A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
This event is an initiative designed to recognize and restore arts education in the curriculum. The Celebration also includes a STAR Arts Education Showcase of local musical and theater performers along with interactive singing, hands-on arts workshops, and a poetry jam. The Arts Celebration will be highlighted by a Special Family Concert by Tom Chapin at 2 p.m. Chapin (pictured) is an entertainer, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and Grammy Award-winning musician.
Other performers and workshop participants include: Bossy Frog Band (music); Elise Krakower (storytelling); Lou Gallo (singing stories); Chiku Awali (African drumming and dance); Alice Leon (songwriter); Wendy Baker (theater arts); Lisa Karrer and David Simons (World Music and Homemade Instruments); Hudson Vagabond Puppets; Rose Marie Raccioppi and the STAC Laetare Players (theater and poetry); Amazing Grace Circus (student jugglers); the STAC Art Therapy Club, art and art education students; and Terry Moore and the STAC House Band.
This event is supported by a grant from First Niagara Foundation and is co-sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas College, Rockland Teachers’ Center Institute, Rockland Reading Council, and Save Our Schools.
This is one of many arts events across the country organized by Save Our Schools, a national organization to support whole child education that centers on advocacy to change current test-based curriculum and view public education as a civil right. The First Niagara Foundation awarded St. Thomas Aquinas College a $5,000 grant to support the “Enhancing and Enriching Literacy Across the Curriculum” series of events for students, teachers, and community members. The Celebration of the Arts is the first of three events in the series.
“This event will by a joyful day of interactive music, singing and hands-on workshops in theater and art for families and educators. This event is one of many arts celebrations across the country to send the message that education needs to teach the whole child rather than just prepare students for tests,” said Shaw. “The Campaign for Artful Resistance is the initiative of Save Our Schools, a national grass roots organization that is working to create a vision of schooling that centers on an end to high stakes testing and evaluation; equitable funding for all public schools; curriculum developed for and by local school communities; teacher, family and community leadership in forming public education policies; and professional, qualified, and committed teachers in all public schools,” added Shaw.
About First Niagara Foundation
First Niagara Foundation is a not for profit corporation founded in 1998. The Foundation is committed to supporting organizations in the communities in which we live and work with specific focus on youth and education, community development and neighborhood revitalization. In 2012 the Foundation contributed more than $10 million in charitable grants to community partners. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com/community.
About Save Our Schools
Save Our Schools is dedicated to public education as the cornerstone of a democratic society. They are committed to education policy and actions that allow students, teachers, families, and communities to work together to meet the needs of all children. For more information, visit http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/.
For more information about The Campaign for Artful Resistance, contact Dr. Shaw at 845-398-4079 or mshaw@stac.edu.
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 60 acres in Rockland County, NY which provides education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s 2,800 full and part time students can choose from more than 100 different majors, minors, specializations, and dual degree programs across three Schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, by Colleges of Distinction in both its New York and Catholic editions, by Affordable Colleges Online as a top College in New York for Return on Investment, and is included as a Military Friendly School®. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); and its School of Business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Danielle N. Kobryn, 845-398-4016, dkobryn@stac.edu
Contributing Writer: Dr. M. Shaw
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COME Be Part of the Happening!!
1 comment:
Sunday morning following ... Yes, indeed it was and is A Celebration of the Arts... ART- the very state of Aspiration ~ Revelation ~ Truth - ever present within our creative spirit of BEING. Rose Marie Raccioppi
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