me arts ed

A Day in Searsport!

On March 27, 2009 I spent the day in Searsport for the Tri-district workshop. Teachers from MSAD #3, 34, and 56 attended the days offerings. In the morning 17 teachers participated in a session I facilitated called Arts and Technology. I worked from a wiki which all of the participants have access to so they can continue to use the resources in their planning and classrooms. I shared units that could be adapted for each of the 4 disciplines of the arts that align with the Maine Learning Results. Here is a picture of 2 art teachers who attended. Greg Warren, elementary teacher from MSAD #3 and Charles Hamm, Belfast High School teacher.

In the afternoon session we had a round table discussion with 28 educators discussing arts education and gifted and talented. We learned what teachers knew and raised awareness of what is necessary with the requirement for the arts. If you would like to learn more about the requirement please go to the arts education resource page.

YAHOOOOOOOO for Sanford High School Band!

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Sanford High School and the classroom of music teacher, Matt Doiron. I am sure you heard that Sanford’s band represented Maine in the Inaugural Parade on January 20, 2009.

The band participants were still smiling over the thrill of the experience. What an honor!!! I presented them with a plaque from the Department and we posed for a couple of pictures. If you haven’t already done so please join me in CONGRATULATING Matt and all the band members. Feel free to post a comment here that they can see. Matt told me that they’ve had 3 invitations since Inauguration day. And if you click on this link you can see the segment that was on the news in January.

Music teacher Jayne Sawtelle is one of six semi-finalists!

Yahooooo for Jayne Quinn Sawtelle who teaches music at Fred P. Hall Elementary School in Portland. We are proud of you!

The other semi-finalists are:

Thomas Fournier, Lincoln Middle School in Portland

Kevin Grover, D.W. Lunt School, Falmouth

Barabara Noone, Willard School, Sanford

William Thompson, Piscataquis Community High School, Guilford

David Wilkins, Stearns High School, Millinocket

The semi-finalists enter the next phase of the 2010 Maine Teacher of the Year selection process where a panel will visit each of their schools for a day interviewing students, teachers, administration and community members so they can learn more about all the good things that go on in education. A special good luck to Jayne!

If you attended the statewide arts education conference – At the Creative Center: The Arts in Maine Schools in October 2007 you will remember the inspiring keynote presentation that artist Eric Hopkins gave at the close of the 2-day event at the Samoset Resort. Recently, I received an email from Robin at Eric’s studio/gallery on 21 Winter Street in Rockland. She forwarded the short piece Eric had written on his impressions and observations on the first day of Spring.

Eric has given me permission to reprint the piece. I’m sure you’ll want to respond with comments at the bottom.

“This winter I spent more time inside than I liked. It was a good time to develop and complete new work, but by last Friday I just had to get out. It was a bright, sunny, yet cold and windy first day of Spring. I grabbed my drawing supplies and headed to Owls Head, thinking I’d walk along the shore, find a nook in the rocks, hunker down to draw and welcome in the new season. As sunny as it was, it was just plain too raw and cold to make my hands work with the pencil and paper. I ended up driving to the end of Ash Point Road and sitting in the car overlooking the Mussel Ridge islands. It was great to sit there for three or four hours and just watch the wind blow the tide and wave patterns across the water as the light in the sky slowly changed. Despite all the uncertainty of “The Economy” and the uncertainties of daily life, I was reassured that all is well in the world. The tide keeps ebbing and flowing. The sun is hot, but the air can be cold. The wind clears and cleans the air. The light is pure. Life goes on. As I was having those thoughts in the low light of the late afternoon a young eagle flew by my windshield. I could almost feel the wind from his wings. This reminded me how important it is for me to connect with the natural world. It fills me with so much more wealth than any bank or stock market could ever hold.”

Thank you Eric! With April upon us and warm weather just around the corner, I hope you have time to breathe in the Spring air, watch the crocus pop up and let the sun warm your face.