Fine Arts

Ryan Bintz at Longleaf Elementary is Pasco’s Teacher of The Year! Congratulations to this amazing music and theatre teacher.

The fine arts were well represented this year for Pasco's Teacher of the Year. Out of every schools teacher of the year, 3 were chosen as the finalists for Pasco County's Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to the Finalists:

• Peter Nason, CCMS theatre teacher
• Brandon Anglin, WRHS science teacher
• Ryan Bintz, LLES music and theatre teacher

Congratulations to the 1st quarter ArtsFirst grant winners!

Starkey Ranch K-8 - Jessica Fenton (art)

Trinity Oaks Elem - Ashley Cassens (art)

Gulf High School - Sara Taylor (dance)

Chester Taylor Elem - Ceci Temkova (art)

Gulf Middle School - Diana Ramos (theatre)

Trinity Elementary - Sharon Braman (music)

Wiregrass Ranch HS - Justin Baggett (music)

1st National Bank of Pasco County is a wonderful business partner that wants to help our fine arts as much as possible.

If you have not done so already, please look for Tom's email with the grant application information and fill that out.

Most of you know that we have a Fine Arts Website that tells about each of our areas. Please check it out by clicking HERE.

You could also get there by going to:

pasco.k12.fl.us

click on the tab at the top "DEPARTMENTS"

scroll to find "Fine Arts" & click on it

You can navigate through our Fine Arts Website by using the green department navigation section. Please go to your department and check it out. Look for your school in the list. If you have a school website for your department, make sure it is linked there. If it isn't, please email Michele Christy <mchristy@pasco.k12.fl.us>. In order for us to link your website it must be linked to your school's website first.

**Please email Michele Christy photos of your program that you would like to be rotated onto the website. We really want to promote the arts and show off what the students are doing.

We need more mentors for all areas of Fine Arts.

Please take some time to consider this opportunity.

These are the requirements:

• Minimum of three years "highly effective or effective" teaching experience
  
• Demonstrated emphasis on personal professional development and advancement of the education profession
• Demonstrated effective skills related to:

• designing, delivering, and assessing high-impact learning activities for ALL students
• building a compassionate classroom
• communication, collaboration, and organization
• Demonstrated effective leadership skills, qualities, and experiences
• Principal recommendation - Click HERE for the recommendation form

Completed forms need to be emailed to Charlotte Kralik. All recommended teachers will be registered in myPGS. Please select the date you are available on the form.

If you are a new teacher or new to Pasco, you should have a mentor assigned to you. If you do not have a mentor, please reach out to your principal. If you and your principal would prefer you to have a mentor in the same field as you, Tom Viking and Michele Christy have a list of approved mentors in the fine arts. Your principal can contact us for suggestions.

You are eligible to have a mentor for your first 2 years in Pasco County.

You should be meeting with your mentor at least 1 time per week. The meeting can be in person, via zoom, or phone call.

Please contact Tom Viking or Michele Christy if you have any questions.

We would love to announce any accolades that you and your dance classes have received. Please email Michele Christy with information about awards that you and/or your students have received so we can promote your dance programs. Do you have any student going to competitions? Placing in any competition? Please let us know.

Teaching Dancers about Facial Expressions

Click HERE to read an article about facial expressions.

Yammer

Don't forget to use Yammer. It is a great resource to use when you have questions or to share some successes. If you are not on Yammer, email Tom Viking or Michele Christy to get the directions to join.

Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) is an experimental laboratory, a safe place for new and experienced dance teachers to enhance their skills, develop sequential curriculum, and learn from one another. For over twenty-five years, DEL has been training and supporting the work of dance educators, equipping the teachers of today with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.

Check out their Blog to find interesting topics of discussion like "DEL Hip Hop to the Top: Reflections from our Arnhold Summer Fellows".

They have a Video Gallery where you can find things like "DEL African Dance". In order to view the videos, you will need to go to myPascoConnect first and sign in to Content Keeper Bypass.

All County Secondary Chorus

This will take place at River Ridge Center for the Arts on January 8, 2022.

All County Band

Rehearsals:

January 18, 2022 @ Charles S. Rushe Middle School and Sunlake High School

January 21 & 22, 2022 @ Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts

Concert:

January 22, 2022 @ 2pm at Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts

All County Elementary Chorus & Orff

Rehearsals:

February 12, 2022 @ Starkey Ranch K-8

February 19, 2022 @ River Ridge Center for the Arts

Concert:

February 19, 2022 @ 4pm at River Ridge Center for the Arts

Yammer

Don't forget to use Yammer. It is a great resource to use when you have questions or to share some successes. If you are not on Yammer, email Tom Viking or Michele Christy to get the directions to join.

• You’ll have to download the free Open Office software to make this one work, but it’s totally worth it! Here are just a few of the things you can do with this seating chart.
  • Each circle is a text box! Type the student’s name in the circle. Then click and drag the circle any time you want to rearrange the seats. When the students come to class, project the seating chart on the screen (or print it out and hang it up) and the students can go right to their new spots.
  • You can select the color you want for any item. Color-code the circles by instrument, grade level or anything else that helps you stay organized.
  • Replace the “X” shapes (which designate music stands) with a number and students can quickly and easily see their folder assignments.
  • Use the various shapes available in the software to designate the placement of percussion instruments or other features of the room.
  • Export your chart as a pdf file to send to contest hosts or others who need your set-up.

11 Tips For Teaching Drama

1. Start With the Basics

2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity When It Comes to Feedback

3. Find the Passion

4. Keep Your Focus Areas Narrow

5. Challenge Them

6. De-stigmatize Failure

7. Slow and Steady

8. Model Behavior

9. Encourage Participation

10. Take the Classroom Outside

11. Go Beyond Acting

Click HERE for the full article.

Yammer

Don't forget to use Yammer. It is a great resource to use when you have questions or to share some successes. If you are not on Yammer, email Tom Viking or Michele Christy to get the directions to join.

Accolades for River Ridge High School:

1) The Royal Knight Stage Company of River Ridge High School has been awarded with nominations for the Straz Center's "Broadway Star of the Future".

• Outstanding play
• Outstanding performer in a male identifying role in a play: Robert M., Nathan P., Chaasad F.
• Outstanding performer in a female identifying role in a play: Chelsea C., Shawna H.
• Outstanding supporting performer: Brionna D.
• Outstanding direction of a play: David O'Hara
• Outstanding technical achievement: Qasem Abdel-Hadi (Simpson mask design & construction), Lorenzo S.

2) The Royal Knight Stage Company of River Ridge High School's one-act play, Jerry Springer is God has been chosen to represent District 14 at The Florida State Thespian Festival.

3) The Royal Knight Stage Company of River Ridge High School's production of Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play has been chosen to showcase at The Florida State Thespian Festival 2022

Middle School Theatre

Pasco County schools rocked the house at the District 11 Jr. Thespian festival held at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg on November 5th and 6th. Our county was honored with so many Top Honors winners, so many superior and excellent scores, that it’s amazing how far this district has come in the theatrical arts.

District 11 includes 19 schools from Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hernando County and even Citrus County.

Pasco schools that participated include:

• Cypress Creek Middle School Conservatory of the Arts (Troupe 89761; Peter Nason, Sponsor)
• Dayspring Academy (Troupe 88981; Betsi LeRock, Sponsor)
• Gulf Middle School (Troupe 89220; Diane Ramos, Sponsor)
• Pine View Middle School (Troupe 89408; Brianna Filippelli and Jennifer Rossof, Co-Sponsors)
• River Ridge Middle School (Troupe 88135; Joseph Grosso, Sponsor)
• Union Park Charter School (Troupe 89580; Myndee Washington, Sponsor)
• Thomas E. Weightman Middle School (Troupe 89765; Eric Marino, Sponsor)

Special Congratulations go out to Pine View Middle School Troupe 89408 for their Best in District selection in the category of Large Group Musical (“Wait for Me” from Hadestown). They will be performing in front of over a thousand young Thespians from across Florida at Opening Ceremonies in January's state festival at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Congratulations to all of our Pasco County Jr. Thespians!

Check out the Stage Agent Blog!

You will find so many educational tips and ideas in this blog. One thing you should check out is the article titled "Playwriting Prompts for Teachers" by Brit Christopher. This is one of many very useful and informational articles you will find in the Stage Agent Blog.

The next student evaluation festival date is March 16-19, 2022. Please check the Florida Thespians webpage for more information.

District Art Display (building 8) & Judicial Buildings Art Display (NPR & Dade City)

Keep an eye out for emails regarding these art display opportunities. You will be receiving information and deadlines via email soon.

A GUIDE ON PLAGIARISM AND COPYRIGHT FOR STUDENTS & EDUCATORS

Click HERE for more information.

HOW TEACHERS CAN RECEIVE FREE CRAYONS

The Crayon Project is a non-profit organization that was founded by Beth Ann and Kevin to focus on the small act of buying multicultural crayons, markers and colored pencils for schools and non-profit organizations they were familiar with within their local community.

Now they are expanding their reach and giving teachers and educators across the nation a chance to receive these projects.

All you need to do is head over to The Crayon Project Care Project Request Form and complete it.

Yammer

Don't forget to use Yammer. It is a great resource to use when you have questions or to share some successes. If you are not on Yammer, email Tom Viking or Michele Christy to get the directions to join.

FAEA has two upcoming opportunities for K-12 students. Submissions are now open for the Youth Art Month Flag Design Competition. The winning flag design will represent Florida and be displayed with other state winners during the NAEA Convention in March. The deadline to submit is January 14th, 2022.

Submissions are also open for the K-12 Student Art Assessment & Virtual Exhibition. This is Florida's premier program for assessing student artwork, as well as promoting the artistic achievements of these students and their teachers. The deadline to submit is March 13th, 2022.

We have an Elementary Visual Art Display and a Secondary Visual Art Display on our Fine Arts Website to show off the amazing artwork that our students were doing. We would love to continue to display your students artwork on this platform.

If you would like to have your students artwork on our district wide Padlet:

1. take photos of your best student artwork
2. email the photos to Michele Christy <mchristy@pasco.k12.fl.us>.
3. include the students first name and grade

We will put all the photos you send on our Padlet and rotate the best of the best onto the website page. You can send one photo at a time or multiple photos. What ever is easier for you.

We cannot wait to see all the amazing things your students are and will be creating! We would love to represent EVERY school on this Padlet.

Why did the bronze statue show up at the movie set?

It thought it was a part of the cast!

We are so happy to share that our new mindfulness program, Inner Explorer, has been added to your myPascoConnect dashboard! All you need to do is click on the app, and it will automatically sign you in using our district's single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. We encourage you to take some time to browse the resources available to you through the app including teacher guides, related videos and books, and parent letters you can send. Please reach out to Lesley Wilson lrwilson@pasco.k12.fl.us or Susanna Haberle shaberle@pasco.k12.fl.us with any questions.

Join us for the 12 Days of Tech-mas starting on Thursday, December 2nd. We will be featuring tips and tricks on how to navigate your Windows device. We will also have a drawing that you can enter at the end of each skit or screencast. Just fill out the form to be entered. We will have $25 gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, and Dunkin’. If you watch all 12 videos you will be entered in a grand prize to win $100 Visa card!

To view these, please log into myPascoConnect each day. You will see an announcement and instructions on what to do. Please check out this flyer for more information. We hope that these bring you joy and some tips for your new device!

Tom Viking - Fine Arts Program Coordinator

Michele Christy - Fine Arts Resource Teacher

Email: tviking@pasco.k12.fl.us
Website: pasco.k12.fl.us
Location: 7227 Land O' Lakes Boulevard, Land O Lakes, FL, USA
Phone: 813-794-2585