Durfee Artists and Writers Win Scholastics Awards!
Congratulations to the following five Durfee students who earned recognition in the 2017 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards:
Art:
Macklin Coronel '17, honorable mention in photography for 'Fall River City Highway
Nichel Nhem '18, honorable mention in illustration for 'Sweet'
Writing:
Cade Scott '17, honorable mention for his memoir 'Cosmogony'
Florentino Correa-Garcia '18, silver key for his memoir 'The Boy'
Lisa Houston '18, gold key for her memoir 'Tinkerbell'
This week, I am inspired by the Massachusetts Cultural Council! Great news...
Governor Charlie Baker today released a state budget proposal that would invest $14.3 million in the arts, humanities, and sciences through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) in the coming fiscal year. The Governor's budget plan for Fiscal Year 2018 would represent a 2.5 percent increase above this year’s state appropriation for MCC.
The MCC seeks a $16 million state appropriation, a $2 million increase, for FY18. MCC Executive Director Anita Walker said the agency will continue to make the case for that increase in concert with MASSCreative, Mass Humanities, and its network of advocates across the state. As part of that effort, MCC has released new data on the benefits of arts and cultural funding to the state’s economy, communities, and the education of our young people – and what long-term reinvestment in its work can accomplish.
“We thank Governor Baker for his support for the arts, humanities, and sciences,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “The Governor’s budget proposal recognizes the creative sector as a vital force for economic prosperity and community vitality across Massachusetts. It represents a solid start to the budget process.”
The MCC seeks a $16 million state appropriation, a $2 million increase, for FY18. MCC Executive Director Anita Walker said the agency will continue to make the case for that increase in concert with MASSCreative, Mass Humanities, and its network of advocates across the state. As part of that effort, MCC has released new data on the benefits of arts and cultural funding to the state’s economy, communities, and the education of our young people – and what long-term reinvestment in its work can accomplish.
“We thank Governor Baker for his support for the arts, humanities, and sciences,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “The Governor’s budget proposal recognizes the creative sector as a vital force for economic prosperity and community vitality across Massachusetts. It represents a solid start to the budget process.”
Collaboration and Growth:
Last week, I shared with you the Professional Development plan. Simply scroll down to last week's Blog entry to see it! In addition, Becky Csizmesia will be leading a morning session here at Durfee to bring K-5 music faculty together to continue their work together. Here is a list of what she will facilitate:
I am excited to get to work!
The PM Sessions are listed in last week's Blog.
IN CPT's This Week:
It has been a pleasure meeting with teachers this week, discussing ideas at each of your schools.. This week, we discussed:
- Kuss CPT discussed the start of a new semester, tech for music class, and theater production.
- Morton CPT discussed the planning around the upcoming event, International Night, to be held on March 23rd!
- HLCS CPT was spent discussing goals for the eval process.
- Talbot CPT continued discussion into what constitutes a higher order thinking "question" and what possible outcomes of these may look like.
- Durfee CPT continued the collective planning of a department wide norm for cell phone use in classrooms, and how to message this to students at the start of semester 2. We reviewed the code of conduct, agreed upon responses, rules and expectations for cell phone use that will be a common practice across the department. New year, new Us! Check out our set up! It fits 30 cell phones, and the first 6 students can even plug in and charge up..
A Shout Out!
FRPS Helps "Save the Day" with the help of UMD and other schools when MMEA Southeastern Districts was canceled due to snow! Check out this article in today's Southcosat Today! http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20170126/umass-dartmouth-hits-high-note-for-high-school-musicians
Here's a snippet from the article: "Hosting a festival like this requires a great deal of planning and can be a logistical nightmare. The district has a full orchestra, a full concert band, a large full choir, a jazz band and a percussion ensemble. Because all of the groups need to rehearse at the same time, extra equipment, percussion instruments and staging materials must be brought in to supplement what is already at the university. With the help of many directors and music departments notably from UMass Dartmouth, Dartmouth Public Schools, Fall River Public Schools and Sharon Public Schools, these gifted and hardworking young musicians will be able to present their concert.
"Adjunct professors Tobias and Charlene Monte contacted Dr. Ronald Sherwin, chair of the Music Department, who contacted College of Visual and Performing Arts dean David Klamen, and the plan was approved within hours. Dartmouth High School Music teachers and parents along with UMD music students have volunteered to assist at the event."
And so, it's a Go! On Sunday!
On the Agenda:
- Monday: PD Day.. See the agenda attached to email or in last week's Blog! K-8 Dept Meetings after PD.
- Tuesday: CPT Morton, HLCS, Durfee Black Day- 1st day of Semester 2, last day of January! Also, this is the 2nd Visioning Meeting night for the new Durfee- 3 to 7PM.
- Wednesday: Formative Evaluations
- Thursday: CPT Durfee Arts Team 10:45, CPT Talbot 1:20, Durfee PTO Meeting 6:30 PM
- Friday: CPT Doran, Itinerant CPT, and Term 2 grades due at 3PM for Durfee Faculty!
Can you believe we will be into February next week? Yikes!
Thank you for all you do, and see you Monday!
Jackie
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