Grace Bateman News Today

A draft budget for SD61, the Greater Victoria School District, includes cuts to elementary and middle school music programs.

The Lansdowne Middle School Grade 6 strings program organized the before-class gathering, which attracted about 30 students. “We really like music,” said Grade 6 student Grace Bateman, who plays cello in the strings program and saxophone in band. “During the day we have all sorts of projects due and it can be really stressful, but when we have a break for music, it really calms us and gets rid of all that extra stuff in our heads.” Grade 6 student Mathilde Hammer-Coutts called music ...