Painted Hills Middle School

The Painted Hills Middle School music program known as The Panther Regiment serves approximately 200 socioeconomically disadvantaged students in Desert Hot Springs, California. Band and Choir classes are available to every student with all materials, including instruments, provided. Our Students learn to read, perform, and appreciate music in these classes. The Pathther Regiment is a student-led music organization that serves as a safety net for students, helping kids to overcome the trials of school and life. The Panther Regiment continuously improves school climate and academic performance by living up to their motto of rising “Beyond All Expectations”. Previous awards and performances include Knott’s Berry Farm (2015), San Francisco Music Festival Sweepstakes (2016), Hollywood Heritage Music Festival Sweepstakes (2017, 2019), California Teacher of the Year Gala Performance (2018), Hollywood Music Festival Gold (2023). The students and staff of Painted Hills Middle School are eager to expand our music capabilities with the new instruments provided going into the 2024-25 school year.

For the first time in its three-year history, Painted Hills Middle Schools plans to establish a band program. Over 55 students plan on joining band in the 2014-2015 school year, and they will receive new instruments, method books, music stands, repertoire for concerts and festivals, and other necessary equipment. Desert Hot Springs High School, the school that PHMS feeds into, has an overabundance of students enrolled in Beginning Band courses. By starting a band program at Painted Hills Middle School, students will learn their instruments starting from a younger age, and enroll in intermediate and advanced courses in high school. Every PHMS student who shows interest in band is accepted. In an age when arts funding is cut at many schools, Painted Hills students can enjoy the innumerable benefits of a music education.

The research program at Painted Hills Middle School will provide new laptops for three different sixth grade classrooms. Students and teachers will use them during class time, debate meetings, and tutoring, before and after school. Having access to computers, including a variety of learning-focused programs, will help students complete assignments and practice academic skills in fun and innovative ways. Students on the Debate Team will use the Internet to research important topics. Using this new technology, students will improve their skills and gain confidence as they achieve greater academic success.