WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS - U S D 2 5 9 Fine Arts Department 201 N WATER WICHITA, KS 67202 ( 3 1 6 ) 9 7 3 - 4440 Newsletter F I N E A R T S APRIL, 2017 STAFF

Shawn Chastain- Executive Coordinator From the Executive Coordinator [email protected]

Janelle Bell- Fine Arts Everyone is invited to the WPS K-12 Administrative Assistant Student Art Exhibit closing reception [email protected] this Friday, April 28th from 5 to Eric Crawford- 6:30pm in the Century II Concert Hall Inst. Music Curriculum Coach, Strings Foyer. Refreshments will be served [email protected] and music is provided by the Christa

Martha Gates- McAuliffe Academy Serenading Drama Curriculum Strings. Please join us! Coach [email protected]

Bethany Janssen- Visual Arts Curriculum Coach [email protected]

Holly Taylor Vocal Music Curriculum Coach [email protected]

Holly Wilson- Afterschool A.R.T.S. A.R.T.S Afterschool Program Celebrates Family Night Grant Manager [email protected] On Thursday, April 13th, afterschool Guests were treated to a hot dog dinner Maranda Wilson- families from our 10 A.R.T.S. sites cele- (prepared by the Wichita Wagon Masters) Instrumental Music brated Family Night at Botanica from 5:30 and enjoyed a night of family time with Curriculum Coach, Band to 7:30pm. Over 650 students and parents scavenger hunts and activities in the Chil- [email protected] were in attendance. dren’s Barn. Afterschool students also had

Website: their “Butterflies of Terezin” arts-in- www.usd259.org/finearts history projects on display in the Terrace Room.

P A G E 2

4th District Scholastics Art Awards Congressional Art This year USD 259 Thespian troupes will be th Competition attending Sunday, Marchthe annual 6 , wasKansas the closingThespian reception Confer- for Grace Haffley, NE Magnet, Jonathan O’Brien, encethe Eastern on January 20- 22Scholastics hosted at Artthe AwardsWichita at NE Magnet MarkARTS. Many cash prizes and scholarships Congratulations to Southeast Hyatt Regency and Century II. The theme for (worth thiswere year given is “Thespians: to deserving Gone students Wild” from (Jungle the Wichi- High School student Susan approximately $1686 each) Theme).ta Public Students Schools. attending In April, the the conference national award will Lam for winning the People’s havewinners the opportunitywere announced. to attend Students several from workshops WPS Sarah Clem, NE Magnet, Jenna Randolph, North- Choice Award at this year’s ofreceived their choice, five national ranging silver anywhere and gold from medals stage and west, Jose Rodriguez, Northwest Congressional Art Show and combatare eligible to mastering to attend the the cold awards read. ceremony There are in New York City at Carnegie Hall. A slideshow of (worth Competition held at City Arts! workshops offered for both the performance and approximately $3728 each) technicalthe work sidecan beof theatre.viewed onStudents the WPS can visual participate arts inpage Individual on the fine Events arts and website. seniors Congratulations can audition for to Amy, Bani-Younes NE Magnet, Faith Burgar, Friends Art Challenge the following Scholastics winners and their teach- East, Sarah Clem, NE Magnet, Grace Haffley, NE ers! On March 6, 2017, Friends Magnet, Jackson Laurie, East, Jonathan, O'Brien, University hosted its annual NATIONAL AWARDS NE Magnet Art Challenge. Details on page Gold Medals (worth approximately 4. $43,684 each) Yasmin Nur-East, Morgan Taylor-Northwest Analee Barlow, NE Magnet, Faith Burgar, East, Silver Medals Sarah Clem, NE Magnet,Trae Couey, East, Riley Fowler, NE Magnet, Grace Haffley, NE Magnet, Andrew Waldrip-East , Alicia Thurston- Ralph Miranda, West, Claire Rierson, East, Jose Northwest Rodriguez, Northwest Camryn McReynolds-Northwest McPHERSON COLLEGE (worth approximately CASH PRIZES $73,000 each)

Eighth Grade Art Wichita Arts Council-$100 Amy Bani-Younes, NE Magnet, Scarlet Mitchell, Southeast, Annie Sauer, Northwest students at Allison Amy Bani-Younes-NE Magnet, Scarlet Mitchell- Traditional Magnet Southeast, Samantha Kyle Summers-Northwest STERLING COLLEGE (worth approximately Middle School $43,076 each) worked together to Linda Metsker-$50 Lauren Anglemyer, Northwest, Sarah Clem, NE create a stunning set Alicia Thurston-Northwest Magnet, Amira Kamalulrahim, East, Nicole of 6 large-scale paint- Mark Arts: One Class Tuition Free McGilvary, Hamilton Middle, Margaret Stewart, ings for their school West, Kaitlyn Verdecchia, Northwest cafeteria. A class of Ruby Ochoa-Mayberry Middle School 24 students worked (worth ap- SCHOLARSHIPS together in small proximately $18,000 each) groups to produce (worth approximately Amy Bani-Younes, NE Magnet these Pop Art- $34,631 each) inspired acrylic paint- ings. The food paint- ings will soon be installed and permanently displayed on the wall inside the Linking K-5 Art with Technology school lunchroom. Last year, art and music teachers at Harry where district teachers learned how to use Street Elementary used a grant to purchase Makey Makeys in their K-5 art rooms. A “Makey Makeys” for use in their class- loanable set of the boards has rooms. Makey Makeys are easy-to-use been purchased by fine arts circuit boards that can be linked to laptops and can be checked out for to create sound. The students made playa- classroom use. ble art guitars using foil for the frets. This inspired the elementary art PD in March

FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT 2017 Area and All-City Concerts P A G E 3

January and February were full months The All-City Honor Orchestra Concert The Middle School with Area Choir and All City rehearsals featured three orchestras. Dr. Mark Solo and Ensemble and performances. The four Area Choirs Laycock, Director of Orchestras at Wich- Festival was of 4th and 5th grade students involved 550 ita State University, directed the high Saturday, March 4, students in the January 24th concerts at school honor orchestra. The 8th grade at West High Stucky/ Pleasant Valley/Curtis/Hamilton honor orchestra was conducted by School. The event Middle Schools. Frances Oare, Coleman Middle School helps build confidence with this Director of Orchestras. Laura Hutchins, The 3 annual All-City Honor Concerts, age group as they Robinson Middle School Director of Or- sponsored by Friends University, were th go on to participate held in the Century II Concert Hall. The chestras, conducted the 7 grade honor in High School first concert featured the district’s All-City orchestra. Music. The third and final concert featured the Honor Bands. Four bands performed this Additional spring th th AC Honor Choirs. Dr. Brian Winnie, year, including the 11 and 12 grade music assessments Director of Choral Activities & Voice at band under the direction of Dr. John included Middle Taylor, Professor of Music and Director Southwestern College, directed the high and High School of Bands at Friends University, and the 9th school honor choir. Mark Walker, Band, Orchestra and 10th grade band under the direction of Director of Choirs at Wichita Heights and Choir Festivals Maranda Wilson, Director of Instrumen- High School, directed the middle school as well as this tal Music at Wichita High School East and honor choir and Holly Taylor, District week’s Elementary Vocal Music Curriculum Coach, directed Choir Festival (4- District Band Curriculum Coach. Alyssa th 27) at Stucky MS. Lada, Director of Bands at the 5 grade honor choir. All of these concerts offer students a rare opportunity These assessments Curtis Middle School, give students an conducted the 8th grade to perform with other district musicians under opportunity to honor band and James perform for the direction of distin- Hollingsworth, Stucky adjudicators, Middle School Director guished guest conduc- receive written of Instrumental Music, tors and some of our feedback and listen conducted the 7th grade most outstanding local to other music honor band. teachers. groups within the WPS District. Music teachers spend many hours Jazz In the Round during and outside of the regular school day preparing their This year’s Jazz in the Round was held on Tuesday, April 18th in the Northwest High students for these School commons area. Jazz bands from each of the district’s comprehensive high schools event. set up around the audience and take turns performing in a showcase concert. The audi- Thanks to all for ence turns their chairs to watch each band perform. This event is a long-standing tradition their support WPS that showcases the excellent musicianship of Wichita’s high school jazz bands. District Music Assessments and to our host sites: All—City Marching Band West HS South HS This year marks the 5th year of the WPS All-City Marching Band performing in the River Heights HS Festival Sundown parade. Students from 8 Wichita High Schools volunteer their time to rehearse North HS 2 weeks after school is out in order to perform in the parade on June 2nd. Students who partici- East HS pate are given a free t-shirt and Riverfest button. This year’s directors are Joanna Freed from NE Magnet HS West High School, Ashten Anderson of Coleman Middle School, and Kaylie Wilson from Allison MS Horace Mann K-8 Magnet. Stucky MS Friends University Art Challenge Thank you Education Edge for On March 6, 2017, Friends University hosted its product design, digital illustration, photography, granting over $17K annual Art Challenge. Although the challenge is and many others! designed to be a showcase for Friend’s fine arts pro- to WPS Fine Arts gram, it serves as much more for the hundreds of area Northeast Magnet Students received the most over- for the purchase of students who attend. This year, WPS had a number of all points at the competition. beginning band students who showed their work, and won awards both and string for the juried competition and in head to head competitions. instruments, visual arts equipment, During the event, Friends University offers hands on Challenges such as chalk murals, ceramics projects, wireless and drawing challenges for area students to compete microphones and head to head in timed sessions that are reminiscent of belt packs. We are a track or meet in their scoring. The very fortunate to competitions are a good way to show how our talented have this support artists think on their feet, and how they are able to solve problems through creativity and craftsmanship. in our district! For Honed skills and good ideas are rewarded. additional Simultaneous to the hands on events, is the annual information, juried art show which pits student artists against one please visit http:// another in a variety of fine arts categories. These cate- edge.usd259.org gories include drawing, painting, mixed media, hand built and wheel thrown ceramics, sculpture, fibers,

Join in celebrating the retirement of our friend and colleague, Holly Taylor!

Best wishes to our Vocal Music Curriculum Coach, Holly Taylor, on her upcoming retirement. Holly began her teaching career in Ohio in 1979 in choral and elementary music, moving to Wichita with her family in 1989, where she continued teaching elementary music at Friends Elementary School and Emerson Open Magnet Elementary School. Holly’s choirs from Emerson performed several times at the KMEA convention. Along with her current role as WPS Vocal Music Specialist these past 5 years, Holly is also an Adjunct Professor at Friends University for Elementary Music Methods and is Supervisor of Student Field Experience. As a retirement gift, her family is taking her to Ireland for 2 weeks in July. Her future plans include lots of volunteer work and going out for coffee with her friends. She also will be taking on added responsibilities in the Music De- partment at Friends University. Congratulations, Holly!