Framingham Fine and Performing Arts
Outstanding Arts Education for Every Child
November 25, 2019-In honor of Thanksgiving
I'm Here from The Color Purple
I believe i have inside of me
Everything that i need to live a bountiful life.
With all the love alive in me
I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree.
And I'm
Thankful for everyday that i'm given,
Both the easy and hard ones i'm livin'.
But most of all
I'm thankful for
Loving who I really am.
I'm beautiful.
Yes, I'm beautiful,
And I'm here.
Congratulations to Walsh on a VERY successful weekend
Matilda was presented by Walsh Middle School this past weekend. Hundreds of people packed the Walsh theatre to see this feel good musical that proves that no matter how small you are good triumphs over evil- especially when there is a little magic thrown in! The adults behind this show deserve our admiration. This was a huge cast and crew. The production values alone were worth the price of admission. I still want to know how you tipped that glass over Sheron! I hope you all had a chance to see this one. It was a great way to head into the Thanksgiving season! Bravo!
November is the month of Gratitude
Does everyone have posters?? Check out Canvas for some ideas on using gratitude exercises in your classes.
Gratitude Resources have been added to Fine and Performing Arts Canvas
Canvas SEL Resources
I have been working with your Principals all summer and have a very strong handle on your fifth special and a glimpse into your SEL Block. No panic please-I've got your back!
Some highlights from my visits the past two weeks
Much, way too much, of my time has been in very important budget meetings at central office where I am your voice. I try to sneak in a few visits when I get an hour off. This will be over after the first week of December and I will be back! I miss seeing you all in action!
Elementary
Stapleton
A visit to music and art where GRATITUDE is infused in every classroom, lesson and hallway
Dunning
Music classes, SEL arts classes and a beautiful kindness weave were the highlights of my quick visit!
November 25, 2019
Hemenway- Willy Wonka!
I spent a delightful hour at Hemenway last Saturday watching happy, talented kids present a delightful production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Hemenway has a long standing tradition of producing a wonderful school musical and this one did not disappoint. Congratulations to the artistic staff, the PTO and the kids! Take a look at this set built by a talented dad! Bravo Hemenway!
McCarthy
Veterans Day
So, Mayor Spicer stopped me last week to be sure I sent her thanks to Erin Molloy and her art students from McCarthy for these thoughtful and artful cards they made and sent to our Framingham Vets! Way to use art to make a difference Erin!
Middle School
Fuller
In my very short visit I was able to see three thirty minute arts blocks happening. An advisory in Drama and two full group rehearsals in band and chorus. It was like being in a school for the performing arts! Great work Gina, Diane and Olivia.
Cameron
Cameron Middle School will be presenting a sensory friendly performance of Frozen jr. The link is below. Tickets are VERY limited. I am so proud of the Cameron team for making theatre accessible to all our kids!
FHS
Framingham High School
Shakespeare in Love- just take a look at some of these photos, they really capture the beauty of this production. Congratulations to the students and the artistic team. We have an amazing season of theatre this year because we have an amazing team of talented teachers and artists.
Summaville- Congratulations to Scott on this stunning exhibit (and a beautiful new daughter too!)
Scott Alberg’s Summaville is an investigation of a master-planned Las Vegas neighborhood begun in the 1980’s under the proposed and later rejected name of Summaville, a place meant to be a “summary city” evoking past, present and future
FHS Library Show
This beautiful show is up all month! Please give yourself a gift and stop by. The work is outstanding, We are so lucky to have such talented teachers and students.
Tickets On Sale Now- Frozen and Les Mis!
Tickets for all these shows went on sale on October 1. We set a new record for one day sales. There are less than 500 seats left for the opening weekend of Les Mis. Great seats still available for all these shows but they won't last long. Chances are good that one of your students is in one of these shows! Don't miss this opportunity to support them AND see some great theatre.
A hit! but you missed it ! Join us for the rest of the season
November 1 and 2
Directed by Olivia Moriarty
A Hit- but you missed it! Next up Matilda
Directed by Stephanie Henry
A Hit- but you missed it! Next up Frozen- Cameron Drama Company
A Hit but you missed it- Next up Frozen!
November 22 and 23Directed by Sheron Doucette
Cameron Drama Company
December 13 and 14
Directed by Teri Shea
Please join us for the entire season!
FHS Drama Company
January 10, 11,16,17,18
Directed by Chris Brindley and Donna Wresinski
FPA Announcements
Don't skip these!
- Need a document camera or a new mimeo for your whiteboard...please let me know.
- If you need the theatre or help in the theatre- email Theatrehelp@framingham.k12.ma.us
- Art Contest for Grade Three https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm#search/abright/FMfcgxwDrHqVzMHVFWHWhmLtZvrprdvf?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1 I will send more details in an email
- Dec 5 Professional Development Day-early release is building based
- IMPORTANT- GRANT SEASON IS UPON US- DO NOT APPLY FOR ANY GRANT UNTIL YOU INFORM OUR OFFICE, Thank you!
- IMPORTANT- No contracts between FPS and any other entity may be signed by anyone other than Linc Lynch. Thank you for your cooperation. Please contact Ellen with any questions.
- Please send Amy Brown photos and videos for social media.
- A gift from Katie McEwan https://nahs20.artcall.org/
- FHS Art Department will have an art show at the Framingham Public Library for the month of November.
- FHS Winter concert is Wednesday Dec 4 at 7PM
- Last chance to see the award winning FHS Marching Band perform is at the Natick/Framingham Thanksgiving Day game. This year the game is in Natick!
Teacher Feature
Chris Brindley- Theatre Teacher and FHS Department Head
*Chris is thrilled return for his sixth year at FHS and is excited be stepping in his new role as High School Fine and Performing Arts Dept. Head! Before his work at Framingham he served as the Drama Director at Belmont High School for three years. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education and Acting from Emerson College and a Masters of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University. He is a graduate of the Framingham High School Class of 2006 where he was heavily involved in FHS Drama Company all four years of his high school career. He also completed his student teaching in 2010 at FHS and co-chaired the trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Donna Wresinski. Chris is an active director, producer, and performer in the Boston area. Previous President and Producing Director of RareWorks Theatre Co., a member of the Musical Theatre Society of Emerson College, and Chair of the Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids Board. Selected previous directing credits include: Disney's Newsies, West Side Story, Evita, The Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Blood Brothers, James and the Giant Peach, Les Miserables, Wiley and the Hairy Man, Children of Eden, Charlotte’s Web (Weston Drama Workshop); She Kills Monsters, Chicago, Mary Poppins, electra, Urinetown, Legally Blonde, Sideways Stories from Wayside School (State Champion), Pippin, Vieux Carre, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Diviners, Sweeney Todd, Dark of the Moon (Framingham High School Drama Company); Grease!, Rick Lomardo’s A Christmas Carol, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, West Side Story, James and the Giant Peach, The Chronicles of Jane: Book Seven (Belmont High School Performing Arts Company); Children of Eden – EMACT Nomination for Best Production (The Wellesley Players); Godspell (Emerson College). Chris is also the Executive Producer of Weston Drama Workshop in residence at Regis College and serves on the Board of Trustees as the Vice President of the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild. Chris teaches Acting and Playstudy I, Acting and Playstudy II, Musical Theatre I, Musical Theatre II, Performance Workshop B (Theatre for Social Change), and Acting One.
Happy Thanksgiving
I wish you a wonderful holiday
However you celebrate I want you to know that I will be giving thanks for the work I get to do every day with all of you. Relax, reset and enjoy your time- you have earned it!.
Donna