Mrs. Karin McCartney, Music Teacher at GAMS, Teaches Original Mask Song

Mrs. Karin McCartney, music teacher at GAMS High Tech Magnet School, wrote and composed a song for her scholars to help them easily remember the important steps to wearing a mask correctly. Mrs. McCartney utilized puppets to engage her scholars and demonstrate proper mask wearing steps. 

To gain excitement, Mrs. McCartney asked scholars to film themselves singing the song and going through the steps of proper mask wearing. Two scholars submitted videos! Jesus Aquino, Kindergarten scholar at GAMS submitted a video. Tyrone Jones and his grandmother also submitted a video! 

In 2017, Mrs. McCartney was honored by The Academy for Teachers. She was nominated and selected to attend a mastery class hosted by the organization and is now a Fellow of The Academy for Teachers, joining a growing number of strong educators. Master classes are a rare opportunity for exceptional teachers to learn from a leading expert and from each other. Teachers selected for Academy for Teachers master classes show passion for their subjects, creativity in their classrooms, and devotion to their students.

The Academy for Teachers honors and supports teachers. They bring our culture's greatest minds and creative talents together with our strongest educators for inspiring and productive master classes. Teachers describe master classes as among the most powerful and affirming experiences of their careers. The Master Class that Mrs. McCartney attended was Puppetry: Fundamentals & Possibilities with Basil Twist. Mrs. McCartney often includes puppets in her music lessons to engage and excite her scholars. Additionally, over the last two summers, Mrs. McCartney teaches a puppetry program for a week at the Ronald McDonald Camp, a free camp for kids 7-17 who have cancer or are a sibling of a kid with cancer.

In October of 2019, Mrs. McCartney wrote lyrics for a #ShoulderUp song and together with Ms. Sayles and Ms. Reed, taught it to all our GAMS students. Together we can do great things! 

Mrs. Karin McCartney's full lesson and song. 

Jesus Aquino Prada, Kindergarten scholar at GAMS submitted a video. 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!