Arts Academy Revitalization Action Team

Arts Academy Meeting Notes, November 14, 2007

November 14, 2007 at 3:24 pm | In Minutes |

Summary:

We discussed the vision statements from several schools of the arts. Vicky will photocopy them and put in our mailboxes so that we can pull statements from them that we like. At our next meeting, (11/28/07, after Thanksgiving), we will work on wordsmithing our own vision statement.

We also had some general discussion around our visions of what we’re doing at PATHS and realized we need to start thinking about PATHSFest now.

Agenda for next meeting (Wednesday, November 28th at 1:10 in the Music room):

1. Wordsmithing of vision from our photocopies - 25 minutes
2. PATHSFest theme discussion & create a planning calendar - 25 minutes
3. Parking lot - 5 minutes
4. Agenda planning - 5 minutes

Present:

• Vicky Stubbs
• Val Green
• Diane Manzi
• Jessica Nadeau
• Dave Nichols
• Lisa Hicks
• Jane Krasnow

Vicky brought some vision statements to share with the group from these places:

• Portland Public Schools
• Casco Bay High School
• The MET School
• Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts
• Boston Arts Academy

Lisa had one also, from Hartford Art School. Here are some phrases she selected:

To be the preeminent professional art school in New England and acknowledged for our…programs which balance strong individual disciplines with cross-disciplinary initiatives

Preparing students to be practicing artists and designers ….

We aspire to provide an educational environment that supports the creative and intellectual development of individuals at all levels of the instruction.

The goal of the Hartford Art School is to provide a professional education within the context of a University that encourages a liberal arts experience for all its students. The result is to educate students to be capable, knowledgeable, and fully prepared for the professional artistic domain; to have an understanding of the visual arts in relation to other human endeavors; and to become creative and contributing members of society.

We probably can’t say our students are “fully prepared” the way a college can.

Boston Arts Academy said something similar. “holistic thinkers” who demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding when they integrate knowledge from 2 or more disciplines or modes of thinking. Create products, solve problems.

We need to assure students that they will have a strong “major” in a program, but that it’s important to be well-rounded also. We need a “major” and a “minor” at minimum, with more exploration possible.

In most cases, the mission is about 4 sentences long. The visions can be much longer — 2 pages in the case of the Boston Arts Academy. Casco Bay’s is very short at 3 sentences.

What is our PATHS mission statement and/or vision? We should have it in the NEASC books, because that’s when it was done.

Some general discussion around what we’re trying to do here at PATHS:

If you can get a kid to believe “they can”, then they will. A lot of kids are being forced to learn and don’t want to. What does nurturing really mean? That may mean going against things society is supporting. Kids need to be around kids that share enjoyment in the same area. It’s important to show kids that adults are multifaceted– they don’t just have a life “major” and only do that one thing.

Vicky will photocopy the vision statements so that we can pull parts that we like and start wordsmithing. We need to start telling everyone what our expectations are in the Academy.

Could the theme of PATHSFest be “cross-curriculum”? Kids could choose to join another class one day a week if they want? Sign up for offerings (like Community of Learners) on “crossover days”?

Also, we need to get out more into the community this year. It’s time to get out and show people what we’re doing in our school. What is the event? We need to plan.