Week Ending November 9th, 2023

 

As we continue to ground our work in being culturally/racially relevant, and considering IDENTITY as a part of the learning process, I am reminded of the impact of "planning for the space in which this kind of work can happen."  Tuesday's PD day allowed me to spend some time in the afternoon session with a group of powerful educators, and I thank them for the thinking and open-ness that happened during that 2.5 hour session.  To boil it down to bare bones (for those who were in other great sessions, we learned about the impact of the pursuit of Identity within unit planning.  We read, shared, asked questions and worked.  We laughed.  A lot. And thought.  A LOT.  So, as we looked ahead at the great things we are planning with kids, we identified:

• The SKILLS that we want kids to improve
• The Arts INTELLECT task- is it a performance, accountable talk, presentation,,?
• The Arts IDENTITY- how will this task allow students to see themselves and/or others in the work?
• And we will continue to work to add CRITICALITY to the work..

I learned a lot, too- Addison Kaeterle, dance teacher at Durfee has been buzzing about Misty Copeland, a beautiful black ballet dancer who persevered through similar struggles as our students'.  Here is a tiny piece of an interview with her..

You came from a home that was economically unstable at times. You were also a Black girl trying to break into a very white field. When did you realize that you could overcome those challenges and become a professional ballerina?

Because I started at the age of 13, which is very late, it was immediate. That was the plan. I was given an opportunity by my teacher, Cynthia Bradley, with the intent of training to become a professional. Her attitude was: You have the potential, and I’m going to invest in you because I think you can make the ballet a career. So the first week into my first class—on a basketball court at the Boys & Girls Club—I wanted to go on to dance for American Ballet Theatre. That was my goal, and within four years I was in New York performing on the stage at Lincoln Center.

In many cases, we are "Cynthia Bradley" for our kids.  That's a precious responsibility.  Thank you, Addison for sharing this model with me.

In the News This Week:

• PD Follow Up
• Short Month Reminders
• Winter Concerts
• Fashion Updates

PD Follow Up:

Can you click on this super brief but important survey regarding Tuesday's PD?  Thank you!

Short Month Reminders:

Yes, this is such a crazy month!   Try to keep that momentum going, event though the weeks are short.  We have no school Friday, and then have a full week from the 13th to the 17th.  Get your groove on while you can LOL, because then it's short Thanksgiving week, and the week after ends with December 1st!!!  OMG.

Also, many of you will be having Parent Teacher Conferences.. think about reaching out to parents of students who are struggling, and asking if they can meet to collab on how to help their child.  

Winter Concerts:

We will be rolling into December soon, so just dropping a few dates here:

12/12 - 6PM	Morton Concert	Morton Aud
12/12 - 6PM	Kuss Concert	Kuss Aud
12/13 - 6PM	Talbot Concert	Talbot Aud

Fashion Updates:

I have been working with Ana Arsenio and a team of community partners on building out a model program.  We have the only comprehensive Fashion Design class that I am aware of in the state, and we have built the ONLY Early College program that is a through line from high school to college, and we are now adding another C to that equation.. CAREER.  Working with Judi Vigna and Jim McKeag to build a career/workforce readiness internship program for our seniors!  I will keep you posted!

And for ART TEACHERS, Scholastic Art and Writing window closes FRIDAY DEC 8th!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jackie