additional richness beyond the educational rigor and professionalism of the teaching teams: love. The love of music, first and foremost, of course, the love which unites the school's 400 students, which makes them supportive and friendly towards each other, even if they have nothing else in common; and, above all, the love for the school and its members. The teachers and staff, first and foremost, tireless when it comes to be part of the team. An incredible union around this educational project that leads teachers and non-teachers to always be present for everyone and any project, without counting the hours and without asking for anything in return. A team that proves that with a little wecan do a lot, when we work side by side, together. And, finally, the love that the students have for the school and for those who work there. The Perosinho music school is not just any school. It is a family. It is a place where everyone is known by their first name, each of the 400 students is recognized, always well received and treated with affection. A care and love that is almost palpable in all the events and concerts that the school organizes. I swear, one day you will have to go see one to feel it...

Concerto na Casa da Música

But let's get to the point here: why we need to raise money. As I said at the beginning, the funds for the articulated course are not enough and the funds for the secondary course were refused to the school. Therefore, if we cannot find another source of funding, the school will have to close the secondary course next school year and leave 15 students without direction. Therefore, we, the parents and guardians of these students, have decided to join forces to try to reverse this situation. We fight to publicize this serious problem and we also promote local fundraising activities to help the school to be able to maintain secondary education and allow our children to finish their music degree. With this crowdfunding, we want to go further and get your help! We want to avoid the closure of the secondary music course at all costs because this will mean the end of the school in the medium term, and we cannot afford it. In fact, closing secondary schools is equivalent, in the medium term, to putting an end to the orchestras and choirs that represent the school so well in all public and official events and, without this external projection or the possibility of offering a complete music course to those who eventually want to pursue this area in higher education, new students will end up being scarce.

We want to keep music alive! We want our children to continue to love music and grow in the freedom it brings them! We know that together we are stronger and that nothing can stop us. Because at Perosinho Music School we are "as one". Join our cause!

Dos mais velhos aos mais novos. Como um só.

About the author

We are parents and guardians of students in the secondary music course at the Perosinho School of Music. We have come together as an informal committee because we want to fight for the school, we do not want to give up on our children's academic musical future, nor on the school that has brought so much happiness to our families in recent years. We know that the joy, good mood and strength of our children, all of whom are going through the difficult period of adolescence, are largely due to what they experience at this school, and to the friendship that connects them and binds them to the EMP.

We are fathers, mothers, grandparents, available to give our best, in the areas in which we have the most skills, to guarantee to the Gaia community that this school will still be able to welcome many children in the future and make them happy, as our children are.

You can meet the students by clicking here: https://youtube.com/shorts/Dkp2BJ4dN9g?feature=shared

Concerto na Casa da Música

Budget and due dates

With €15,000, the school would be able to cover the costs of secondary education in the next academic year for students who are already on the course. This amount will not be enough to guarantee the opening of a new course next year, but it will at least ensure the next level for those who have already started on the course.

So, ideally, we would need €30,000 to ensure that 10th grade students can complete their 12th grade, but we don’t know if our cause will attract such generosity. Let’s play it safe and ask for what’s needed for one academic year. If the amount is exceeded, the outcome will always be the same: to allow current students to stay and, if we can dream, to ensure that another secondary school can be opened next year.

The campaign must end on September 1, 2025, as this will be the beginning of the school year and the school will need to know whether or not it can afford the costs. Throughout the process, we will inform the school of the amount raised and, at the end, the total amount will be transferred to the school in the form of a donation from the parents' committee.

Images

Documents

• Nota de admissibilidade da petição na Assembleia da República

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