Bonnie (left) and student (right) "breathing" as part of the braindance(c). Photo by JP Dobrin

Thanks again to you (Annika) and Bonnie for such an inspiring workshop. That was what my students called it, “inspiring.”  You both have such a powerful way of communicating with the kids. I had the sense while I was standing there watching them that this was going to be one of those life-changing experiences they remember for years to come.

I’m just sad I have to wait until next year to do it with another class.”  3rd Grade Teacher

Bonnie & Annika teaching a creative dance class to students. Photo by JP Dobrin

ORONO, Maine — A delegation from Orono High School will board a plane Thursday bound for China’s Hunan Province with the goal of bringing approximately 20 students to the school next year.

The Meaning of Accreditation

Accreditation of public secondary schools by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges indicates that the educational institution has conducted a self-evaluation of all of its programs and hosted a visiting committee to evaluate the institution in terms of its own stated educational goals and the seven Standards for Accreditation of the Commission on Public Secondary Schools.

Orono High School began the process for re-accreditation in April of 2010. Students, parents and community members can follow the timeline leading to this week’s visit on the high school website. The full report is available.  A summary of primary strengths and needs and action steps and timeline at two-year and five-year intervals were generated by our self-study.

Watch video of the visit 

Exposition Information

Date: Saturday, March 3, 2012

Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Location: University of Maine, Orono – Field House

Over 1,500 children and adults are expected to experience first hand the many contributions that Maine Engineers make to our communities and way of life. Thanks to our sponsors, the first 500 kids through the door receive a free T-shirt celebrating Maine Engineers Week.

Maine’s top engineering firms, engineering schools, educators, government agencies, industry, and engineering societies will provide hand on activities and exhibits throughout the field house.  The fun, dynamic, and positive environment will help encourage our youth to pursue careers in engineering and provide a diverse and vigorous workforce for the future.

FMI

In a few weeks, during March Break, we invite youth ages 10 – 19 to join us in taking art beyond its canvas, and merging the worlds of visual art and literature. Sign up for our FREE Tell Me A Story workshop, by obtaining a ticket at the Mississauga Central Library. Details here. Tell Me A Story is inspired by The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, which challenges readers to use Chris Van Allsburg’s illustrations as the inspiration for story telling. In the book, established authors like Stephen King took up the challenge. For our workshop, we pass the challenge on to you — what stories can you create from the art in the AGM’s Permanent Collection?

Adults — we’d love to invite you to participate as well! While the workshop is specifically geared towards youth, we invite everyone, of all ages, to participate in Art Story, the online component of our Art-Inspired Creative Writing Workshop!

How it works:

Every Thursday leading up to the workshop proper on March 12th, the AGM will be posting an image from its Permanent Collection on Twitter and Facebook. Follow the AGM on Twitter and keep an eye out for the Twitter hashtag #ArtStory. Or, you can like us on Facebook, and keep an eye on the Art Story photo album on the AGM’s Facebook Page.

We invite you to create your own story for these art images. We challenge you to create a tweet-story in under 120 characters — don’t forget to include the hashtag! Or, if you want to create a longer story, comment on the photo in the Facebook album.

Do you want to participate, but are on neither Twitter nor Facebook? Easy — just email the AGM your story at jaclyn.qua-hiansen@mississauga.ca, and we may include it in a future blog post!

We look forward to see the Art Stories you can create!

How to Register and Get Involved

Teachers, parents and youth — interested in signing up for the March Break workshop, or in having your students or children sign up? Contact the Mississauga Central Library at 905 615 3500 or library.info@mississauga.ca for information on obtaining tickets for March Break programming.

If you know others who might be interested in this workshop – please share the link to this post, or contact the AGM at 905 896 5088 or jaclyn.qua-hiansen@mississauga.ca.  Thank You!

Breanna Palermo, Ballet San Jose School Registrar

AS SCHOOL REGISTRAR of Ballet San Jose School, one of my favorite parts of the job is our Friday Outreach Program. We reach out to local schools and provide a complimentary tour of our building at 40 North First Street, which itself is a really neat building. The first time I came in to work, I felt like I was back in New York, taking a class in a studio building. The kids always get a kick out of the many stairs and passageways, and they really love finding out what many of our rooms used to be before they were dance studios.

After taking them around, we show them the Costume Shop, which is a highlight for many of the kids. (When Ms. Sue asks them what they think is in the tip of a pointe shoe to make it so hard, someone always guesses “rocks!”) After that, they get to watch the end of a company class, which is an extremely special treat! The kids can’t help but “oooh” and “ahhh” as our dancers fly through the air just feet in front of them. Then, they get to take a class with Mr. Eriksen, who is on the faculty here at Ballet San Jose School and is famous amongst the BSJS kids for his Pirates of the Caribbean and Angry Birds ballets. Though some of the kids may have hesitation at first about taking ballet, they always leave Mr. Eriksen’s class with happy and eager faces.

Today’s tour was from Trace Elementary, so it was a special day for me as I am a graduate of Trace! While much of the school has changed since I was there (a fire destroyed the building I learned in), there is so much that is still the same. They are still the Trace Tigers and still have a huge focus in the performing arts. When I was in elementary there, I participated in Drama, Dance and Orchestra, which are still programs at Trace today. I told the students about the time I was in the musical Annie at Trace and I played Annie’s dog Sandy (I even barked along when Annie sang “Tomorrow”), and they happily told me about the shows they were putting on. The kids in this group were so eager to learn everything about our school, and it was absolutely fantastic to share with them.

The best part of the tour is the very end, where Mr. Eriksen and I get to tell the children that because they came to the tour today, they get a whole free semester of classes in our First Step Program, as well as a free uniform. Without fail, every time we announce it, their faces light up and they cheer. Today’s announcement was no different. I can’t wait to see some of these Trace faces in my school!

–Breanna

Some drawings from the BTYS using the CTVR stickers!

The challenge this year was to make a network  by combining drawing and CTVR homemade stickers – stickers of different size basestations (pico/macro/micro) and stickers of applications and things.

I think there is a business in this somewhere. But am not sure where.

Perhaps this can be a new form of network planning tool.

The kids were fantastic. They quickly got the idea of cells and basestations and black holes where the coverage was not quite right. We took loads of pictures of the many creations and I will post when I have them.

In thinking about this I have decided there is a need for ZEPTO CELLS. I chose the name from a set of power prefixes that are smaller than femto.  I wrote the phrase on a piece of paper on my wall so I would keep the idea in mind. If we want to deliver the kinds of capacities that are needed in the future perhaps we need to go even smaller. When you think of it we have moved from a centralised system in which woman operated the telephone exchange and put through calls to ones in which we are our own operator. We may be soon our own basestation.

Each eBook introduces the different culinary regions and presents many kinds of recipes for traditional dishes.

Each book is part of the electronic cookbook reading list  of Sagebrush on the library “Let’s Read” page. In addition to recipes each title lists essential ingredients and kitchen equipment and utensils.

The restrictions are that these books can only be read on school computers since the service is specific to our “addresses.”

Singapore, 11 January 2012 – Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand are working together on a pioneering project to tag and track giant freshwater stingrays in the wild. The two organisations sealed the partnership with a Programme Agreement signing ceremony at Singapore Zoo this afternoon.

This project, the first of its kind in the world, will involve tagging six wild specimens from the Mae Klong River in Amphawa, Thailand using “Pop-up Archival Transmitting Tags”*.

Chulalongkorn University will provide the expertise for the field research, while WRS will handle all financial aspects, including purchasing the tagging devices.

Giant freshwater stingrays have attracted global interest due to their enormous size. However, little is known of their physiology, behaviour and migration processes. This species has not been bred in captivity and is threatened by fisheries and habitat loss.

The results from this monitoring programme will provide valuable data of field survey and tracking in a natural environment. These data could be used to recreate an environment conducive for breeding the animals, reducing the need for wild-caught specimens. Additionally, this study may shed light on how they affect the riverine ecosystems and more importantly, if their decline is an indication of the deteriorating health of the whole ecosystem.

Both organisations will also use the opportunity to raise conservation awareness for this species through educational outreach programmes among the local population in Amphawa district, Thailand, where the study will be conducted and through WRS parks’ educational programmes. This will be the first official learning and cooperation platform between Thailand and Singapore.

Ms Isabella Loh, WRS Group CEO said, “This is a significant partnership with Chulalongkorn University to help conserve the giant freshwater stingrays of Southeast Asia, and the aquatic ecosystem they thrive in. Little is known of these enormous creatures and the vital role they play in the riverine ecosystem. This is one of the major interests in our conservation education drive for the upcoming River Safari.”

Dr Sonja Luz, Deputy Director, Conservation and Research and Learning Centre, continued, “Giant freshwater stingrays are still being harvested for food by some local fishermen but we do not know their growth rates, how often they reproduce, their impact on the aquatic ecosystem and if the fishermen’s practice is sustainable. This project will elucidate the need for further scientific studies and species census; helping us to understand and manage them better. This study may also shed light on the possibility of a viable managed breeding programme for this species at our aquatic facility in River Safari.”

Prof Dr Mongkol Techakumphu, Dean of faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University added, “This is an excellent opportunity for us to be a part of a momentous study. We hope that the data acquired may even form the backbone for provincial and governmental regulatory controls, encouraging the conservation of the giant freshwater stingray.”

Visitors to River Safari, WRS’ freshwater-themed attraction, will be able to discover these mystifying creatures for themselves when the park opens later this year.

* NOTE: Pop-up Archival Transmitting Tag is a combination of archival and satellite technology designed to track the large-scale movements and behaviour of fish and other animals which do not spend enough time at the surface to allow the use of real-time satellite tags.

Each giant freshwater stingray caught is also carefully measured from tip to tip. This species can reach an impressive 3m in disc diameter and over 6m in total length, and weigh up to 600kg.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore has three of these specimens in its collection. They will be displayed in River Safari, the upcoming freshwater-themed attraction, later this year.

Dr Nantarika Chansue of the Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Centre of Chulalongkorn University draws blood from the tail of a wild giant freshwater stingray in the Mae Klong River, Thailand.

Role on the NGPM team: help to conceptualize the overall project, with particular focus on the online teacher’s guide educational content and offline student materials

My favorite thing about preschool is… The kids are adorable, wide open, honest, and smart as a whip

If I had to explain subitizing to a four-year old, I would say… how many here, QUICK!

 Any other comments? I’m excited to be involved with this innovative educational tech project. Will learn a lot about integrating tech into preschool and develop new skills for the future

Name: Elly Schottman

Role on the NGPM team: To suggest off-line classroom activities (playground games, snack time and learning center activities, read-aloud books, etc. that support the math learning goals of the tablet games (subitizing and equipartionining). To create manuscript for the online TG, giving teachers the information and tools they need to use the online and offline activities we provide, to help kids get the most out of these resources, and to monitor the kids’ understanding and progress. And in general, to brainstorm and collaborate with the rest of the NGPM team.

My favorite thing about preschool is… There is good stuff to play with people who are interested in playing with you.

If I had to explain subitizing to a four-year old, I would say… It’s a big word that mean “Look quick and tell me how many things you see!” For example, when I hold up my fingers like this, how many fingers do you see?

 In addition to Next Generation Math, NGPM also stands for… Nearly Global Psychic Meltdown? No Good Parents mantra? No Growth Population Movement?

Name: Mary Haggerty

Role on the NGPM team: As the Manager for Educational Outreach, I selected our Massachusetts pilot sites in Lawrence and Worcester, and am responsible for maintaining communication with center directors, teacher trainers, and classroom teachers. I would also say that a second role for me on NGPM is that of student. This initiative is a real learning experience for me in terms of math concepts, and how digital media can accelerate children’s learning.

My favorite thing about preschool is… children’s positivity. They are so eager to learn and explore.

 
If I had to explain subitizing to a four-year old, I would say…

“Subitizing” was a new term for me, and the way it was explained to me was quite simple: it’s the ability to quickly look at a group of objects and know how many objects make up that group. So, I would explain it to a four-year-old in similar simple terms. I’d probably demonstrate subitizing with a four-year-old as a way to explain the term.

 
 In addition to Next Generation Math, NGPM also stands for…

Couldn’t think of anything clever, so I decided to do a Google search of “NGPM” to see how other groups are using the acronym. The search came up with 99,900 results in  0.43 seconds. One result: “Nested Grid Particle Mesh,” which I’m told is a cosmology algorithm used to study gravitational instability, sounds interesting.

Former Company dancer and current BH2 Rehearsal Director (and 2nd floor office cutie) Nicholas Villeneuve has been with Ballet Hispanico long enough to have witnessed many of the organization’s milestones. He has also experienced a year of many personal changes. And so as we near the end of 2011, who better than him to say a few words about this year of transitions? And might we add how lucky we feel to have him with us in the External Affairs and E&O office!

It’s hard to believe that 2011 is drawing to an end, a year which saw numerous significant accomplishments being made at Ballet Hispanico.

A very famous song quotes “what a difference a day makes.” Well, let’s take it further and say “what a difference a year makes!”
Trial, turmoil and pensiveness always seem to arise when we are on the cusp of greatness. Not only have we finally begun to see the amazing growth of the Company via our new artistic leader, Eduardo Vilaro, but the School has grown by leaps and bounds in it’s tutelage and the Education & Outreach department now houses the official second company of Ballet Hispanico, BH2.

As a former Company member I have witnessed the institution go through a myriad of changes, inventing and reinventing itself on the wheel. We have always had a strong voice in the community and a plethora of riches in the Latino diaspora to infuse into and onto anyone that comes into contact with us. Finally the vision is at its clearest and we continue to climb, waving our banner proudly and valiantly in the winds of education, preservation and artistry.

Having been given the opportunity to run and direct the second company, education and creativity have always been strong passions of mine. To be able to mold emerging artists–teaching them tricks of the trade, giving them survival tools that I have gathered along my journey, and refining their technical abilities–has left me overjoyed, satiated and with a huge sense of accomplishment.

More often than not we doubt ourselves and question our capability and integrity when put to the test. However, the more we choose to run from the challenge the more it seeks you out. I feel I have been molded and mentored by three people that have made me capable of stepping into these shoes and without hesitation start this upward climb to develop a new, vibrant and valuable sector of Ballet Hispanico. Linda Kent, Eduardo Vilaro and Tina Ramirez have taught me the values of this art form and equipped me with the armor to pass on not only the gift of dance, but of what it is to breath and give life to something that you believe in. BH2 may be only an embryo, but the outreach and audiences that we have achieved in our short sojourn is unbelievable and it proves that if there is a will, there’s a way.

I have reveled in watching these 10 aspiring dancers figure out their passion and sell themselves to this art completely and unselfishly. And this program is certainly the way to reach demographics that the first company cannot penetrate, and help maintain our organizational mission of fostering education in the arts.

I feel very blessed to be in my seventh year with this organization, and to have been able to wear so many hats and be so many things on so many occasions. I have sold my soul to dance and in so doing to this institution. I will be forever grateful for the love, generosity and lessons that I gain daily and I feverishly anticipate the next growth spurt in 2012.

As I shared with Eduardo recently about his new work Asuka, it reminds me of immigration mixed with a sense of infectiousness. We as a people of many diverse races arrive with so much to offer, wondering if we will ever “get in,” be accepted or make it. Yet, because of the gift, we take a chance and before we know it we are infected with influences wherever we lay our roots and grow. The movement is infectious, the music is infectious, we Ballet Hispanico are infectious wherever we go and for that we will prevail.  This work marks that new period and our time to reap the benefits of well-laid plans.

Let us continue to dream and make this home the best it has ever been!!!

Nicholas Villeneuve and the BH2 dancers

Nutcracker In the Classroom

By Brook Manning, OBT Teaching Artist

We are delighted to welcome Teaching Artist Brook Manning to the OBT blog!  Read on to hear all about how she and the rest of our Education & Outreach staff are sharing the holiday wonder with youth in the community.

In classrooms around Portland, over 800 lucky students are experiencing holiday magic courtesy of Oregon Ballet Theatre’s ambitious Education and Outreach programs.  OBT’s teaching artists are currently dancing their way through 39 classrooms this season, introducing George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to children at Irvington Elementary School and in the Albina Head Start program.  OBT donated 500 Nutcracker tickets to Albina Head Start children and their families in support of our shared mission to enrich the lives of families at risk.

Into the busy morning bustle of the classrooms goes teaching artist Robyn Ulibarri, carrying with her some of the trappings of OBT’s production of The Nutcracker.  She warms-up this morning’s pre-K class to the lively sounds from the party scene and the children are encouraged to discover that they are performing basic ballet steps.

With book in hand and all the children now gathered around, Robyn tells the festive tale of The Nutcracker.  A Nutcracker doll is inspected, pointe shoes are examined and a now retired, but still sparkly, snowflake costume brings “ooh’s” and “aah’s” from the crowd of curious students.  All are eager to touch the props and imagine what it would be like to perform in the ballet themselves.

Imaginations soar during the famous battle scene between the skittering Mouse King’s army and the Nutcracker’s regiment of soldiers.  The students-turned-dancers lunge, turn, jump and gallop for a common purpose:  to defeat the dreaded Mouse King.  Asked what it would feel like to encounter a larger-than-life sized Mouse King, the class rallies together and proclaims, “We wouldn’t be afraid.  We’d fight it.  And we’d win!”

To Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music from the snow scene students create their own individual snowflake shapes.  Invention and excitement marks their movement ideas as one student, with limbs outstretched, calls out, “Look at my shape.  This is my own shape!”

Next it’s off to the “Land of the Sweets”, where each child performs their own soaring leap across the classroom.  With each jump and beaming face it is clear that the children have discovered that they can revel in their physicality as they tell their own story, without words.

Thanks to OBT’s Education and Outreach teaching artists the joy, wonder and magic of The Nutcracker is alive in our schools.

ABOUT BROOK MANNING:

Brook holds a Master’s Degree in Performance Studies from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has taught ballet at the University of Hawaii, Bates College and Portland Community College.  She is particularly interested in dance history, criticism and ethnography and has traveled around the world twice studying culture and performance through the Semester at Sea program.  She and her husband are the proud parents of two fantastic kids.

A marketing plan is important for everyone, but we know that the biggest problem for small business is a limited number of zeros to their marketing budget. Marketing materials may be expensive, and a single, carefully the piece has the capacity to absorb the entire budget. As the campaign of billions of dollars, it is not every day, how can you be sure to make the most of and have the success of the United States, you work in?

The answer is to limit yourself to just the basics for your individual business and make them well. Your marketing plan should determine what marketing documents, you need to insert in the list. Here are three key areas to attract and retain your customer base.

· Know your target market-sure you have a deep understanding of your customer. How communicate you is often as important as what you please.

· Note the value – keep an eye on during the development process and to make strategic choices of graphics that are profitable.

· Testing in small lots-is not certain that a Announces does the trick, why not test this out in a offers of limited duration.

Environmentally responsible is in the spirit of each of our days, including your customers. Always question if a specific element of marketing can be produced in electronic format. Consider the Elimination of the bags in exchange for fabric ones you logo, print double-sided, send electronic newsletters, use the website to communicate and use recycled paper when you can.

Create a list of desired marketing materials and ignore costs, or any restriction. In addition to the list, specify whether you want really, like, not don’t need, or an electronic element. When you have finished, rewrite your list in order of precedence. This will keep you focused on the bases of the creation of your marketing material that sells.

http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=991349833&gid=161484&type=member&item=85662269&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketingplaninfo.com%2Fcrucial-elements-when-creating-your-marketing-plan.php&urlhash=EzAo&goback=.gde_161484_member_85662269

On Wednesday, October 5th, BH2 performed at the Portledge School in Locust Valley. Principal Alan Cohen invited Ballet Hispanico as the featured assembly for Hispanic Heritage month. Our E&O team (Nicholas, Franchesca, AnaMaria and Josh) were on site to ensure the experience was engaging, well-presented and fun. In a gym packed with students and parents, the Portledge School was transported on a journey through Cuba, Brazil and Mexico. The kids were particularly blown away; click on the pics below to see their adorable handwritten messages to the dancers!

ORONO — Orono High School principal Jim Chasse announced that four students have earned a place among the nation’s top high school scholars, thanks to their performance in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Seniors Alex Bulteel and Laurie Hamilton were named semifinalists, and Audrey Landis and Jiawei Zou earned Letters of Commendation in this highly competitive measure of academic talent and achievement.

Some 1.5 million students in 22,000 high schools entered the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test during their junior year. Less than 1 percent achieve the rank of semifinalist, while commended students place among the top 5 percent nationwide. Semifinalists must fulfill further requirements to qualify as finalists for one of 8,300 National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $34 million.

In addition to outstanding academic performance and superb scores on national tests, semifinalists must earn recommendations from school administrators and show an established record of leadership and community service. Merit Scholars are selected from the pool of finalists based on skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Amelia Muller, admissions and financial aid officer, as part of a panel discussing Harvard experiences.

Details of her presentation October 26th.

James & The Giant Peach - SummerStage 2010

Stone Soup Theatre in Arts Education

by Arlene Martinez-Vickers, Education Director

As the districts keep reducing budgets, affecting Arts Education in schools, more and more schools are turning to teaching artists to provide their children with the arts education that will develop their creativity, problem-solving skills, critical thinking and appreciation for arts in general.

     Not by coincidence, our outreach programs have almost doubled in the past 12 months. Last year, Stone Soup Theatre worked with approximately 12-15 schools, running programs in 7-9 of them any given quarter. Currently, we are scheduled to run programs in 15 schools this fall, with another 5-7 schools who have expressed interest in having our programs later this year!

     Stone Soup has built a reputation for its education programs over the last decade and is embracing this higher demand for Arts Education by providing ongoing professional development to its teachers, ensuring we only send the highest qualified teaching artists to our schools.

Click HERE for more information about our outreach programs, and feel free to contact Arlene at education@stonesouptheatre.org or by phoning 206.633.1883.