Elementary Arts Program – Mid Year Report
Send electronically by January 25, 2013
to:
District: Hobbs Municipal Schools
Superintendent or Charter Director: TJ Parks
Current Program Manager: Tyson Ledgerwood
Program Manager email, phone:
Hobbs Municipal Schools
· Overview:
The progress we have made so far is in the structure of the fine arts program itself. Ten years ago, this program started with small district-wide initiatives like Missoula Children’s Theatre Plays, American Education Week Musical Productions, and a District Wide Art Fair and Show. The program relied heavily on an already established Core Knowledge’s arts and humanities curriculum to structure the implementation and empower the classroom teachers to include more arts and culture into their curriculum.
Since then, the elementary fine arts program has grown organically into three main areas of programming: District Wide Initiatives, Special Programming and 6th Grade Programming. We have also identified three levels of interest at each school site (Level I, II, and III) and developed programming accordingly. Finally, we are assessing the viability of each part of the district programming, we have identified established programs of excellence (A Level), developing programs of excellence (B Level), and programs that need growth plans or completely changed in order to be successful (C Level). Hobbs Municipal School believes in setting ambitious yet realistic goals in student learning. We also believe in working towards implementing those goals with excellence. All of our activities outlined in the report and reflected in the budget line items are recorded on our website: http://www.hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/
• Please describe briefly the progress made to date on each of your Program
Plan goals for 2012-2013.
Our fine arts program has grown substantially this year and the FAEA remains substantial seed funding which is vital to develop these programs. However, we never forget our true power and influence does not come from the money spent, it comes from the concise words of the plays, the clear melody in the music, the well-kept rhythm behind the dances and the visual richness of a piece of art created when a student performs with excellence. The following describes the progress or growth plan set up for each goal:
District Wide Initiatives:
· Continue to recruit our assistant superintendent of elementary instruction in helping us continue to diversify our funding the in the elementary fine arts and for official evaluations of fine arts staff.
o The elementary superintendent has helped line up two community grants to provide in-kind support. She has also been instrumental in lining up proposals for program improvement for the 2013-2014 school year.
o She has also been instrumental in hiring a number of qualified staff in music and art since August.
· Line up proposals for funding outside the FAEA to take the elementary fine arts program plan to the next level.
o In the areas that need growth plans we have lined up at least one proposal with NDI for a three-year district-wide initiative and are working on a few others in the areas where community support will enhance the goals of the underdeveloped programs.
· Initiate regional professional development opportunities for the K-12 Art Vertical Team.
o We have arranged a trip to the TMEA in San Antonio, Texas in February 2013 for the elementary music coordinator.
o We have arranged a trip to the NAEA Conference in Fort Worth, Texas in March 2013 for all art teachers K-12.
o We have arranged a trip to the EdTA Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in September 2013 for the High School theater teacher whose advanced theater class directed the Junior High Musical which is part of our 6th Grade funding allotment.
· Continue to support a large district wide art exhibit in the spring.
o (A Level) We have already made initial plans and have ordered all the supplies for this event in April 2013.
· Continue including top art pieces from the district show in the regional competitions.
o (A Level) We will pick top pieces after the District Art Show in May for the State Fair in September 2013.
· Continue to support an existing grade level staff position at four schools and increase the instruction from once a week for a semester to once a week for a year in grades 4th and 5th Grade.
o (A Level) This highly qualified certified art teacher that we hired this year has an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and teaches at five schools 4th-5th Grade Art instruction and has done an outstanding job.
· Expand an existing after school program that includes the Center for the Arts to support K-5 arts instruction for four schools. This will expand the arts instruction at those schools and will increase the community buy-in to our elementary visual arts program which is the district’s most underdeveloped area.
o (B Level) This program is developing at four schools that do not have a full time art teacher teaching at the school site. While this program is successful as an afterschool program, we are looking to add school site instruction at these schools for the 2013-2014 school year and add afterschool instruction at the corresponding schools who already have school site instruction to make the visual art program more equitable across the district. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/center_for_the_arts/
· Continue to encourage the pursuit of professional credentials for the current music staff.
o (B Level) We are on target to add two new certified music teachers next year by virtue that some of our more talented and professional aides have taken the initiative and earning their credentials that will make them a certified teacher. We also have a new hire that will also be pursuing her credentials and complete the process in 1-2 years.
· Continue to promote the instrumental and musical performances by each elementary music class at each school as well as the professional presented acts like the Southwest Symphony.
o (A Level) The Southwest Symphony did have a great performance which spotlighted Opera for the 3rd and 4th Grade. We had one canceled Southwest Symphony performance in the fall and that bussing money went to purchasing an instrumental inventory for the elementary schools. We had a number of musical performances across the district during American Education Week as well. Due to the increased quality of staff hired for music instruction, the quality of these American Education Week performances has improved accordingly. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/Music/student_performances/american_education_week/
· Continue to support contracted services like Missoula Children’s Theatre to support an in-depth look into the craft of the Theatre.
o (A Level) We had yet another successful year with Missoula Children’s Theatre. We continue to see solid support through the entire district for this program. This is an example of a district wide initiative that has grown so substantial it has multiplied into other special programs like the G-Squared residencies and the Junior High Musical. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/TheatreArts/missoula_children_s_theatre/
· Continue to support all elementary PE teachers with their three weeks of dance instruction.
o (C Level) Some PE teachers go above and beyond with these three weeks of dance instruction and others have more lack luster results. This program has a growth plan.
· Continue contracted performances presented by the Southwest Symphony and Hobbs Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
o (A Level) We have completed one Southwest Symphony performance for around 1500 3rd and 4th Grade students that included Opera as well as a special residency in Violin instruction at the Fine Arts School. The Hobbs Hispano Chamber of Commerce’s presentation of A Mariachi Christmas for the 2nd and 5th Grade students served around 1800 students in Hobbs and Lea County. You can see pictures and video of these and other community partnerships at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/community_partnerships/
Special Programming:
· Expand one contracted service at Edison Elementary to support the growing need in the visual arts in the elementary schools. Our district now has four schools with K-5 Visual Art Instruction.
o (B Level) One of our K-5 District Wide teachers retired but we still have three schools with K-5 Art instruction.
· Increase support for the district’s gifted/talented program that include the development of year-long “Destination Imagination” projects and add the competition component including a trip of the top group to the regional competition.
o (C Level) This program is still developing and not ready for the competition component. We have a growth plan for this program.
· Continue the fifth grade strings orchestra at Will Rogers Fine Arts School.
o (B Level) The fifth grade strings classes at Will Rogers have provided the foundation for an expanded strings program when the community and district is ready for that type of growth.
· Increase support at Will Rogers Fine Arts School in the area of choir, ballroom dance, keyboard, ukulele, and recorder instruction.
o (B Level) This school continues to add instrumental, choral and dance instruction one grade at a time. This school is also planning on continuing that rate of growth as it adds 3rd Grade next year. The only instrument currently that is not being taught is the ukulele. Due to time constraints, the ukulele was shelved until other grades open up. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/will_rogers_elementary_fine_arts_school/
· Continue support of a weekly assembly project at Will Rogers Fine Arts School for grade K-2.
o (B Level) This project has been executed by a 2nd Grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary this year. This is evidence of more buy-in by this school site towards using existing classroom teachers in their fine arts programming.
· Continue to support contracted services like G-Squared at designated schools to support an in-depth look into the craft of the Theatre.
o (B Level) The Gregs (G-Squared) put on three more successful residencies at three schools. One week residency included an in-depth look into engineering - the “E” in STEM. Another week included Civil War study that included a melodrama t the end. The last week included the study of the middle ages that turned a school into a renaissance festival, a principal into a queen of the realm and a journey through the Middle Ages including about the roles of knights and maidens to a shadow puppet play about the folklore of the day. All of these plays were structures around the STEM and Core Knowledge curriculum. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/TheatreArts/g-squared/
· Continue themed dance residencies from our local Maciolek Dance Studio as well as regional dance groups like National Dance Institute.
o (B Level) Maciolek School of Dance completed a month residency at the overflow kindergarten school that was a Disney Theme and was extremely well received by the principal, parents and teachers. This school of dance also has a project at Stone Elementary this month for all of their 5th grade students. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/Dance/maciolek_school_of_dance_presents/
o (A Level) NDI completed a MO Town themed dance performance in front of around 1000 students, parents and community members. These received high rating including a comment from our PR director that this is her favorite thing we do all year. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/Dance/national_dance_institute_of_new_mexico/
· Partner with local financial support to help take National Dance Institute to more schools.
o (A Level) This project’s timeline is on track. The funding has been secured. A second dance team that is needed for this to be successful is being mentored this August and we will keep you updated as this project progresses and benefits both Hobbs and give NDI a broader scope of service in the southern part of the state. This particular program will grow out of special programming in two years and become a district wide initiative.
· Partner with Expressions Dance Academy to work in tandem with the rock band at Edison Elementary and with Heaven’s Grace Dance Studio to work on special ballroom dance projects at Will Rogers Fine Arts School.
o (B Level) The ballroom dance class has doubled in size since last year and is a big draw for this school site. They had their first performance in December with the Choir and Strings groups
o (B Level) The rock band project that includes rock band, ballet dance, hip hop dance, comedy kids, and a journalism project which is our first substantial leap into the Media Arts world. This entire project has blossomed at Edison due to the tenacity of their principal who coordinates all of these activities. He keeps good communications with the district program manager and makes sure all of the resources invested in his school enhance his overall curriculum and school culture in a way that is intuitive and natural for student learning. You can see pictures and video of this program at this link: http://hobbsschools.net/department/FineArts/edison_elementary_rock_band_project/
6th Grade Programming:
· Continue the fourth year of the pilot violin class and give it a new home at the Center for the Arts for the 6th Grade group that have participated the last three years in the test group and other students in the district who want to participate at the 6th Grade Level.
o (B Level) We are in the process of assessing the long term viability of this program in the community. We will update you as this process is completed.
· Continue to support an appropriate percentage of Band teacher salaries based on their support of our elementary schools special projects like our increase in instrumental classes at the Fine Arts School and another school which has picked a school-wide theme of “Rock Band” to encourage student achievement.
o (B Level) The acoustic guitar class taught by the band teacher supported by the FAEA has cultivated some successful results. This group is not only learning acoustic guitar but they are learning to read music as well. This class’s culminating performance will be April 30th at Tydings Auditorium in concert with the Rock Band, Ballet, Hip Hop Dance and Choral Music. The 2.0 version of this project will include the participating 5th Grade acoustic guitar students this year will move into 6th Grade and find a home at the Center for the Arts next year. These elementary/secondary partnership classes were designed to feed a 6th Grade Class in 2013-2014.