Bethel’s Visual and Performing Arts Newsletter
EXPRESSIONS
Vol. 24 No. 11 February 5, 2014
February: African-American History Month
5 Late Arrival for Students
All Day Arts & Heritage Day Olympia (http://wsaa.qwestoffice.net/arts_day.htm)
All Day Women’s Choral Festival UPS
7:00pm Dr. Doolittle CMMS Commons
7:00pm Dear Ruth (Winter Play) BHS
7 7:00pm Dear Ruth (Winter Play) BHS
8 10:00am Poetry Out Loud Competition Tacoma Public Library
4:00 – 7:30pm Evening Performance Workshop Broadway Center’s Studio 3
& Joe Turner’s Come & Gone at 7:30pm Theatre on the Square
7:00pm Dear Ruth (Winter Play) BHS
11 All Day Pacific Northwest Band Festival University of Washington
4:00 – 7:30pm Matinee Workshop Broadway Center’s Studio 3
& Red Sky’s The Great Mountain on February 13
7:00pm School Board Meeting ESC
12 2:30 & 6:30pm BUGZ! (3rd Grade Musical) SE
12 – 16 Kennedy Center Annual Meeting Washington, D.C.
13 10:00am/12:15pm The Great Mountain (Student Matinees) Pantages
14 – 16 All State Music Conference Yakima
14 Happy Valentines’ Day!
9:30am Joe Turner’s Come & Gone (Student Matinees) Theatre on the Square
3:00 – 5:15pm WMEA All-State Jazz Concert Yakima Convention Center
8:00 – 10:00pm WMEA Band Concert GKHS Wind Ensemble
15 4:30 – 6:15pm WMEA Junior All-State Concerts Various locations in Yakima
16 1:00-3:00pm WMEA All-State Concerts Various locations in Yakima
17 Presidents’ Day – NO SCHOOL
18 All Day Waiver Day #2 / No School for Students
19 7:00pm Frankenstein (School Play – Pay-What-You-Can-Night) SLHS
February 19 – March 24 Puget Sound ESD Regional Artwork on Display
800 Oakesdale Avenue SW in Renton
20 9:30am Joe Turner’s Come & Gone (Student Matinees) Theatre on the Square
5:00 – 8:00pm Art Mingle Downtown Tacoma (http://downtowntacoma.com/happenings)
7:00pm Chamber Music Concert (Eighth Grade Band) CMMS
7:00pm Frankenstein (School Play) SLHS
21 5:30 – 7:00pm Band Auction FMS
7:00pm Frankenstein (School Play) SLHS
22 2:00pm Frankenstein (School Play Matinee) SLHS
25 6:30pm Choir Rehearsal to prepare for Concert at GKHS
7:00pm School Board Meeting EPSOC
7:00pm Contest Voice Recital CMMS
7:00pm Choir Concert BHS
7:00pm Band and Orchestra Concert SLHS
7:15pm Choral Bash! FE/GE/KE/NE/PV/FMS/LMS/GK Choirs at GKHS
TODAY IS ARTS AND HERITAGE DAY
Today, Wednesday, February 5, is Arts and Heritage Day 2014. For over thirty years the Washington State Arts Alliance (WSAA) has coordinated Arts Day at the State Capitol Building in Olympia. Again this year they are partnering with the Washington Museum Association (WMA) to create an opportunity for arts advocates from across the state to meet with legislators to talk about arts and heritage issues in the current legislative session and cultural concerns in our communities and schools. Those attending they will be a part of advocating for issues during the 2014 Legislative Session, meeting colleagues from across the state, discussing arts issues with legislators, and enjoying lunch buffet, speakers, and performance. For more information visit http://wsaa.qwestoffice.net/arts_day.htm.
DR. DOOLITTLE JR. AT COUGAR MOUNTAIN
You have one more chance to see Cougar Mountain Middle School’s musical Dr. Doolittle tonight – Wednesday, February 5, at 7:00 pm. A classic tale of kindness to animals, directed by Hannah Blackburn, will trot, crawl, and fly onto the stage in this tale of a wacky doctor who can talk to animals. General admission is $3, and students with ASB Cards are $2.
BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT ART FESTIVAL A BIG SUCCESS!
Congratulations to our visual arts specialists for another successful Bethel School District Art Festival on January 25! Hundreds of student entries from around the district were on display in conjunction with the Technology Fair at Spanaway Lake High School – the Fourteenth Annual Art Festival! Thanks to our guest judges including Anne Banks, Program Supervisor for the Arts at the Office of Superintendent of Public Education; Connie Diffenderfer, local artist and former manager of Gallery 3 in Puyallup; Michael Hollins, Superintendent for the Washington State Fair Junior/Senior Art Show; Karen Lucas, owner of Lucas Gallery on the Hill in Graham; and April Nyquist, Assistant Manager of Education at the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. Three professional artists demonstrated the artistic process including Kari Carrigan (creating glass bead jewelry – http://www.weegemsdesigns.com), Paul Langston (wood creations through wood burning – http://openstudiotour.homestead.com/paullangston.html), and Steve Scheibe (painting on silk – http://www.visibleinvisible.com), giving those who attended a chance to ask questions and see art in action. Our appreciation is extended to the support staff and the NJROTC cadets at SLHS for helping to make this an enjoyable event. We would also like to offer a very special thanks to our Superintendent, Tom Siegel, for his generous financial contributions to the eight Superintendent’s Award Winners. All ribbon-winning pieces will be on display in the main hallway at the ESC in March to celebrate Youth Art Month. Listed below are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winning entries for two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and photography (PH). The eight Superintendent Award Winners are in bold font.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade:
1st: 2D “Designer Shirt” Kayle Ray RE 1st Grade
2nd: 2D “Koi” Alyah Cox PV Kinder.
3rd: 2D “Self Portrait” Ellianna Malo FE 1st Grade
1st: 3D “Night Owl Tree” Connor Power SE 1st Grade
2nd: 3D “Texture Necklace” Elena McCann GE Kinder.
3rd : 3D “Patterned Hearts” Wynter Halbert SE 1st Grade
2nd and 3rd Grade:
1st: 2D “O’Keeffe Flower” Gideon Godinez PV 3rd Grade
2nd: 2D “Rabbit with Carrots” Amber Charles CE 3rd Grade
3rd: 2D “Poppies” Isaac Lopez RR 2nd Grade
1st: 3D “Coil Pot” Paige Gregory EP 3rd Grade
2nd: 3D “Bunny Walk” Sophia Martinez NS 2nd Grade
3rd: 3D “Texture Necklace” Aaron Scroggins GE 2nd Grade
4th and 5th Grade:
1st: 2D “Landscape with Trees” Latasha Boatner NT 5th Grade
2nd: 2D “Mountain Landscape” Patrick McLeon CP 4th Grade
3rd: 2D “Country Home” Elaine Ahn CE 4th Grade
1st: 3D “Story Presentation” Anita Tomas SM 5th Grade
2nd: 3D “School Robotics” Michael Bahney EP 4th Grade
3rd: 3D “Flower” Elizabeth Perry CC 4th Grade
Middle School Winning Entries:
1st: 2D “Horses” Morgan Britton LMS 8th Grade
2nd: 2D “Zebra” Brooke Geisleman FMS 8th Grade
3rd: 2D “Fall Scene” Sara Hoyt BMS 7th Grade
1st: 3D “Assemblage #1” Nathaniel Chang SMS 8th Grade
2nd: 3D “Turtle” Jennie Goldsberry FMS 6th Grade
3rd: 3D “Coil Heart Pot” Shelby Woolley-Sola LMS 7th Grade
High School Winning Entries:
1st: 2D “Brad Pitt” Erik Reyes SLHS 12th Grade
2nd: 2D “Statue of Their Strength” Kristen Pascual SLHS 11th Grade
3rd: 2D “Tiki Summer” Cameron Thompson GKHS 12th Grade
1st: 3D “Native Catch” Cameo Swanson BHS 12th Grade
2nd: 3D “Willow Tree” Josephine Fish GKHS 12th Grade
3rd: 3D “Busting Out” Reo Antique CSS 11th Grade
1st: PH “Magic School Bus” Kayleigh Bartlett SLHS 11th Grade
2nd: PH “Still Working” Paige Cook SLHS 10th Grade
3rd: PH “Through Her Eyes” Kalabria Fleming GKHS 12th Grade
INSTRUMENTAL SOLO AND ENSEMBLE CONTEST RESULTS
The Mountain League Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Contest was held at Bethel High School on February 1, with band and orchestra student musicians from Bethel’s secondary schools performing numerous solos and ensembles. Adjudicators gave advice, analysis, and encouragement to student performances that showed a high degree of commitment and preparation. Congratulations to these students who will be/may be representing our district at the State level:
Winners going on to the State Contest in Ellensburg on April 26 and 27:
Ashley Stewart Clarinet Solo GKHS
Austin Marron Bass Clarinet Solo BHS
Morgan Thetford Alto Saxophone GKHS
Axel McCrumb Tenor Saxophone Solo GKHS
Jacob Walker Trombone Solo GKHS
Reece Williams Euphonium Solo GKHS
Joseph Rudenko Tuba Solo BHS
Sora Oizumi Snare Drum Solo GKHS
Bobby Odle Mallets Solo GKHS
Sora Oizumi Timpani Solo GKHS
Bobby Odle Multiple Percussion Solo GKHS
Brett Gaulke Piano Solo SLHS
Small Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone Duet SLHS
Small Brass Ensemble Trumpet Duet BHS
Large Brass Ensemble Brass Quintet GKHS
Small Percussion Ensemble Percussion Trio GKHS
Large Percussion Ensemble Percussion Septet GKHS
Large String Ensemble String Quintet BHS
First Alternates:
Kallee Debord Flute Solo GKHS
Kaitlynn Keller Clarinet Solo GKHS
Corey Johnson Alto Saxophone SLHS
Addison Daniels Tenor Saxophone Solo BHS
Sam Shuman French Horn Solo GKHS
Marissa Kahler Euphonium Solo GKHS
Sora Oizumi Mallets Solo GKHS
Bobby Odle Timpani Solo GKHS
Cat Kidd Piano Solo SLHS
Small Woodwind Ensemble Saxophone Quartet GKHS
Large Woodwind Ensemble Clarinet Choir GKHS
Small Brass Ensemble Tuba/Flute Duet GKHS
Small String Ensemble Cello Trio BHS
Second Alternates:
Shannon Boyd Flute Solo GKHS
Jennifer Delegard Oboe Solo SLHS
Jordan Braedt Clarinet Solo GKHS
Chaiya Odle Mallets Solo GKHS
Small Woodwind Ensemble Mixed Woodwind Trio SLHS
Small Brass Ensemble French Horn Duet I GKHS
Small String Ensemble Sunrise Quartet BHS
BHS PLAY: DEAR RUTH
Dear Ruth, a romantic comedy by Norman Krasna, will be presented by the Bethel High School Theatre Club on February 5, 7, and 8 at 7:00 pm. A normal day in the Wilkins family: reticent beauty Ruth, her crusty judge father, and petition-happy political activist sister, Miriam. Who should show up but Ruth’s soldier pen pal Bill Seacroft – whom she does not know about. It seems Miriam used her sister’s name and picture to build up wartime morale. Ruth reluctantly agrees to “humor” Bill during his two-day leave, though she has just become engaged to her stuffy suitor Albert. Come see if Miriam’s cloud castle can last the weekend without crashing to earth by purchasing tickets ($8 for adults and $5 for students with ASB cards, military, seniors and children 12 and under) at the door. For more information call director Nicholas Gorne at (253) 683-7125.
PUYALLUP HOSTS CULTURE AND ARTS WORKSHOPS
Culture and the Arts professional development classes will be offered on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 4:30 to 7:30 pm during these winter months. These sessions are available to Puyallup, Bethel, and Tacoma school district teachers. Exploring a variety of perspectives from world cultures, workshops will focus on traditions, festivals, visual art, dance, music, and theatre. Each is a three-clock hour class and the fee for out-of-district educators is $20. Create a login and sign up for individual classes on Puyallup School District’s professional development site at http://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/pages/Puyallup_School_District/Departments/Instruction___Learning__new_/Staff_Development. Upcoming sessions in February include:
February 6 African Design with Lynda Belt (Course #5233)
February 11 Shadow Puppets with Lynda Belt (Course #5234)
February 13 Artful Thinking with Lynda Belt (Course #5235)
February 27 Quality Arts Integration with Laurie Haakons (Course #5236)
GKHS STUDENT PERFORMS AT POETRY OUT LOUD
Graham Kapowsin senior Jared Westerman will represent his school at the Poetry Out Loud Puget Sound Regional Finals on Saturday, February 8, running from 10:00 am to 12:50 pm at the Tacoma Public Library (1102 Tacoma Avenue South). Communication Arts teacher, Christine Fuller, is Jared’s sponsor, and Anne Bennett is his librarian. Poetry Out Loud, sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), is a national program that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance from classroom competitions to a school-wide competition, then to a regional competition, then to the state competition on March 8, and ultimately to the National Finals. Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete for the national championship in April. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals. Teachers participating in Poetry Out Loud have access to a variety of support materials, including a Teacher’s Guide to teach recitation and performance, a comprehensive website that includes poetry resources and lesson plans, an extensive online poetry anthology of approximately 500 poems, a hard copy anthologies of approximately 130 poems, and an Audio CD of distinguished actors and writers reciting and talking about poetry. For more information about this program visit http://poetryoutloud.org or http://www.arts.wa.gov/arts-in-education/poetry-out-loud.
REGISTER FOR THE ARTS INSTITUTE AT BROADWAY CENTER
The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) will again offer a rich experience for educators through a series of workshops that include food and attendance to a variety of professional evening performances. Educators who have an interest in music, theatre, and dance are encouraged to attend. The Arts Institute at Broadway Center (formerly The Graduate Series) provides knowledge of how to integrate the arts into reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, and other subject areas. Each series may be taken for graduate credit through Seattle Pacific University or for clock hours through the Puget Sound Educational Service District. For more information visit http://www.broadwaycenter.org/education/graduate-teacher.asp or contact Katie Lappier at (253) 573-2518. Enrollment fees cover the workshop, snacks or dinner, and admission to a Broadway Center show linked to that workshop.
Evening Performance Workshop: August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come & Gone – February 8 – 4:00pm to 10:00pm – $85: Treat yourself to dinner and a show while gaining experience with an arts integrated lesson plan for your students as well as extended learning with your colleagues.
Matinee Workshop: Red Sky’s The Great Mountain – February 11 – 5:00 to 8:00 pm – $55: From exposure to immersion, this workshop brings depth to the matinee experience by activating school matinee study guides and translating activities into classroom learning.
SEATTLE PRO MUSICA PRESENTS BRITTEN+
Celebrate Benjamin Britten’s centenary with some of his most-loved choral works, paired with gorgeous pieces by American composers Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these are two of the most popular living choral composers, and Seattle Pro Musica will be performing some of their most passionate works, brimming with lush harmonies and rapturous poetry. The concert will be held on Sunday, February 9, at 3:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church on the Pacific Lutheran University campus. For more information visit http://www.seattlepromusica.org/concerts-and-tickets/concerts.php?title=Britten+&concert=10.
For more information visit http://www.seattlepromusica.org.
VALENTINES FOR VETS
Last year, Congressman Denny Heck launched his Valentines for Veterans Drive, and it was a huge success! Primary and elementary school students from around the South Sound decorated thousands of cards thanking our local veterans for their service to our country. The drive is on again this year! Local schools are encouraged to incorporate the Valentines for Vets Drive into the regular art curriculum, and students of all grade levels and ages are welcome to participate. Anyone wishing to participate may drop off Valentine’s Day cards at either of Congressman Heck’s District Offices in Lacey and Lakewood prior to or on February 12. The addresses and hours for the offices are:
Thurston/Mason County District Office located on the 3rd floor of Lacey City Hall
420 College St SE, Suite 3000
Lacey, WA 98503 / Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Pierce County District Office located on the 3rd floor of Lakewood City Hall
6000 Main St SW, Suite 3B
Lakewood, WA 98499 / Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5 PM
If you have any questions, I can be reached at this email address or at (360) 459-8514. Thank you so much in advance for your help!
NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARDS
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is pleased to invite applications for the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards. These awards recognize the accomplishments of afterschool and out-of-school arts and humanities programs and activities across the country. With a $10,000 award, they also assist organizations, further knowledge, and encourage development of future programs. Completed applications will only be accepted via the online process. Applications must be submitted by February 10. For information visit http://www.nahyp.org.
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is designed to assist arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation develop and/or expand educational partnerships with their local school systems. The program, established in 1991, is based on the belief that educating teachers is an essential component of any effort designed to increase the artistic literacy of young people. Partnership teams consist of a member of an arts organization (Broadway Center for the Performing Arts) and a senior level administrator of a neighboring school system (Bethel, Puyallup, and Tacoma school districts). Another Partners in Education Team for Washington State has been created to include Seattle Repertory Theatre, Book-it Repertory, and South Kitsap School District. These teams will participate in an institute that provides models and planning strategies for establishing or expanding professional development programs in the arts for all teachers, follow-up consultation, and annual meetings to assist teams in their continued development. There will be keynotes from brain researcher Eric Jensen and best-selling author Daniel Pink; sessions with Eric Booth, Deborah Brzoska, and Garry Golden, among others; and opportunities to network, share, and catch up with Partnership Team members from across the country. Michael Sandner and Mike Merrin will be attending as Bethel representatives at the Partners In Education Conference in Washington DC from February 12 through 16. For more visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/partners.
TIME TO APPLY FOR A HAROLD LEMAY ENRICHMENT GRANT
Educators are encouraged to apply for a Harold LeMay Enrichment Grant. The $300 maximum opportunity fund is designed to support a variety of creative and innovative educational programs. Ann Varkados, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, must receive applications by 4:00 pm, on Thursday, February 13, at the Educational Service Center. Awards will be announced on February 28. To learn more about grant guidelines and to download the application form visit the Bethel website at http://www.bethelsd.org/news/6042 or contact Jerri McKeown at (253) 683-6016.
THE TEN TENORS AND JERILYNN
Internationally acclaimed singing sensation The Ten Tenors are back in the United States with a brand new show celebrating Broadway’s greatest hits: The Ten Tenors On Broadway. This dynamic live experience is a wonderful collection of Broadway’s most loved classics sung by ten of Australia’s hottest tenors. Fans will be delighted by this powerful mix of theatrical showstoppers and heart melting ballads as they take on some of the greatest show tunes in the world. Come see our own Jerilynn Harris-Kilgore in the orchestra as she accompanies The Ten Tenors at the Pantages Theatre on Friday, February 14, at 8:00 pm. Order tickets at http://www.broadwaycenter.org/season/showDetails.asp?key=431, or call (253) 591-5894.
2014 WMEA JUNIOR ALL-STATE HONOR GROUPS
The WMEA Junior All-State Honor Groups are part of the WMEA All-State Conference and will perform on Saturday, February 15, featuring student musicians who are currently enrolled in fifth through eight grades. The Junior Youth All-State Choir will perform from 4:30 to 6:15 pm. Our district will be sending three elementary students to participate in this prestigious group including: Makayla Fischer from Nathan DeBolts’s Graham Elementary Choir; Brinley Van Gieson from Mike Hoye’s Nelson Elementary Choir; and Demetria Whitfield from Sheli Morrell’s Spanaway Elementary Choir. The Junior All-State Choral Concert, with a Treble Choir and a Mixed Choir, will include Marisa Manatu and Madeline Neigel from Sue Green’s Frontier Middle School choral program. The instrumental groups, including a Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Wind Ensemble, will also perform from 4:30 to 6:15 pm. Congratulations to Lexi Harkrider in Jerilynn Harris-Kilgore’s Bethel Middle School Orchestra, and Alexis Chouinard in Matt Armstrong’s Frontier Middle School Band. For more information visit http://www.wmea.org.
2014 WMEA ALL-STATE HONOR GROUPS
The finest high school music students from across Washington have received top honors by being selected to participate in one of the Washington Music Educators Association All-State Honor Groups. The students listed below will join hundreds of other outstanding musicians later this month. Rehearsals for these honor groups will take place during President’s Day weekend, February 14 through 16, in various locations in Yakima under the direction of world-renowned conductors, and then present final concerts concurrently on Sunday, February 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The All-State Choir Concert will he held at Yakima’s Convention Center, the All-State Band Concert will present their concert at the new Eisenhower High School gymnasium, and the All-State Orchestra Concert will be held in Yakima’s Capitol Theatre. For more information visit http://www.wmea.org. This year we congratulate music directors Paul Bain (GKHS), Bernard Crouse (SLHS), Nicholas Gorne (BHS), Sue Green (GKHS), Mike Mercer (SLHS), and John Wetherington (BHS) as well as these students:
All-State Symphonic Choir: All-State Treble Choir:
Jeff Canonizado SLHS Ashley Brown GKHS
Bradford Clark SLHS Megan Brown GKHS
Danica Cosme BHS Alisha Long SLHS
David Glessman SLHS Casey Park GKHS
Laura Hurtado GKHS Alyssa Stull GKHS
Nate Infausto GKHS
Liam Kerschner SLHS All-State Wind Ensemble:
Ryan O’Neal SLHS Corey Johnson SLHS
Hannah Porter GKHS
Shaina Stuckey SLHS All-State Concert Band:
Elijah Umipeg SLHS Austin Marron BHS
Kayla Waycaster SLHS Jacob Walker GKHS
OVATION’S NEWEST ARTS ED TOOLKIT NOW AVAILABLE
Ovation has released a new free arts education resource. This ArtsEd Toolkit includes video clips of documentaries, films, and complementary curriculum units for grades 9 through 12. The materials are suited to teachers across all visual and performing arts disciplines, as well as social studies and language arts teachers. Click on http://www.ovationtv.com/educators.
STUDENT ESSAY COMPETITION HELD BY THEATRE ASSOCIATION
The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) is accepting submissions for its sixth annual Thespian Democracyworks 2014 Essay Competition, with the prompt, “What advocacy have you done or do you plan to do on behalf of arts education in your school, district, or state and how did it or will it make a difference?” The winner and a chaperone will receive $1,500 toward expenses to attend Arts Advocacy Day, sponsored by Americans for the Arts, held on March 23 to 25, in Washington, D.C. The winning essayist will take part in all scheduled Arts Advocacy Day events and their essay and photo will appear in Dramatics Magazine. Essays must be submitted by email no later than February 14 to essay@edta.org. For more information visit http://schooltheatre.org/Publications/News/Democracyworksdaronhawkins.
SOUNDSCAPES
Join the Northwest Sinfonietta for Soundscapes, a romantic evening showcasing a selection of inspired classical masterpieces, including Beethoven’s supreme ode to his beloved countryside, Symphony No. 6 – Pastorale. This enchanting work will be accompanied by a projection of nature images from noted landscape architect Richard Haag’s personal collection. There will be three performance dates in three different venues: Friday, February 14, at 7:30 in the Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall; on Saturday, February 15, at 7:30 pm at the Rialto in Tacoma; and on Sunday, February 16, at 2:00 pm at the Pioneer Park Pavilion in Puyallup. For tickets visit go to http://www.northwestsinfonietta.org/schedule/events-calendar, or call (253) 591-5894. A $10 student rush tickets may be purchased one hour prior to each concert with student ID, based on availability.
ART AND WRITING CONTEST
The Pierce County Library System is asking teenagers throughout Pierce County to show their creative talents in the Library System’s Teen Writing & Art Contest. The contest, Our Own Expressions, runs now through Sunday, February 23. Teenagers in 7th through 12th grades who live in or attend school in Pierce County may enter the contest, individually or as a team, in one or all four categories: poetry, short story, photography or drawing. Participation in the contest is free. Teens may get entry forms and enter the contest at any Pierce County Library or online at www.piercecountylibrary.org, search site: OOX. Entries may also be submitted by mail to Pierce County Library System, 3005 112th Street East, Tacoma, WA 98446-2215. Judges will review writing entries on the basis of originality, style, general presentation, grammar, spelling, and evidence of skill appropriate for the writer’s age. They will review art entries on the basis of composition, evidence of skill commensurate with the age of the artist, creativity, and effective use of media. The Library System will publish all of this year’s winning contest entries and distribute them throughout Pierce County Libraries, and to the winning students’ schools. Pierce County Library Foundation will award cash prizes in three age groups: 7th and 8th grades, 9th and 10th grades, and 11th and 12th grades; and in four categories: poetry, short story, photography and drawing. Contest winners will feature their work in an awards ceremony at Pacific Lutheran University on Thursday, May 29. For more information visit http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/kids-teens/teens/teen-writing-art.
ARTS ED SEARCH
ArtsEdSearch is a clearinghouse of arts education research at http://www.artsedsearch.org – click on the matrix to the right – this organizes the research in ArtsEdSearch and helps you to find the information you need. Use the matrix to learn about research in four topical areas – outcomes of arts education: for students, for educators, in the context of in-school settings, and in the context of out-of-school settings – at varying educational-levels.
THE CAT IN THE HAT
The Tacoma Musical Playhouse will present The Cat in the Hat running February 22 through March 2, as well as during two mid-week school matinees on February 25 and 27. From the moment his tall, red-and-white-striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in The Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and the craziest of ideas, he is certainly fun to play with as he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home? To reserve your tickets visit http://www.tmp.org/childrenstheater.aspx#show1, or call (253) 565-6TMP.
DOODLE 4 GOOGLE
Google is inviting kids to dream big with their annual Doodle 4 Google contest where K-12 students use their artistic talents to think big and redesign Google’s homepage logo for millions to see. At Google they believe that dreaming about future possibilities leads to tomorrow’s leaders and inventors, so again this year students are asked to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, “My Best Day Ever . . . ” There will be fifty winners in each state, five national finalists, and one lucky student artist who will see his or her artwork appear on the Google homepage! There are prizes for winners, and the winning artist will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, and a $50,000 technology grant for his/her school! For more information and to start doodling by the March 20 deadline, encourage your students to visit http://www.google.com/doodle4google.
WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY
The World Digital Library is available on the Internet free of charge! The Library includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, architectural drawings, and other significant cultural materials. The objectives of the World Digital Library are to promote international and inter-cultural understanding and awareness, provide resources to educators, expand non-English and non-Western content on the Internet, and to contribute to scholarly research. Be sure to visit http://www.wdl.org/en.
REGISTER NOW FOR SIMPLY SYMPHONIC
It is time for elementary schools to register their fifth graders for Simply Symphonic – The Audience Knows the Score. Integrated into learning targets in reading, writing, and the arts, this year’s concerts will occur at 10:00 and 11:30 am on April 15 and 16. Curriculum materials and a CD will arrive in February. The cost is $3.00 for students and chaperones – teachers are free. This is the only full-orchestra, curriculum-based education through music program in Pierce County. This program received the 2003 Margaret K. Williams Award for Excellence in Education from the Pierce County Arts Commission. Contact Andrew Buelow at (253) 272-7264 or http://www.tacomasymphony.org/index.php/SimplySymphonic.
FINAL THOUGHT
If the third grade teacher loves the arts, the children get a lot of arts exposure. Then that child goes to fourth grade, and if that teacher does not like the arts, they will get no exposure. We do not teach any other subject that way. Imagine if your child came home from school to say “We’re not doing any math this year because my teacher doesn’t like it.” Michael Kaiser, Kennedy Center President (Quoted during his 2009 Arts In Crisis Tour)
Michael J. Sandner, Director of Arts Education & Curriculum Integration
Bethel School District #403
516 East 176th Street
Spanaway WA 98387
Office: (253) 683-6957
Cell: (253) 208-3299
msandner@bethelsd.org
Pierce Prairie Post 