Grades: 6-8 School: Albert Shanker School for Visual and Performing Arts in Astoria

The mission of I.S. 126, a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet, is to create a learning environment for all students that, *Promotes excellence as its ideal; *Promotes parent and community involvement; *Implements all state standards; *Teaches respect and appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversity; *Develops and nurtures understanding and the love of the Arts; *Fosters democratic values through free expression and exchange of ideas. These principles may be summarized in our mission statement: The I.S. 126 school family promotes academic excellence within an atmosphere of brotherhood, sisterhood, harmony, and equality, especially as these ideals are expressed through the universal languages of music, art and dance. Our motto is “Promoting academic excellence through artistic endeavors.”