Category Archives: School arts

Arty awards gala makes its Vacaville debut – Daily Republic

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By: Amy Maginnis-Honey

The new, and tradition, came together Sunday for the 31st annual Arty awards gala.

For the first time in its history, the awards were presented in Vacaville. In addition to Solano County arts groups, Napa County cast and crew members were honored for the first time.

The event also honored a Solano County trio of arts staples – singer Connie Lisec, actor-director Harry Diavatis and choreographer Sheri Stockdale.

A bevy of awards were handed out amid music interludes, some comedy, compliments of Taylor Bartolucci, and a knock-out solo from Tyler Bertani singing a song from “Urinetown, the Musical.”

via Arty awards gala makes its Vacaville debut.

EcoArt Camp gives kid recycling lesson – Times Herald

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By Richard Freedman

That stereotype about only boys liking robots? Forget it.

Oh, 6-year-old Annika Hellevik figured out how to accessorize her self-described robot with a skirt. But, just like other kids in Arts Benicia’s EcoArt Camp, the precocious child gave her metal man super powers.

And the super power was …?

“I have to remember that because I did that a week ago,” Annika mused.

Pause. Light bulb over her head.

“The powers were transforming into animals, flying, singing and a fashion sense,” Annika smiled, admitting to liking this whole robot-making thing “because they move all by themselves and they can do things for you. Sometimes they make weird noises.”

via ecoart-camp-gives-kid-recycling-lesson

 

 

Youth, teens get crash course in musical theater – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Tina Edwards found one of the last chairs in the Grange Middle School gym Thursday morning.

It may not have been as comfortable as the stacking ones other audience members were using. She was just happy to be there and the folding chair was just fine, although it was in the back row.

Edwards was there to watch her daughter Hollie Edwards, 13, handle the role of Cinderella at the Grange Middle School Summer Musical performance.

via Youth, teens get crash course in musical theater.

Armijo student artists to have artwork displayed – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

The artwork of an Armijo High School 11th grader will be among several student-created piece of art that will be displayed in Rep. John Garamendi’s office after earning an honorable mention in the annual Congressional High School Competition in Garamendi’s 3rd District.

That local honorable mention went to Armijo High School Junior Chloe Tortai whose artwork, “Appropriation of Color,” will be featured at Garamendi’s Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. at 412 G St. in Davis.

Tortai’s work is also one of five that were chosen by the Pence Gallery to be part of a teen exhibit scheduled for January 2016 as part of the Davis-based gallery’s Teens Take Charge Program.

via Armijo student artists to have artwork displayed.

Solano Office of Education showcases student art – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Some of the best local artists, in the fourth through 12th grades, will exhibit art in the Solano County Student Art Faire through Wednesday at the Solano County Office of Education, 5100 Business Center Drive.

Viewing is free and open to the public between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The show, also sponsored by the Solano County Office of Education, features more 300 pieces of artwork from students throughout Solano County in the following categories: computer art, clay pottery/sculpture, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, photography, print making and sculpture.

via Solano Office of Education showcases student art.

Vallejo High School students put on talent show – Times Herald

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By John Glidden

For a brief moment, it was thought that the “Drop the Mic Talent Show” Thursday night at Vallejo High School might be shut down due to the occasional use of profanities by students.

It wasn’t.

Good news for the students who performed, because they had something to say.

Poet Tyler Dudley kicked off the show expressing her fear and anger over the rash of police brutality cases against African-Americans.

During her performance, Dudley asked why police officers double or triple check cars they think may contain drugs, but can’t take the time to check whether they have pulled their Taser stun gun or service weapon before use.

Dudley was referencing several notable cases where law enforcement officials mistakenly used guns instead of their Tasers.

via Vallejo High School students put on talent show.

Armijo High School offers drama, comedy in new show – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Need a little laughter in your life? Been a while since you had a good cry?

Armijo High School Drama Club has you covered with its spring production, “A Dramedy Experience.”

The evening of entertainment includes two one-act plays, a drama and a comedy.“

The Long View,” a drama, features a cast of 10 teens expressing the struggles of the human experience in high school and beyond.

The second one-act play, “Hard Candy,” is a comedy. It offers a cast of six job-seeking characters who generate giggles about how ridiculous people can be sometimes.

via Armijo High School offers drama, comedy in new show Daily Republic.

Solano high school art students’ work on display in – Davis Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Art from high school students in Solano County is on display through May 22 at the Pence Gallery, 212 D St., Davis.

They are among the 60 works of art submitted to the offices of Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, as part of the annual Congressional High School Art Competition. It was a new record for his office.

The exhibit also includes works from high school students in Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn, Lake and Yuba counties.

via Solano high school art students’ work on display in Davis Daily Republic.

Solano College Student Film Festival set in Vacaville – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Solano Community College film students will showcase their work at a Student Film Festival at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Theatre DeVille, 308 Main St.

Students completing the classes learned “behind the camera” challenges including writing, producing, working with actors on location, lighting, shooting, editing and assisting other members as crew.

The featured work will include one short individual montage, individual short documentaries, plus three short features created by teams of students working together in groups.

via Solano College Student Film Festival set in Vacaville Daily Republic.

Could Common Core Help Grow Arts Education in Schools? | MindShift

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Arts programs have long suffered cuts as schools adjust to meeting the growing demands of academic performance and standardized tests. Students are rarely tested on the arts, and arts knowledge is challenging to measure, so it becomes an easy target when schools are pressed for money and results. So how does one justify arts spending when test scores are at stake?

Ascend Learning charter schools is betting on the arts to tap into the benefits of arts in learning, according to The Hechinger Report. Students are surrounded by art and the schools replicate a museum-like environment. While the demands of academic performance has had its role in cuts to the arts, educators are hoping that Common Core standards will bring back attention to the importance of the arts, as Sara Neufeld reports for The Hechinger Report:

via Could Common Core Help Grow Arts Education in Schools? | MindShift.

Student film festival returns to Vacaville – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Aspiring filmmakers will showcase their works at the annual Eye Light Student Film Festival, Thursday at the Brenden Theatres, 531 Davis St.

Students from as far away as Manteca will compete for scholarships.

All movies are rated PG-13. Some have implied violence, religious references, special effects makeup and moderate language, said a press release for the event. Students have produced entertainment films, documentaries, public service announcements and some simple animation.

via Student film festival returns to Vacaville Daily Republic.

Art appreciation helps young children learn to think and express ideas | EdSource

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By Susan Frey

Art lessons for pre-kindergarten students are moving beyond finger paints and into the worlds of van Gogh, da Vinci and Rivera.

Teachers in a number of districts in California are using classic works of art to inspire some of the youngest students to observe closely, think critically and discuss respectfully – all key elements of the Common Core approach to learning.

By looking closely together as a class at a Picasso or a Cezanne, 4- and 5-year-olds are learning how to observe and translate their thoughts into language and listen and respond to multiple perspectives.

This approach for K-12 students was developed about 20 years ago by the co-founders of Visual Thinking Strategies, a nonprofit based in New York that provides training in the method to schools and art museums. More recently, the nonprofit has introduced the concept to pre-K classes.

via Art appreciation helps young children learn to think and express ideas | EdSource#.VSgCIGctHGg#.VSgCIGctHGg.

Fairfield High artists create mural at Suisun Valley campus – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Suisun Valley K-8 School got a new mural on one of the outdoor building walls Friday, courtesy of students from Fairfield High School.

Principal Jas Bains Wright got the inspiration for a blank wall on the school grounds, which could be used for something more than just a wall.

“Jas came to me with an idea for a mural, something to illustrate character and academic traits,” said Michelle Daugherty, Fairfield High School art teacher.

Daughtery brought the idea to her Ambassador of Art class, where students worked out the details of the mural.

via Fairfield High artists create mural at Suisun Valley campus Daily Republic.

Will C. Wood High School to stage ‘Aida’ the musical – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

At the back of Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, parent volunteer Al Pemberton of Vacaville buzzed a belt sander on a small wood platform, smoothing the edges. A stage technician applied black paint to risers on the main stage. And nearly 75 Vacaville teenagers, actors, singers and musicians, queued up for a light lunch outside the back of the city-owned theater on Ulatis Drive.

All the activity Saturday was in advance of a noontime run-through of Act 1 of Wood High’s staging of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” the school’s spring musical, set to open Wednesday night for a four-day run.

via Will C. Wood High School to stage ‘Aida’ the musical.

Bike to School Day poster contest begins – The Reporter

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Solano County elementary and middle school students can win a bike, bike helmet and lock by entering the Bike to School Day 2015 poster contest sponsored by the Solano Safe Routes to School program.

The winning illustration will also be featured on Bike to School Day posters that will be distributed to Solano County schools to advertise National Bike to School Day on May 6.

The poster must include a slogan and an illustration to encourage fellow students to bike to school and show how biking to school is good for you and the environment. Be sure to include a bike helmet.

In addition to the first-place prize, two runners up each will receive a $100 gift certificate from a local bike shop.

via Bike to School Day poster contest begins.

A Blueprint for Creative Schools – Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education)

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SACRAMENTO—An arts education task force formed by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is calling for arts education to be elevated to a core subject and be available to all students so it can retain its vital role in developing creative expression and critical thinking skills in preparation for 21st century careers.

“We have been extremely fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and creative group committed to helping our state rebuild its infrastructure for arts education,” Torlakson said.

“The picture they paint is one of a relevant, robust, and dynamic curriculum to keep kids in schools, narrow the achievement gap, and give students an opportunity to discover and develop their individual talents. But they also highlight the need to make certain all students have access to arts education so they can explore their own artistic vision,” he said.

via A Blueprint for Creative Schools – Year 2015 (CA Dept of Education).

Grace Patterson students and parents craft mosaic – Vallejo Times Herald

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By John Glidden

Sophia Othman watched with a smile late Thursday afternoon as several young girls ran up and inspected the new mosaic mural at Grace Patterson Elementary School.

The girls touched and pointed to their favorite sections of the mural. Some even showed off the part of the mosaic they worked on, as they danced and played in front of the mural.

Othman smiled because the girls took pride and ownership in the mural — the main reason for the creation of the colorful glass mosaic.

via Grace Patterson students and parents craft mosaic – Vallejo Times Herald.

Armijo High grad has film shown at Fairfield event – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

A 2006 graduate of Armijo High, who went on to get a degree at Harvard University, had her film “Miss Todd” shown Thursday along with others screened at the Lunafest in downtown Fairfield.

Kristina Yee said in a statement read at the event that the hometown showing of “Miss Todd” was something she would have only expected to happen at her parent’s house.

“It’s a place that has formed so much of who I am,” Yee said of Fairfield, where she was born and raised. “My love of libraries grew out of my hours spent at our branch on Kentucky Street.”

She worked at the Solano Town Center mall in between graduating in 2010 from Harvard, where she studied folklore and mythology, and going to film school in England. Yee now lives in Ireland.

via Armijo High grad has film shown at Fairfield event Daily Republic.

Office of education opens school attendance poster contest – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Solano County Office of Education has kicked off a countywide poster contest to help spread the word about the role that school attendance has on student achievement.

Students have the chance to create a poster with messages that focus on the importance of regular school attendance – and could win prizes for their efforts.

Chronic absenteeism is a red alert that students are headed for academic trouble, the county education office said in a press release announcing the poster contest. Research shows that chronically absent students are less likely to succeed academically and are more likely to be suspended and eventually dropout.

via Office of education opens school attendance poster contest Daily Republic.

Poster contest pushes school attendance – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Solano County Office of Education is kicking off a countywide poster contest to help spread the word about the role that school attendance has on student achievement.

Students will be given the chance to create a poster with messages that will focus on the importance of regular school attendance – and could win prizes for their efforts.

Chronic absenteeism is a red alert that students are headed for academic trouble, the county education office said in a press release announcing the poster contest. Research shows that chronically absent students are less likely to succeed academically and are more likely to be suspended and eventually dropout.

via Poster contest pushes school attendance Daily Republic.