TENT Update
Theatre Educators of North Texas Newsletter February 2016
From The President...
February has, for me, been a month of reflection. Preliminary plans for next year. Thinking about what I can improve over the summer. Focusing on the students who need just a little extra help.
But on February 25, I'll be able to reflect on the fact that TENT is three years old. That was the day of our first meeting at The Lamplighter School and how the seeds of so many wonderful things we have now as an organization were planted.
I'm warmed against the cold every time I see folks from different schools striking up a conversation at one of our meetings. I sometimes wonder what they're talking about. Are props about to be borrowed? Is a great new lesson plan passing hands? Perhaps it's just a story from the trenches. However, the content is unimportant because just the fact that we talk to each other reaffirms the mission of our organization. We've become a stronger community because of it and there is still more to come! Break a leg with the second half of your school year!
Jeff
But on February 25, I'll be able to reflect on the fact that TENT is three years old. That was the day of our first meeting at The Lamplighter School and how the seeds of so many wonderful things we have now as an organization were planted.
I'm warmed against the cold every time I see folks from different schools striking up a conversation at one of our meetings. I sometimes wonder what they're talking about. Are props about to be borrowed? Is a great new lesson plan passing hands? Perhaps it's just a story from the trenches. However, the content is unimportant because just the fact that we talk to each other reaffirms the mission of our organization. We've become a stronger community because of it and there is still more to come! Break a leg with the second half of your school year!
Jeff
TENT Meeting Notes, Videos & Paperwork
With no objections raised or changes proposed, the meeting minutes for the January 14th, 2016 TENT meeting are hereby approved.
The meeting notes, the videos of the three seminars, and the Powerpoints/paperwork from the meeting can be found in the Members section of the website under "Meetings".
The meeting notes, the videos of the three seminars, and the Powerpoints/paperwork from the meeting can be found in the Members section of the website under "Meetings".
Next TENT Meetings & Host Schools
Our next two meetings for the 2016-2017 school year will take place on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Skyline High School from 9AM to 3PM and Thursday, January 12, 2017 at Trinity Valley School (Time TBA). The all day seminar was a resounding success and we will continue this pattern for the time being.
Meetings for the 2017-2018 year are tentatively scheduled for September 7 and January 11.
If you would like to host a TENT Meeting, please contact Jeff Peck at jpeck@thelamplighterschool.org.
Meetings for the 2017-2018 year are tentatively scheduled for September 7 and January 11.
If you would like to host a TENT Meeting, please contact Jeff Peck at jpeck@thelamplighterschool.org.
Future TENT Seminars
As TENT members, you have the power to tell us what you need. Do you want a seminar on this or that? We will make it happen for you! At the last meeting, seminars on sound design, theatre games, advocacy among faculty and administration of your school, improvisation, and a scene/monologue/play swap were proposed. We will do our best to make those happen in the 2016-2017 school year. If you have a need in your program and would like someone to come in and provide a seminar for that topic, please let us know ASAP. You can contact Jeff Peck at jpeck@thelamplighterschool.org for details or to make a request.
Register On The TENT Website
If you are a dues paying member and have not registered on the website, please do so today. You'll gain access to all videos shot at TENT meetings, paperwork and Powerpoints from those meetings, a lesson plan and article archive (which you can add to), and the TENT message board (which we will use in earnest this year). You can follow the step by step instructions on the TENT website by clicking "Member Access" and registering. If you have any questions about registering or the website in general, please contact Clay Houston at chouston@shelton.org.
Dues For Next Year
It was proposed and passed unanimously at the January 14 meeting dues for the 2016-2017 school year be raised from $20 to $50. The reasons behind this increase are four fold:
1. We do not have funds available to help host schools cover any hosting costs, such as the meal, as is written in the TENT Bylaws.
2. We want to make a scholarship (or scholarships) available for schools who cannot afford the dues or whose administration will not pay for it.
3. We want to be able to attract speakers and presenters from outside TENT and to be able to compensate them for their time.
4. We do not want to undersell the value of what we have at the meetings and throughout the year. The resources we received at this past meeting will go long ways for many of our programs and were incredibly helpful.
Again, this increase was passed unanimously and will go into effect in August for the 2016-2017 school year. Treasurer Kevin Ash will send invoices out at this time.
1. We do not have funds available to help host schools cover any hosting costs, such as the meal, as is written in the TENT Bylaws.
2. We want to make a scholarship (or scholarships) available for schools who cannot afford the dues or whose administration will not pay for it.
3. We want to be able to attract speakers and presenters from outside TENT and to be able to compensate them for their time.
4. We do not want to undersell the value of what we have at the meetings and throughout the year. The resources we received at this past meeting will go long ways for many of our programs and were incredibly helpful.
Again, this increase was passed unanimously and will go into effect in August for the 2016-2017 school year. Treasurer Kevin Ash will send invoices out at this time.
Send Us Your Shows! Send Us Your Photos! Send Us Your Lessons! Post Your Messages!
The TENT website is what you make it and we want to make it a vital resource for you!
If you have a Spring schedule of shows, please make sure you send it to Clay Houston at chouston@shelton.org. Please include times, dates, locations (especially if they are not at school and the address of the alternate location), and ticket cost, as well as any other information that might be pertinent.
The same is true for our show gallery. Right now, many of our schools are not represented. Send us any and all photos of your students. These can be production photos, classroom photos, or conference/competition photos. All we ask is that you label the the file with some explanatory text, rather than calling them "show246" or something of that variety. Also send those photos to Clay.
Also keep in mind lesson plans or articles. We've just approved professional development hours for all lessons and self written articles submitted to the website so here is your chance to help your fellow TENT colleagues and keep your admin happy! Send everything to Clay so he can post it!
Last but not least, utilize the message board and check it often. Our New Years resolution is to try to bombard you with fewer e-mails. If you have an emergency announcement or need an item, please post this on the message board on the website.
If you have a Spring schedule of shows, please make sure you send it to Clay Houston at chouston@shelton.org. Please include times, dates, locations (especially if they are not at school and the address of the alternate location), and ticket cost, as well as any other information that might be pertinent.
The same is true for our show gallery. Right now, many of our schools are not represented. Send us any and all photos of your students. These can be production photos, classroom photos, or conference/competition photos. All we ask is that you label the the file with some explanatory text, rather than calling them "show246" or something of that variety. Also send those photos to Clay.
Also keep in mind lesson plans or articles. We've just approved professional development hours for all lessons and self written articles submitted to the website so here is your chance to help your fellow TENT colleagues and keep your admin happy! Send everything to Clay so he can post it!
Last but not least, utilize the message board and check it often. Our New Years resolution is to try to bombard you with fewer e-mails. If you have an emergency announcement or need an item, please post this on the message board on the website.
End Of Year Social
Mark Friday, May 6 on your calendars for an end of year TENT social. We're planning a fun activity outside of school (bowling, for example) with food and libations to help celebrate the close of the school year. More details will follow as we get closer to the event, but keep it in the back of your heads.