Excelsior Elementary School

Mrs. Elaine M. Wersky

Room: #P-5 Phone: 916-770-2701 Email: click here

MRS. WERSKY

MRS. WERSKY

From the Podium...

NOTABLE NOTES:

A music education is a personal journey of self-discovery, skill mastery, social connection & teamwork, self-expression, personal achievement, individual investment, and creative expression. Music acquisition comes from whole brain learning and as such, music study shows scientific connections with all academic learning. To say it succinctly, music is good for the brain and good for the soul. I hope to inspire students to make connections in music-making for a lifetime, no matter what they pursue for a living. As with all skill development, mastery is earned step by step through time invested with consistent practice and self-discipline and much patience over an extended amount of time. I would love to see all of our kids explore playing a musical instrument to see if it sparks their passions. But I would also encourage patience in the process! As with most journeys in life, their will be peaks and valleys, unexpected surprises, moments that challenge us and hopefully even more that inspire us to drive around the next bend to see what's next.

In the EUSD school district, our students receive general music instruction in grades 4-6. Access to the Performing Arts is as follows:

Grades 4-6: Excelsior Choraliers (Boys Choir: Mrs. Wersky) or Excelsior Girls Choir (Mr. Bartlett)

Grade 5 (*some 6th graders): Beginning Band: 2 morning band rehearsals 8-8:50am and one afternoon pull-

out, 35 minutes each week.

Grade 6: Advanced Band for 2nd year players: 2 morning band rehearsals 8:00-8:50am and one 30 minute small group class in lieu of General Music (no longer a pull-out from other academic classes).

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Mrs. Elaine Wersky is entering her 29th year teaching music, her 25th year in the EUSD school district. She teaches the Choraliers and Bands at Excelsior and is also the director of the Olympus Music Program, which includes Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Choir. Mrs. Wersky earned a Bachelor of Music in Flute performance, a BA in Vocal Performance and her teaching credential from CSUS in Sacramento. She also holds a Masters in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley College in Massachusetts.

Magnolia Intermediate School, 1991-1995

Eureka Union School District, 1995-present

Donner Mine Music Camp, Teaching Staff 1990-2010

Director of Music, 2010-2019

Mrs. Wersky has been involved with the Donner Mine Music Camp in Emigrant Gap throughout its 30 year history. She just retired this summer from her role as the Director of Music for the cam. She has served on the California Music Educators Association Capitol Section Board as College Rep, Secretary, and most recently, as the Middle School Honor Band Rep. Mrs. Wersky has had the opportunity to direct several honor bands and one honor choir, most recently the Capitol Section 6th grade Honor Band, Sacramento and the All Northern Junior High Honor Band, Stockton, both in January 2018. She also plays in the percussion section of the Sierra Nevada Winds Community Band.

In addition to her passion for teaching music to students, Mrs. Wersky loves the outdoors and spends a lot of time running, biking, backpacking, swimming, gardening rock collecting, and doing yoga. She has been married for 30 years and has two sons, ages 22 and 25, both graduates of the EUSD school district K-8 (and music program) and Folsom High School.

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