The Rancho Cucamonga Community and Art Foundation (RCCAAF) proudly shines spotlights on its grantees from the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The Community Arts Grant empowers local arts organizations by supporting transformative programs and projects in the visual and performing arts. One inspiring initiative benefiting from this grant is the after-school drama program at Caryn Elementary School, where creativity takes center stage.

With the assistance of the Rancho Cucamonga Community and Art Foundation, Caryn Elementary School was able to purchase additional sound equipment for its after-school drama program. Caryn Elementary School, one of the 17 schools in the Etiwanda School District, offers an after-school drama program that allows students to participate in the production of stage musicals. The students develop their acting skills through rehearsal and performance in a safe and understanding environment. Participation in the program promotes self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. This program aims to enhance the lives of the students at Caryn Elementary and the community as a whole.

During the school year, Seussical Jr. took the audience into the world of Dr. Seuss and his beloved characters. The school found the entire community engaged throughout the production process. The families not involved with the production came out to support local fundraising events, and every student in the school had the opportunity to watch the production during a special school day performance. Students as young as three years and those with special needs were engaged during the one-hour performance. According to one parent, “The drama program at Caryn Elementary is more than just an extracurricular activity; it’s a place where students can explore their creativity, build lifelong skills, and form lasting friendships. Supporting this program means investing in the personal and artistic growth of many young students.”

Caryn Elementary offers affordable cultural enrichment opportunities to many members of the community. The inclusion of live theater fosters a vibrant, creative, and well-rounded environment for students. Attending a live theater performance brings people together, building a shared sense of identity, purpose, and pride. Caryn Elementary is not only a place where students learn but also a place where they can both entertain and be entertained in a safe and nurturing environment.

Caryn Elementary’s next production of Honk Jr. isbased on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling.  Honk! tells the story of an odd-looking baby duck and his quest to find his mother. The performance will take place from March 13 to March 15, utilizing sound equipment provided through the generous support of the Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation. Through such programs, the RCCAAF helps to enrich the cultural landscape, ensuring that the arts remain a vital part of the community for years to come.

About Caryn Elementary: The mission of Caryn Elementary is to create a positive and safe learning environment to support 21st-century education. Through mutual respect, within the total school community, our children will thrive in a culturally diverse atmosphere where faculty, staff, students, and parents are dedicated to the teaching and learning process.

Learn more about Caryn Elementary School.

All photos courtesy of Caryn Elementary