The Cue
CPS Fine Arts, Vol.2 Issue 1 - Jan. 3rd, 2019
Happy New Year!
An excellent colleague (Dr. Derrick Fox) had an article reprinted for online reading and I thought it was a great way to frame the start of the second half of the year. Derrick is currently the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. His work with music education while at MU as a graduate student was always impressive and his ability to inspire students always moving. I have adapted the article just slightly but I am including a link to the original post.
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Be P.A.S.S.I.O.N.A.T.E.
Pace/Play: It is important that you don’t take yourself too seriously. Students appreciate rehearsals and classes that offer a balance of challenge and relaxation. Finding that intricate balance will yield a great amount of student equity for when you really need every ounce of their attention.
Acquire: Never stop learning! If you can’t make it, create your own cohort of teachers with whom you can trade ideas and best practices. With Skype, FaceTime and other social outreach applications, it is easier than ever to build professional groups that reflect the needs of your teaching situation. No teacher is an island unto their-self.
Sing (In this case SING is also a metaphor for perform, create and produce. Be an active participant in your art form): If you would like for your students to be vulnerable then you must be the same. Choral directors should stay engaged vocally (Art teachers creating visually, Theater teachers performing) so that we never forget what it feels like to be one the other side. It will inform the way you teach your own students when you remember what it feels like to be one.
Savor: As art educators, we are taught to find the errors and move on to the next issue. Savor the successes. If you get wrapped up in the hunt for mistakes, our students will never experience the gratification of achieving. Take time to intentionally revel in the good things, however big or small, because you and your students deserve it.
Imagine: It is imperative that you have a vision for your work. A arts program without a mission is like a house built without a blueprint. No one will want to live there. I encourage you to create a mission statement for your program. The motto I used for my high school was “Great Music, Better People.” My teaching strategies, literature choices, and interactions with my students exemplified that statement so that I could ask the same of them.
Ownership: Find ways to relinquish some aspect of your classroom or program to your students (i.e. roll taking, uniform check-out, leading sightreading). For most of us Type A types, this is difficult because we are doers and find it hard to “just let go.” Students will take care of possessions in which they have invested their own time.
Never forget your purpose: Have you clearly defined why students should be a part of YOUR class or program? We are all familiar with the commonly-stated benefits of participating in arts programs but can you articulate how those global benefits are applicable in your program? Be proactive about specifying how your program is directly related to the overall well-being of the school community.
Appreciate: In the hustle and bustle we can forget to express our gratitude to our students, colleagues, family, and friends. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of
caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
Trust: Build relationships with those you trust with your professional well-being. The difficulty is that there are those who will point out your flaws because it makes them feel better and there are others who will point out your flaws because they are truly invested in your growth. Discovering the difference can lead to a wonderful cohort of lifelong friendships and artistic inspiration.
Empower: The arts can be a vehicle for understanding cultural differences and build bridges between your students. Choose literature and lessons that represent the diverse cultures that compromise your classrooms, schools, district, state, and country. Not only does this empower the students in your classroom it also builds a positive learning community in which you can accomplish great music making, which is at the core of what we want to achieve every day.
As you move through the remainder of the year checking things off of your “to-do-list,” I encourage you to keep the quality of that experience at the forefront of your actions. We are all familiar with the quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I’d like to expound upon that with “Choose a job you’re P.A.S.S.I.O.N.A.T.E. about, and you’ll love it every day of your life.”
***Original Article***
Have an excellent "short" week! Welcome back your students with open arms and readied classrooms!. While not all will be exuberant they certainly need you!
James
Strengths Focus - Intellection
The Theme that says...You like to think!
You like exercising the "muscles" of your brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, you may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person's feelings. The exact focus will depend on your other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. the theme of Intellection does not dictate what you are thinking about; it simply describes that you like to think. You are introspective. In a sense, you are your own best companion, as you pose yourself questions and try out answers on yourself to see how they sound. This introspection may lead you to a slight sense of discontent as you compare what youare actually doing with all the thoughts and ideas that your mind conceives. Or this introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that you plant to have later. Wherever it leads you, this mental hum is one of the constants of your life.
Power and Edge
Those with the "Intellection" Theme Amongst Us
- Beth Hildahl, Music - Derby Ridge Elementary
- Susan Edmondson-Gerke, Theatre - Jefferson Middle
- Christy Elsea, Vocal Music - Smithton Middle
- Mary Franco, Art - Battle Elementary
- Briana Frieda, Orchestra - Oakland Middle and Battle High
- Emily Fuller, Music - Parkade Elementary
- Puck Glass, Music - Blue Ridge Elementary
- Abbey Gorsage, Art - Rock Bridge High
- Darla Lenz, Vocal Music - Gentry Middle
- Stacey Hite, Vocal Music - Oakland Middle
- Kathy Kossmann, Orchestra - Gentry Middle
- Molly Thurmon, Music - Russell Blvd. Elementary
- Linda Neale, Music - Adaptive District Wide
- Zack Nenaber, Band - Gentry Middle
- William Palmer, Theatre - Battle High
- Gennie Pfannenstiel, Art - Locust Street Elementary
- Alison Lankheit, Orchestra - Jefferson Middle and Rock Bridge High
- Lori Stiers, Art - West Blvd. Elementary
- Bill Strozier, Orchestra - Lange Middle and Battle High
- Rebecca Stuart, Art - Smithton Middle
- Elizabeth Tummons, Music - Locust Street Elementary
- Jordan Walker, Music - Mill Creek Elementary
If you haven't entered your strengths on the department matrix, you can do so here: CPS Fine Arts Strength Matrix
Intellection in Action
Solitary
Intellectual
Philosophical
In-depth
Reflective
Discontent
Thinking
Intense
Musing
Driven
If this is me...
- Set aside a few minutes every day just to collect your thoughts. Your thinking will be sharper and more effective.
- Always take the time to consider big projects before the action begins. You timely insights will allow the project to move forward intelligently and without backtracking.
- List your ideas in a log or a diary. These ideas will serve as grist for your mental mill and might yield valuable insights.
- Explain to others why you need time for introspection. Although it might seem to others that you are slow to act, introspection allows you to refine your ideas; thus, for . you, it is productive behavior.
- Deliberately build relationships with people you consider to be "big thinkers." Their example will inspire you to focus your own thinking.
- Try to meet people who share the same interests as you, and create intellectual conversations with them.
Fine Arts Extravaganza - Please Let Us Know What You Need to Be Ready
Where: Three High Schools - BHS, HHS and RBHS along with Jessie Auditorium
Who: All 5th Grade Students, All 5th Grade Classroom Teachers, All Elementary Music Specialists, All Secondary Performing Arts Teachers, and Some Students
Upcoming Events - Check Your Calendars
- Jan. 15th - SRG Marzano Middle School Training - If you are on the team double check that you have a sub
- Jan. 15th - 4:30pm to 6pm - Year Teacher Assistance Meeting - Smithton Middle School
- Jan. 15th - 6:30 to 9:30pm - Instrument Enrollment Night - Gentry Middle School
- Jan. 16th - SRG Marzano High School Training - If you are on the team double check that you have a sub
- Jan. 17th - 7am - Columbia Values Diversity Breakfast
- Jan. 17th - 6:30pm to 9:30pm - Instrument Enrollment NIght - Lange Middle School
- Feb. 15th - Deadline for Mandated District Training Videos and Quizzes - See Link: https://cbm.msbanet.org/login/index.php - LogIn is full school email, the initial password is "changeme" - Videos may be watched over time
Feedback for MO State Fine Arts Standards
Comments are now being accepted on the Fine Arts Standards. Please visit our website, read the standards, and provide your comments on each strand.
The comment period will remain open until Jan. 31.
Where is James...always subject to change but a good outline!
1/3/19
- 7:30am to 10:30am - In Office at Aslin
- 11am - Meeting with Tracy Lane RNBBBQ
1/4/19
- 8:30am to 11am - Meeting
- 12pm to 3pm - Coordinators Meeting
1/7/19
- 7:30am to 9am - In Office at Aslin
- 9:30am to 11:30am - RBHS District Support Team Walk Through and Observations
- 1:30am to 4:30am - In Office at Aslin
1/8/19
- In Office at Aslin Most of the Day - Preparing for Extravaganza
1/9/19
- 7:30am to 3:30am - Fine Arts Extravaganza - Various Buildings and Jesse Hall
1/10/19
- 8:30am to 9:30am - In Office at Aslin
- 10:30am to 11:30 - Meeting
- 1pm to 4pm - In Office at Aslin
- 6:30pm to 9:30pm - Instrument Enrollment Night - Smithton
1/11/19
- 8am to 12pm - Town Hall Meeting at Aslin
- 1pm to 4pm - In Office at Aslin
Shout Outs and Pats on the Back
Another Congrats to Rebbecca Stuart (art teacher at SMS) and some of her 6th-grade students for the beautiful handmade cards they completed and exchanged with our sister city in Hakusan, Japan. Making these international connections is amazing.
Information Regarding Attendance Area Changes
Please help spread the message that no decisions regarding boundaries have been made and that the work is just beginning. Changes of these sorts can always make people nervous. As teachers and employees of the district, we are our friends and neighbors direct access to the most accurate information.
For more information regarding the process and opportunities to participate click the button below.
Empty Bowls Project
A joint project of the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Access Arts, and the local food pantries needs your help! Volunteers are needed to make hand-made bowls for a fundraiser called Empty Bowls taking place on Friday, March 15, 2019. All the proceeds of this special project and the community meal support CCUA’s “Planting for the Pantry” project that takes fresh produce to local pantries and provides hands-on education opportunities for kids and beginning farmers.
Here’s how it works:
1. Your group of 10-20 people will schedule a time to make clay bowls in the Ceramic studio at Access Arts. Bowl-making sessions are available in January and February, and take about 90 minutes to complete. Participants are asked to pay $5 per bowl to cover the material costs.
2. Access Arts’ staff and volunteers will fire, glaze, and re-fire the bowls in the lead up to the event.
3. Join the CCUA at the New Agriculture Park March 15th for the FREE community meal.
4. Attendees at Empty Bowls can buy a handmade bowl for a suggested $20. These funds will support CCUA’s “Planting for the Pantry” campaign to provide fresh produce to local pantries.
5. Everyone wins!
Scheduling a time with Access Arts: Contact Jennifer at AccessArts@schoolofservice.edu with “Empty Bowls 2019” in the subject line to schedule your date today!
Time slots are available during January and February while they last.
Please choose from these options:
Mondays 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Fridays 4:00 to 6:00 or 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to noon
More information:
Please feel free to contact Kristin Frazier at kristin@columbiaurbanag.org for more information about CCUA, the “Planting for the Pantry” campaign, or more information about visiting the Urban Farm. Many thanks!
Jennifer Oetting
Access Arts/School of Service
1724 McAlester Street
Columbia, MO 65201
tel: 573.875.0275
Crowd Source Funding Approval and Request Process
Attached is the procedure and form for crowdsource funding. This process and document were created with input from teachers and leaders. The reason for the process is to make sure that when CPS employees pursue crowdsource funding (GoFundMe, for example), and use CPS in their request for funds, there is a process to confirm the funds were used in how they were intended and requested.
This is a change and will require some additional planning when using crowdsource funding opportunities.
Out with the Old and In with the NEW!!!!
These new materials are in line with the approved district badges and style guide. You will also find a link to those materials below. In the coming weeks, you will receive new posters for your rooms, doors, and hallways.
About us...
Email: jmelton@cpsk12.org
Website: www.cpsfinearts.com
Location: 1818 West Worley Street, Columbia, MO, USA
Phone: (573) 214-3936
Twitter: @cpsfinearts