Something new and exciting here at Grundy Center Elementary is the addition of a Virtual Artist in Residence program. This is a program that stemmed off of the award winning Pen Pal in Arts program that ran for eight years in the third grade classroom at Aplington Elementary.
The program involves students at Grundy Center Elementary creating a pen pal friendship with Broadway actor Hayley Podschun. Hayley is from Overland Park, Kansas and has been seen in multiple shows on Broadway including Hairspray, Chaplin, Pal Joey, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, and The Sound of Music (as an 11-year old!). She also originated the role of Freckleface Strawberry in the world premier off-Broadway show, Freckleface Strawberry based on the book by Julianne Moore (who is the current Children's Book Ambassador). In various cities across the country, Hayley has performed in shows such as Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Peter Pan. She currently lives on the island of Manhattan, NYC.
Throughout the year, the students will interact with Hayley via Skype and make connections between New York City and the fine arts and their grade level curriculum. Some examples might be connecting an art project with a children's literature book about NYC, learning to write a friendly letter and sending it to Hayley, getting performance tips for a class play from Hayley, learn a song from a Broadway musical, or creating a class book based on Hayley's current show.
The two most important outcomes of the Virtual Artist in Residence program are MAKING CONNECTIONS and CULTURAL DIVERSITY. Making connections means connecting what we learn in school and real life. Making connections between literacy, art, social studies, and writing is critical. It is the basic foundation of all good educational practices.
Living in rural Iowa can present many obstacles when it comes to introducing cultural diversity in order to prepare our youth for adult life. But, when some see obstacles, others see opportunities. Thanks to the incredible technology emphasis at Grundy Center Elementary, we have the ability to learn so much about the world, virtually. For other examples of previous arts projects, please visit HERE.
It is my belief that opening the eyes and minds of our youth to the fine arts will improve academic performance, enhance student creativity, prepare them for tomorrow's workplace, and foster the curiosity and love for learning which is and will always be timeless. So in short, why do we do it? Because we want them to remember.
We look forward to getting to know and learning from our Virtual Artist in Residence this year!
Mr. Sammons
The program involves students at Grundy Center Elementary creating a pen pal friendship with Broadway actor Hayley Podschun. Hayley is from Overland Park, Kansas and has been seen in multiple shows on Broadway including Hairspray, Chaplin, Pal Joey, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes, and The Sound of Music (as an 11-year old!). She also originated the role of Freckleface Strawberry in the world premier off-Broadway show, Freckleface Strawberry based on the book by Julianne Moore (who is the current Children's Book Ambassador). In various cities across the country, Hayley has performed in shows such as Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Peter Pan. She currently lives on the island of Manhattan, NYC.
Throughout the year, the students will interact with Hayley via Skype and make connections between New York City and the fine arts and their grade level curriculum. Some examples might be connecting an art project with a children's literature book about NYC, learning to write a friendly letter and sending it to Hayley, getting performance tips for a class play from Hayley, learn a song from a Broadway musical, or creating a class book based on Hayley's current show.
The two most important outcomes of the Virtual Artist in Residence program are MAKING CONNECTIONS and CULTURAL DIVERSITY. Making connections means connecting what we learn in school and real life. Making connections between literacy, art, social studies, and writing is critical. It is the basic foundation of all good educational practices.
Living in rural Iowa can present many obstacles when it comes to introducing cultural diversity in order to prepare our youth for adult life. But, when some see obstacles, others see opportunities. Thanks to the incredible technology emphasis at Grundy Center Elementary, we have the ability to learn so much about the world, virtually. For other examples of previous arts projects, please visit HERE.
It is my belief that opening the eyes and minds of our youth to the fine arts will improve academic performance, enhance student creativity, prepare them for tomorrow's workplace, and foster the curiosity and love for learning which is and will always be timeless. So in short, why do we do it? Because we want them to remember.
We look forward to getting to know and learning from our Virtual Artist in Residence this year!
Mr. Sammons
Virtual Artist in Residence Poster |