2013-324 Arts - The Arts Center Spring 2013 Art Grant Agreement $1,500

Browse Search

The ArtsCenter Arts In Education Focus School Program Y Central Elementary is located in Hillsborough, and approximately 70% of students receive free/reduced lunch. New Hope Elementary, also located in Hillsborough, has 58% free/reduced lunch and the highest English Language Learner population in the district. Efland-Cheeks Elementary, located in Efland, has 59% free/reduced lunch and one of the largest Exceptional Children (EC)-identified populations in Orange County and the second smallest identified gifted population. Students attending all three schools live in Hillsborough or Efland. In the 2013-2014 school year, The ArtsCenter will implement 19 Arts-Based Learning Experience (ABLE) residencies in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades (including, but not limited to, residencies with a visual arts, drama/theater, dance, or music focus) at Central Elementary, New Hope Elementary and Efland-Cheeks Elementary. An Arts- Based Learning Experience residency is a five-day residency designed to help prepare students to see a School Show at The ArtsCenter (art form and content), while simultaneously teaching curriculum through the arts. All School Shows connect to specific elements of the curriculum, and an ABLE residency allows students to study this related curriculum with professional teaching artists in their classrooms. During residencies, students are given opportunities to look at ideas from different angles, and they often times grasp concepts they have not previously understood. This builds students' self confidence, allows them to analyze and understand their personal learning styles, and fosters academic growth. In addition, students who have limited opportunities to experience the arts are able to work closely with professional teaching artists in their classrooms and see a live show at a local theater, which offers them new avenues to explore creativity and diversity. For example, in the 2012-2013 school year, third graders at Central Elementary studied Mexican culture using visual art by creating Mexican suns through paper mache and painting, which tied in with the Ballet Folklorico show they saw at The ArtsCenter as part of the School Show Series. Family involvement is also an integral part of our Arts In Education program because this allows for deeper discussions and learning to take place outside of school. As a result, family nights and/or family sharings are planned in accordance with residencies whenever possible. In addition, many district-wide events, such as Orange County Schools' Cultural Explosion, often times feature students, classes and schools who showcase their work from residencies for their families and other families in the district. Residencies that will take place in the 2013-2014 school year at each focus school will be planned at the beginning of the year. Each grade level at each school will choose a School Show to see at The ArtsCenter during the year. The ArtsCenter's Arts In Education Coordinator will then work closely with each grade level team to plan their respective residencies (both art form and content). Prior to the start of the residencies, classroom teachers from that particular grade level, the teaching artist and The ArtsCenter's Arts In Education Coordinator will meet for a planning session to review goals and discuss residency logistics. Following the residency, they will all meet again for an evaluation meeting, where participants can talk candidly about their experiences and discuss key strengths and weaknesses of the residency. In addition to this evaluation tool, several other strategies will be put in place to ensure all aspects of the residency are carefully analyzed and assessed. Following the conclusion of all residencies, The ArtsCenter will distribute student and teacher evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the experience, as well as communicate regularly with teachers and