Posts Tagged ‘Hermon High School’

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Another Student’s Story: Gage Shackley

December 18, 2017

Gage Shackley, Hermon High School

Periodically individuals are featured on the Maine Arts Education blog as part of a series called “Another Student’s Story”. Their “Arts” stories are shared with you. Please share these stories with others. If you know of a student who should be sharing their story, please contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov and they will be considered for a feature on the Maine Arts Education blog.

Thanks to Mandi Mitchell, visual art teacher, at Hermon High School and Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Teacher Leader, for introducing me to Gage Shackley and his art. I was memorized as I looked at his drawing books – several of them, filled with amazing drawings!

My name is Gage Shackley and I am 18. I am a senior In Hermon High School and I live in Hermon, Maine.
What value do you see in taking visual arts courses?
Visual Arts has made me determined to become a better artist. And with the help of my teacher, I believe I have achieved just that.
Name three skills, ideas, or life-long tools that you have learned in your art courses?
I have definitely been pushed toward learning how to take constructive-criticism, although I’m still not a big fan of it. I have also learned that art is a very difficult profession to be great at, so I believe that I try my best to accomplish that. Last is definitely the internet, with it I can always stay in touch with people who I know will always help me with anything and that includes my art.

Han Solo, created using Wacom-like tablet on Photoshop

What is your favorite part of the art course you are presently taking? What are you most proud of?

I am in an Independent Study. I like that I am free to draw just about anything, JUST about. I have been recently trying to draw “models” from life and that’s putting it lightly. I am proud of all of my art including that. I just don’t like the fact of censorship. So, that’s what I’m proud of.
Does anyone encourage and/or support you with your art making?
Yes, just about everyone I know supports me and my art. There isn’t just one person, and I am definitely thankful for that.
Complete the sentence, I enjoy my art classes because…
… I enjoy drawing.
Do your studies in art impact other class work or your life outside of school? If so, in what way(s)?
Not really, in the first place I don’t ever have homework, art is my homework. Sometimes the people around me ask for commissions for me and I happily oblige, because you know, money.
What art teacher Mandi Mitchell says about Gage:
I have found that one of Gage’s greatest strengths is how incredibly observant he is.  His ability to capture personality, body language, and characteristics of someone within perhaps five minutes of meeting and interacting with them is quite a gift.

Thank you Father, created using Wacom-like tablet on Photoshop

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Maine Poetry Out Loud

December 11, 2017

Poets go to school

The Poetry Out Loud (POL) program is underway across Maine and the country. Over 10,000 Maine high students are selecting their poems, furiously memorizing and practicing them for themselves, their classmates, and their teachers.

Maine has 48 high schools participating this year, 10 new to POL. At some schools every student, grade 9-12 participates. Maine is repeatedly one of the states with the highest participation and this year will be no exception.  The 2017 Maine State Champ, Gabrielle Cooper, attended Gardiner Area High School; one of the schools where all students participate every year. Three of the new schools this year were fortunate to have

Winthrop High School students with Gibson Fay-LeBlanc

poets visit them to work with students and teachers. Portland’s fifth Poet Laureate, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc provided a workshop at Winthrop High School and Hampshire County Council’s Hampshire Poet Brian Evans-Jones provided workshops at Herman High School and Van Buren District Secondary School.

Students had a chance to experiment with their voices and ‘try out’ their poems for feedback. Both Gibson and Brian are on the MAC Teaching Artist roster and available to provide workshops for schools and community organizations.

Brian at Hermon High School

Thanks to all of the teachers who are working with students across Maine. I was thrilled to be at Hermon High School for the workshops. Brian led the students through exercises to help prepare their voices and their confidence. He said: “It’s important to understand your poem. The better you understand your poem the better you communicate the meaning and with that comes confidence.” Even listening to students recite their poems 2 and 3 times, I could hear their confidence rise.

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is organized nationally by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation and administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission.  This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Maine’s POL represent public and private high schools as well as high school homeschooling populations.

You have a chance to learn more about POL in Maine. The Maine Arts Commission invites you to attend the regional and state finals.

  • The Northern Maine Regional Finals will be held on Monday, February 12, 2018, 3:00 p.m. at the Hampden Academy Performing Arts Center, Hampden. The snow date is Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 3:00 PM. Hampden Academy, Regional School Unit #22, is an in-kind sponsor of this event.
  •  The Southern Maine Regional Finals will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 3:00 p.m. at the Westbrook Middle School Performing Arts Center, Westbrook. The snow date is Thursday, March 1, 2018, 3:00 p.m.
  • The Maine State Finals will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018 at the Waterville Opera House, 93 Main Street, Waterville. The snow date is Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Doors open to the public at 2:30 p.m. and the event begins at 3:00 p.m. No tickets are required. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. We anticipate that the event will conclude by approximately 5:00 p.m.

Working with teachers at Hermon High School

Learn more about the POL program at the national site or at the Maine Arts Commission POL webpages. If you teach or live near a high school that does not participate please plan on joining the program in the 2018-19 school year. Email Argy Nestor if you have any questions about how to get involved!

 

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In Today’s News

April 8, 2013

Treble Makers

The Bangor Daily News has an article about Hermon High School and the ‘Gold’ they took home this weekend from the State Show Choir competition. You can read about it and see photos at http://bangordailynews.com/community/hermon-high-school-treble-makers-gold-at-state-show-choir-competition/.

Posted in Community, Creativity, Dance, Music, Opportunity, YAHOO | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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Maine Alliance for Arts Education Awards

March 9, 2012

MAINE ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION ANNOUNCES 2012 AWARDS

The Maine Alliance for Arts Education is pleased to announce Brian Walsh, Principal at Hermon High School and MaryEllen Schaper, dance educator and teacher at Bonny Eagle Middle and High School as the winners of its annual awards for excellence and service to arts education in Maine.

Walsh was selected as the 2012 Outstanding Administrator Advocate for Arts Education Award, which is given each year to a school or organization administrator who has:
demonstrated outstanding leadership and support of the arts, established exemplary or innovative arts education programs, and promoted the importance of arts in education.

Schaper is the recipient of the 2012 Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator Award which is given each year in honor of Bill Bonyun whose career as a folklorist, storyteller, singer, writer, and educator spanned over half a century. The award is given to someone who has:
made significant contributions to arts education, shown outstanding commitment and dedicated service in arts education, and been an inspiration to students, teachers, and the community.

In nominating Walsh, Cheryl Olson Lorenz said, “In a small community with a high school known as a ‘sports school,’ the support of the principal can make the difference between the arts acting in anonymity or stepping into the spotlight. Brian Walsh has made that kind of difference at Hermon High School through his leadership and support of the arts, arts advocacy, and artistic expression.”

And in her nomination letter for Schaper, Nancy Salmon describes her contributions to dance education by saying, “MaryEllen has provided countless students with their first taste of the joy of dance and movement.”

Schaper and Walsh will receive their awards at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion, Blaine House on March 14.

MAAE will also honor Carol Gardien Trimble at the March 14th Blaine House Arts Education Celebration for her dedicated service as its Executive Director. In December 2011, Carol stepped down from her post, having served ten years in this role. During her tenure, Carol guided the organization through a period of program and service expansion and helped the board of directors to make major changes that strengthened MAAE as an important state and national networking and advocacy entity. Under her leadership MAAE created and managed two important programs that offered direct services to Maine students and teachers: Learning in Community – Arts (LINC) in Hancock County) and (with Susan Potters), Building Community Through the Arts (BCTA). To support these programs and other MAAE initiatives, Carol garnered funding through innumerable, federal, state, and foundation grants and corporate supporters. Her administrative skills and gracious presence at the heart of MAAE is greatly missed.

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Singin’ in the Rain

November 5, 2011

Hermon High School

A note about the process of producing Singin’ in the Rain at Hermon High School:

The arts are a gateway to real-world skills and ideas, and, for the first time ever, Hermon High School is proud to announce that this year’s fall musical has been completely produced by the students in Hermon High School’s Theatre Production class.

The Theater Production class features the Marvelous Marketers, Costumes at the Theatre, Felicia and the Fundraisers, the Bodacious Box Office, and the Glamorous Gala teams. For this fabulous production of Singin’ in the Rain these teams have created the tickets, promotional videos and posters; researched, organized and purchased costumes; solicited donations and sold advertisements, umbrellas, and t-shirts; orchestrated and planned the annual Gala Event; and managed all ticket orders, questions, and sales at the Hermon High School Performing Arts Box Office.

As with all classes in the Hermon High School Performing Arts program, the learning process is the most valuable element. In that spirit our students integrated the following 21st Century tools into the Theatre Production curriculum: Internet research for scripts, costumes, props, and historical references; text messaging to communicate with fellow cast members, crew members, producers, directors, and vendors; email and social networking to stay informed about rehearsals, costumes, set construction, prop information, as well as to share ideas, purchases, and scenes examples. Students used HD digital and still cameras to create the silent movie scenes for this show, take archival photographs, and shoot the cast headshots. Finally, Theatre Production students created the highest quality production and promotional materials by using the following programs and attending these professional development opportunities:

  • Adobe Photoshop 5.0
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Paperless post Apple Pages, Keynote, and Numbers programs
  • iMovie
  • Final Cut Pro
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  •  Microsoft Powerpoint
  • Go Daddy web hosting
  • Apple iPhones, 3GS, 4
  • Apple Powermac
  • Apple iPad
  • Disney Institute in Marketing Training Session sponsored by Eastern Maine Development Corporation

We are proud of the student work and learning that has occurred because of this real world project and know that our students will take the skills and techniques learned in this inspiring theatrical experience with them in whatever career they choose to pursue. We are lucky to have worked with state-of-the-art, 21st Century tools and to have had the opportunity to apply this work to real world business, marketing, development, technological, and theatrical experiences.

It will be raining on the stage during the performance and certainly happy rain drops. Just three short years ago Hermon High School had no musicial and only one theatre class. Today there are four theatre classes, and for the first time ever a STUDENT produced musical from our Theatre Production class. This is a great example of interweaving media arts with the others arts disciplines. The picture for the poster was taken by a student, photoshopped by other students and finally other students negotiated with the printing company on the cost. This post information was contrbuted by Cami Carter.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Music, Theater, YAHOO | Tagged | 2 Comments »