ARTS @ Dorchester Academy December 2014/January 2015Arts Department Newsletter

ARTS ALL AROUND US !

Calendar January 22, 23, 27 Term 1 Artist Showcase January 22 August Wilson Monologue Competition

December Students of the MonthGerali MateoCreativity Lab, 1st periodAnthony UrenaCreativity Lab, 1st periodCleiton Lobo Intro to Theatre, 3rd periodBernard TaylorIntro to Theatre, 2rd periodKayann JonesIntro to Theatre, 5th period

Above: Student Artist holds up her sneakers with PRIDE. More than half of the student body participated in a the ultimate Converse Sneaker Design Challenge at Dorchester Academy on December 12th. All students created with purpose and enthuasism. Several students chose to create designs in tribute of the recent deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and others who have lost their lives to violence and police brutality.

DA students have something to say!

Above: DA Arts Leaders Karina Nova, Melanie Baez, and Christine Freeman present to invited guests at the Arts Partner and Advocate meeting on November 6th.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dear Students, Families, Partners, and Fellow Colleagues,

We wish all of you a happy and joyfilled New Year! Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to a great Spring semester!

- DA ARTS TEAM

Right: Superhero Sneakers design by studen artist Kayann Jones.

CONVERSE SNEAKER DESIGN CHALLENGE Our incredible partner, VSA MA, chose DA, one of two BPS schools selected, to participate in the Ultimate Sneaker Design Challenge sponsored by Converse. More than 200 students engaged in a half day of artmaking and creativity on December 12th. Prior to the event, all student artists received master classes taught by Ms. Prefontaine and Ms. Schuermann to help them carefully develop their ideas into comprehensive designs. Students created based on the theme “Together, We’re Different.” On the event day, student artists received a pair of canvas high tops in their individual shoe size to design. Nearly fifteen volunteers from VSA MA, Converse, and Harvard School of Education arrived at our school equipped with supplies and ready to work. DA Arts Leaders acted as ambassadors for the day helping out and setting an excellent example for all. Volunteers worked tirelessly hauling boxes of sneakers up and down stairs, running from room to room to exchange sizes, and helping students envision and accomplish their designs. For their hardwork, Ms. Brooks and her Life Skills students provided a delicious and healthy lunch spread for our team of volunteers. There was a wide range and variety of sneaker designs; different colors, bright and bold to muted and subdued, patterns, some with gems, some with colored laces, even some with original poetry or music lyrics. Thirty sneakers created by student artists were chosen to be displayed in a special exhibition at the Converse store and corporate headquarters and thirty more were chosen to be displayed at VSA’s Open Doors Gallery downtown. Overall, it was an unforgettable day and a collaboration of many. We are incredibly grateful to the Converse Corporation that donated over $11,000 in materials and supplies in order to make this day possible.

Above: DA student artists at work.

Above/Far Left: DA student Lynne Duong shows off her shoe.

Left: Staff and volunteers from DA, VSA, Converse, and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Above: Completed student designs chosen for Converse exhibition.

Left Top: Converse sneakers designed by DA students. Left Middle: DA student Marques Hicks shows off his shoe. Left: DA student Anthony Urena works on his design.

CONVERSE SNEAKER DESIGN CHALLENGE WINNING STUDENT DESIGNERS:

FAMILY & COMMUNITY Afro-Caribbean ConcertWith Cornell Coley and his band Afrika GenteThe DA Arts Department collaborated with Mr. Zinkowski

and Nurse Renz to hold a Student Opportunity Fair on November 22. Mr. Cornell Coley and his band Afrika Gente provided a joyful interactive concert that took the audience on a musical journey from Africa to the Caribbean. Audience members listened, danced, and played instruments along side Mr. Coley and professional musicians.

Shout outs to...-Richard Rozewski from sparc! the Artmobile for facilitating an artmaking activity -All who attended, especially...Ms. Kronenberg and her daughterMrs. Pomare-Lynch, former DA Family CoordinatorDA students and parents

Join us for our next FUN, FREE Family & Community Event!

Term 1 Artist ShowcaseJanuary 22, 23, and 27Details on page 4

Right top: Master musician Cornell Coley performs.

Right middle: DA student Malid and DA teacher Ms. Kronenberg listen to Afrika Gente, while Ms. Kronenberg’s daughter plays the drums.

Right bottom: Afrika Gente musicians perform.

Anthony BelangerJessica BoweAshley CancelDaJai CheatomLynne DuongDanasiaha EdwardsJaylin Fernandes

Ronnie FrançoisNerciany GomesTayshawn HallKayann JonesKeyon JonesBruno Koppel RodriguezPatricia Lopes

Yalissa MartinezAntoinette MatthewsSaulo MendesKelly MohallandKeyara NolenKarina NovaNashaleigh Pena

Vy PhanJohnson RemyStephanie RodriguesShatonah SmithAnthony UrenaReinaldo Vazquez-OrtizCabriya Wallace

A HUGE thanks to VSA MA for their continued support and advocacy for the ARTS at Dorchester Academy. We especially thank Charlie Washburn and Nicole Agois for their leadership and dedication.

A big BEAR thank you to Ms. Pena, Mr. Losche, Mr. Nixon, Mr. Lavin, Mr. Seiden, Ms. Schuermann, Kronenberg, Ms. Bunch, Ms. Brooks, and the DA Arts Leaders for their support and assistance in making the day a success.

ARTS @ Dorchester Academy ARTS RESIDENCIES

Boston Arts Academy Alumni Creative Corps (BAA ACC) Vocalist J Cottle and Composer Erica Telisnor are providing a Music Composition residency for Ms. Prefontaine’s Creativity Lab class. Students are creating original songs by learning how to use and record on Garage Band, write lyrics, and compose. The students will debute their songs in the Term 1 Artist Showcase. On December 15th, Mr. Cottle and Ms. Telisnor planned a special concert for students, which included Mr. Cottle’s accapela band, Petrichor, and duets by Ms. Telisnor and fellow musican and BAA alumnus Jackson Mann.

VSA MAMedia Specialist Rhianon Guitierrez is providing several media focused residencies for the OSDC program. She is working with Mr. Bean’s Business Vocational classes and Ms. Schuermann’s Creativity Lab. Ms. Guitierrez is guiding students in Mr. Bean’s classes to create accessible tools such as a photocopy machine manual and a safety video for the new Bear Business Center. In Ms. Schuermann’s classes, students are creating imaginative digital stories based on creative characters that students have developed. Ms. Guitierrez will continue her work in the Spring semester and hopes to provide additional media and technology support to DA teachers.

Term 1 Artist ShowcaseJoin the DA Arts Department for the Term 1 Artist Showcase. This term’s Artist Showcase will feature the work

of all of our student artists in arts classes, as well as our DA Arts Leaders. There will be various events happening through out on January 22, 23, and 27. Classes are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible as space will be limited.

All Parents, Guardians, Arts Partners, and Advocates are welcome! *Please note that times and locations may be subject to change due to unforseen circumstances.

Thursday, January 22

August Wilson Monologue CompetitionStudent performance2nd and 3rd period9:00-10:30 am Location TBALimited to 2 classes

*Gallery Walks may be arranged by appointment for January 26 & 27.

Friday, January 23

Music Release PartyStudent presentation of original music1st period, 7:45-8:25 amLibrary | Limit 2 classes

Gallery Walks Student visual art work2-4th periodsArts Wing Hallways Limit 1 class per 30 minutes

Tuesday, January 27

Theatre Performance2nd & 3rd periodTBA | Limit 1 class per period

Digital Storytelling 5th period TBA | Limit 2 classes

Left top: Petrichor performs. Left bottom: Ms. Guitierrez brainstorms with students in Mr. Bean’s Business class.

ARTS @ Dorchester Academy

Our mission is to engage students in meaningful arts learning that transforms minds, classrooms, and our whole school community. By placing student voice at the core, our goal is to empower the artist within and to foster his or her individual

artistic development, as he or she prepares for the 21st century workforce.

TEACHERS

Life Skills ProgramSpecial Education teacher Ms. Brooks works with students in the OSDC program to provide excellent vocational opportunities that will prepare students for careers beyond high school. The Arts Department is most apprectative of Ms. Brooks and her students for providing delicious and asethetically beautiful platters of food for several Arts Department events including our Arts Partner and Advocate meeting, Converse Design day, and a reunion for Ms. Prefontaine’s 2013-2014 the-atre class. For each event the classes carefully crafted suitable and affordable menus that would delight all those consuming the meal. Furthermore, they delivered the food, set up, and cleared leftover dishes. Overall, the students have shown nothing but true dedication for the hardwork that they have done. The Arts Department will certainly be utilzing Ms. Brooks and her LifeSkills classes for future events. We hope that others will also reach should you have a catering need. A job very well done!

Above: Special Education teacher, Ms. Brooks supports DA student Ayanna as she bakes cookies in the Life Skills kitchen.

Dorchester Academy Arts Department

   

For more information about the DA Arts Department, please contact Ms. Prefontaine, Arts Directornprefontaine@bostonpublicschools.org

Engineering ClassDA Science teacher Mr. Nixon developed a new and interesting class for students this year, Engineering. There was a need to provide an addtional elective option for students and Mr. Nixon was excited by prospect of teaching students about the intersection of science and creativity. He is developing this new curriculum and his goals are to make the units of study no only challenging, but also relevant and embedded in 21st century skill development.

Above: Science teacher, Mr. Nixon, supports DA student Devon in his classwork.

Above: Classmates Vy and Miguel work on their Scratch pad project.

In December, students worked with Scratch Pad, which is a online platform that enables users to create accessible projects. Students created original animations by learning basic programming language and skills. Mr. Nixon’s class also participated in the Converse Design challenge. Shout out to Mr. Nixon and his students for their excellent arts integration work!