In the spirit of Santa Barbara’s historical Rancho period, The Howard School is kicking off the 2013-2014 year with an entertaining old-fashioned hoedown benefit. The school’s annual fundraiser will take place on Saturday, November 16, at Montecito Country Club and include authentically-themed activities such as line dancing, a barbecue dinner, and live music by California’s Caught Red Handed.

“We’re particularly excited about this year’s event,” says The Howard School’s Headmaster, Joel Reed. “Our curriculum highlights American history, and the hoedown theme offers a hint of Santa Barbara’s Rancho period – all of which sets the stage for a good old-fashioned time.”

The event, produced by Jackie Blackwell of Jackie Blackwell Events, will offer a silent and live auction, a winner-take-all wine and whiskey raffle worth over $2,000, and a “shoot out” at the old time photo booth, among other activities.

Notable auction items include a one-week vacation at a Utah ski home, a custom standup paddle board and paddle, a three month family membership to Santa Barbara Rock Gym, and a fire engine demonstration at a child’s birthday party.

Country line dance instruction will be offered throughout the event to the tunes of California’s Caught Red Handed — a band that has shared the stage with such country legends as Vince Gill, Martina McBride, and Toby Keith.

The barbecue dinner will be prepared by Montecito Country Club’s Chef Blackwell, a beloved chef who visits Howard once a month to provide a delicious and healthy lunch for students. The dinner will pair with a gourmet whiskey tasting by distillery founder and head distiller Ian Cutler of Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, and will consist of a rich array of spirits including Grandma’s Apple Pie Liquor alongside spirited conversation about the art of craft distilling.

“Everyone is so enthusiastic about the hoedown,” says Headmaster Joel Reed. “We’re honored to have such a top-notch lineup for the school’s benefit this year.”

Having just reached its centennial, The Howard School also enjoys the honor of being Santa Barbara’s oldest private school. The non-profit focuses on a classical education with emphasis on well-rounded child development and interrelated learning.

Based in the Carden curriculum, The Howard School offers an education to students in Pre-Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. Class sizes are small with roughly 12 children per class in order to provide the necessary attention and quality of education to each student. The Howard School’s curriculum offers instruction in not only the fundamentals of science, mathematics, and language arts, but also extends to thoroughly cover classic literature, French, poetry, art, music, drama, and daily physical education.

All funds raised from the Howard Hoedown go directly to student activities, with this year’s focus on a major upgrade to the school’s technology hardware and curriculum. Tickets start at $75 and can be purchased online at thehowardschool.org. The event is open to the public. Country attire encouraged!

About The Howard School

Founded in 1912 with Mrs. Hannah Howard’s morning lessons for six students, The Howard School is now a private non-profit school that provides a first-class, well-rounded education to children in Pre-Kindergarten to Eighth Grade. The curriculum is based in the Carden Method®, a comprehensive developmental approach that offers a classical education and emphasizes interrelated learning as well as character development. In addition to traditional subjects such as mathematics, language arts, science, history, and geography, the method focuses on cultural programs in art, music, and French. Physical education is offered every day along with a healthy lunch program. The Howard School’s core principles of reason, respect, and responsibility are integrated into the curriculum and serve to cultivate the character, strengths, and interests of each individual child. For more information about The Howard School, visit thehowardschool.org.

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