Arcadia This Week 1/26/2020

Hello, Arcadia Families,

Here’s what’s up at Arcadia for the coming week!

Monday, Jan. 27: No School (Teacher Prep Day) 

Tuesday, Jan. 28: Day 4

  • VocalEssence: Witness Arts Residency (Part 2)

This year teaching artist Roxane Wallace will be coming to Arcadia on January 23 and 28, 9:25-2:25, working with all our middle school students and two high school classes--dance and history. All of those students will then go to Orchestra Hall on February 24 at 10:00am to see a culminating performance of 60 minutes, returning in time for lunch.

  • Homework Help, 2:45-4:00pm

Wednesday, Jan. 29: Day 5 (Late Start)

Thursday, Jan. 30: Day 6

  • Homework Help, 2:45-4:00pm

  • 8th Grade Night: Orientation to the High School Program, 6:30-8:00pm

All 8th grade students and their families are invited to join us to learn more about Arcadia’s high school program! Pizza will be served! (See the Announcements section for more details.)

Friday, Jan. 31: Day 1

Mission Spotlight

It is the mission of Arcadia Charter School to prepare our students to transition intellectually, emotionally, and ethically to higher education, future employment, and engaged citizenship.

Arcadia Charter School envisions a supportive learning community that, through collaboration and student-driven, project-based learning, encourages and assists students to:

  • Express themselves creatively through the visual, literary, and performing arts.

  • Use technology with innovation, imagination, and responsibility.

  • Develop critical thinking and creative problem solving skills.

  • Construct knowledge and meaning for themselves.

  • Value, advocate, and strive for the wellness of the whole person.

  • Be empowered to act as local citizens within a rapidly changing global community.

I had the great pleasure of joining the Arcadia Dancers and 6th grade classes last Thursday for the arts residency with Ms. Roxane Wallace, the teaching artist working with our students in the VocalEssence: Witness program. Her focus is on Katherine Dunham. If you have not heard that name, ask your child--through history class and a movement class with Ms. Wallace, we have come to know a lot about her and her amazing legacy!

Katherine Dunham developed a system of teaching around three philosophies: Form and Function, Intercultural Communication, and Socialization Through the Arts. Her approach “emphasized an integration of the thinking mind, emotional self, and expressive physical body” while, among other things, “promot[ing] intercultural awareness and understanding, [and] social skills development” (Gonzalez, 2015). What a perfect connection for a school that asks students to “express themselves creatively through the visual, literary, and performing arts,” “develop critical thinking and creative problem solving skills,” and “be empowered to act as local citizens within a rapidly changing global community.” 

In response to the residency, we have a new classroom name! I asked the student body on Friday to vote on the question, “Should we name the small classroom next to Tubman in honor of Katherine Dunham and our arts residency?” The answer was yes! The smaller of the two new classrooms is now the Dunham room, in honor of our arts residency, and Katherine Dunham. 

I am so grateful to Bob and Matt for their work to organize this residency, and to Roxane Wallace for sharing her talent and knowledge with us--a number of students also suggested that the room be named after her!

If you would like to learn more about Katherine Dunham, I think this article covers her career well, and also includes video clips of her dancing and teaching.

https://afropunk.com/2018/11/joy-of-movement-the-katherine-dunham-technique/

Announcements

Attention Arcadia 8th graders -- mark your calendars for Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 6:30pm. This will be a special event for you as an 8th grader to learn about life in the Arcadia High School Program, chat with teachers, discuss differences between our Middle School & High School programs, and learn what makes our high school unique!  There will be pizza, so no worries about supper!  

Upcoming Events

Jan. 27, No School, Teacher Prep Day

Jan. 28, during school, VocalEssence Witness, Arts Residency

Jan. 30, 8th Grade Night (HS Orientation), 6:30pm

Feb. 1, Arcadia School Board Retreat, 9:00am-2:00pm

Feb. 4, Arcadia Information Night, 6:30-8:00pm

Feb. 13, Early Release (12:42pm)

Feb. 13, Spring Conferences, appointments from 1:20-5:30pm, then 5:30-6:30pm with all teachers available

Feb. 13, Finance Committee Meeting, 4:00pm

Feb. 18, Early Release (12:42pm)

Feb. 18, Spring Conferences, appointments from 1:20-5:30pm, then 5:30-6:30pm with all teachers available

Feb. 24, VocalEssence: Witness Field Trip to Orchestra Hall, all middle school students and the high school history and dance classes

Sincerely,