MELLIFLUOUS
Metropolitan School of the Arts Newsletter - May, 2023
Executive Director Note:
I want to ensure all students and parents who attend MSAKC will be in as safe an environment as possible. As with any building with multiple entrances and doors there is always a risk that a door doesn't latch or lock all the time. I have been working closely with Atonement Lutheran as a member of the church security and safety team. As with most businesses (including churches), there was safety plans put in place but many of those practices and procedures have diminished due to COVID and lockdowns. The Atonement security team had previously established safe rooms/spaces in case of intruders and has installed locks. The security team is now looking at installing key card locks and a main entrance camera where patrons will "buss" to get in to the main church office area.
As far as the school, we have decided to use our north entrance to the church. It provides an easy access for parent drop off and pick up. We can have an administrative assistant located there to allow students, parents, and guests in. The security team is looking at ways to monitor movement within the campus having installed several more cameras in the common areas of the building. The remaining discussions center around securing the building outside of the normal church/school hours when there are many outside groups that use the facilities.
It is such an unfortunate situation that schools and churches must view security and safety as priorities. We live in times where any violent, assaultive crimes can occur just about any where at any time. So we trust in our planning and executing safety and security plans with ongoing revision.
If you are a registered student - or a family thinking of enrolling - and you want to discuss our security plans in more detail please don't hesitate to contact me @ saspleaf@msakc.art.
Board Decides to Take A Pause on Enrollment for in-Person
Reasons for slow enrollment/registration presented to the board are almost all centered around an unknown economy at this time. Some financial advisors are speculating a recession in the 3rd or 4th quarter. With this financial uncertainty, many families are deciding to keep their finances as is and not take on school tuition.
The board also wants to open doors with a strong financial footing and not have a national financial collapse put increased pressure on the school budget and resources in the first year of operation.
Meanwhile, the board has directed Dr. Aspleaf to investigate two financial options:
1. Investigate the parameters of the Kansas School Choice legislation. What financial benefits are available to students who want to attend private schools (i.e. school vouchers).
2. Look for foundational support for educational organizations - what grants are available for school start ups. Are there angel investors available that would seed the first year of operations.
Look for continued progress on these directives in the next coming months. Meanwhile, we will continue with our efforts to recruit for the virtual option for 2023-24. Those students who have registered for the 2023-24 in-person program will be contacted where the virtual program will be detailed and what arts options that student may pursue during the school year.
VPA School Highlight - Irmo International School of the Arts
The IB program is designed for the 11th and 12th grade levels where students take IB courses within the six domains. The IB curriculum, in the arts, supports advanced study in IB Music, IB Dance, IB Theater and IB Art. Students who earn a final IB mark of at least 4 out of 7 are able to transfer that academic credit to college or university. The State of Kansas Board of Regents, several years ago, approved a resolution that all Kansas Regents schools will accept IB credit earned. You can learn more about the IB program at their website
Academic Achievement
In a recently prepared report, you can view the academic achievement of several VPA schools across the US and how they compare to some KC metro schools. These results support what research has told us - that when academic content is explicitly linked to the arts, academics are high, graduation rates are increase, and school culture is enhanced.
Virtual Option Still Available
Do you feel that traditional school is getting in the way of dance/theater/music/performing?
MSAKC offers an online curriculum through Imagine Edgenuity - credits earned through Imagine Edgenuity are accredited through Cognia and the North Central Association on Accreditation and School Improvement. Additionally, the NCAA Clearinghouse also approves the curriculum for athletes seeking college admission.
We have a wide range of core content (math, English, science, and social studies) as well as electives (world language, speech, etc) to fulfill the requirements to meet the MSAKC graduation requirements. We can make accommodations to meet any student's level of learning - offering regular courses, honor courses, and AP courses. Here is the course catalog available for Kansas
What is the cost for this program? Parents will pay a $500/year fee for access to the online curriculum from Imagine Edgenuity. You will also pay $50/monthly for student maintenance fee - meaning the time needed to grade work ongoing throughout the month and access to our student information system (Rosario). Parents may opt for a $100/monthly fee for tutoring or academic assistance.
Check out our program at our website
Featured Business Partners
Strawbridge Photography - student/staff portraits
FACTS Management - student tuition processor
Rosario SIS - student information system
CANVAS - learning management system
Google Suite - google products
Metropolitan School of the Arts
Email: msakc@msakc.art
Website: www.msakc.art
Location: 9948 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-440-0066
Facebook: Facebook.com/msakansascity
Twitter: @MetroArtsKC