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Second Week in September Designated "Arts in Education Week"
July 27, 2010 The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res. 275, legislation designating the second week of September as "Arts in Education Week." Authored and introduced by California Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), this resolution is the first Congressional expression of support celebrating all the disciplines comprising arts education. This is a very positive showing of support for arts education and comes at a key time when Congress is making plans to overhaul federal education policy.
The resolution seeks to support the attributes of arts education that are recognized as instrumental to developing a well-rounded education such as creativity, imagination, and cross-cultural understanding. H.Con.Res. 275 also highlights the critical link between those skills and preparing our children for gaining a competitive edge in the global economy. This is an important message for policy makers to acknowledge as they prepare to reauthorize federal education policy.
Roxbury High School - Mural Residency Spring 2010
Think good thoughts, say kind words, do good deeds. That's the central theme of a new, outdoor mural created by 60 Roxbury High School art students and their teachers during an Arts Council of the Morris Area, artist residency with Spiritree artists Carol Hendrickson and Marco Giametti. The students were inspired by a program called "Rachel's Challenge." Modeled after the writings of Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the massacre at Columbine High School, the program challenges young people to start a "chain reaction" of kindness and compassion in their communities.
"I hope that the mural will embody all the positive character traits that we value not only as a school system but as a community," said Mike Rossi, superintendent of schools.The mural, which stands 16 feet high and 32 feet wide, was unveiled during a brief ceremony at the school July 14. During the ceremony, Anne Aronovitch, executive director of the Arts Council of the Morris Area, presented Roxbury High School with the 2010 Joyce Talbot Award for Outstanding Arts School. State Senator Anthony Bucco and State Assemblyman Anthony Bucco Jr. were also in attendance to announce their sponsorship of a joint Senate-Assembly resolution recognizing the achievement. Click here to watch a clip of the mural unveiling! Click here for the blog which captured the work in progress.
The Dot and The Line
A new Arts Council residency debuted this Spring at Franklin Township School where videographer Jason Koontz worked with students to create a short film based on the book "The Dot and The Line". Check out the blog for a glimpse into the creative process and watch this short clip to for a "behind the scenes" look at the making of the squiggle.
21 Century Learning and the Arts
Arts Council teaching artists spent a summer morning learning about the integration of 21 Century Skills into K-12 Arts Education and were introduced to wikis, blogs and other new technologies.
The 21st Century Skills Map for the Arts demonstrates how the three Rs and four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation) can be fused within arts curriculum. The map was released at a Capitol Hill Briefing by representatives from P21, the American Alliance f...or Theatre & Education, the Educational Theatre Association, the National Art Education Association, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the National Dance Association, and the National Dance Education Organization.
The map provides educator-created examples of how art subjects (dance, music, theatre, and visual and media arts) can be fused with skills to create engaging learning experiences that promote 21st century knowledge and skill acquisition.
Download the 21st Century Skills Map by clicking here.
Bidding Farewell to Arts Leader David Grant
David Grant assumed executive leadership of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation in 1998. He was responsible for development and evaluation of programs in the Foundation’s major areas of giving: education, the environment, and the arts in New Jersey, as well as the Foundation’s major initiatives: Poetry, technical assistance to non-profit organizations, and Sustainable Morristown.
David spent his professional career before Dodge as an educator. In 1983 he and his wife, Nancy Boyd Grant, co-founded The Mountain School of Milton Academy, a semester-long, interdisciplinary environmental studies program in Vermont for high school juniors. From 1994 to 1998 David was a national consultant to schools and leader of workshops on topics of curriculum and program design, professional development, assessment practices and school climate.
In honor of his retirement we asked Mosaic artist Kathy Casper to work with some of the youngest members of our community to create a work of art for David.
