District 11 Educational Support Services
Fine Arts


Welcome
"As a Curriculum Coordinator, I am proud of the talents and skills of our students and teachers.
District 11 students excel in local and state competitions in visual and performing arts. We know that a strong fine arts curriculum helps students to succeed academically while providing each student
with an outlet for developing his or her own unique talents and gifts. We welcome you to come see, hear, and experience the visual and performing arts events in District 11. You will be impressed."
~ Tom Fleecs,  Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator   fleecta@d11.org    
 In Search of a Balanced Education - A White Paper



Student Artwork

How well could you draw your profile? These examples were drawn by students from Jenkins Middle School. Each student did a pre-instruction drawing to compare with their post instruction product. Finally, they had their photo taken by their teacher, Kim Yonkers, to compare their drawings with their actual photos. Nice job, Jenkins students!

Is being able to draw yourself a valuable 21st century skill? Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future argues it definitely is.
“The arts contribute to the creative, collaborative and critical thinking skills necessary for a global workforce. the arts are inherently valuable as core disciplines themselves, and are a valuable and useful component of effective instruction in other core disciplines.”
~ Colorado State Board of Education


High School Musicals
Coronado High School
Doherty High School
Mitchell High School
Palmer High School
Wasson High School

Art is a nation's most
precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves, and to others, the inner vision which guides us as a Nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish."
~ Lyndon B. Johnson

 "Art and the encouragement of art is political in the most profound sense, not as a weapon in the struggle,
but as an instrument of understanding...I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or politics, but for our contribution to the
human spirit..." 
 John F. Kennedy

"It's time the contributions of the fine arts to science and technology are recognized and used.  The fine arts are specifically useful, not merely sources of values and modes of expression.  Experiments alone cannot produce conceptual breakthroughs....One must first be able to imagine that which is to be tested and how to test it."              
Robert Root-Bernstein, Biochemist

Art is that which the hand, heart and head
work together.     Anonymous

News

Poll Links Music Education to Advanced Studies and Higher Incomes
This week, the National Association for Music Education (MENC) held an event to release poll results that show a positive association between music and lifelong educational attainment and higher income. According to the report, nine in ten people (88 percent) with post graduate degrees participated in music education. Dr. John Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC stated, "Research confirms that music education at an early age greatly increases the likelihood that a child will grow up to seek higher education and ultimately earn a higher salary. The sad irony is that ‘No Child Left Behind’ is intended to better prepare our children for the real world, yet it’s leaving music behind despite its proven benefits.  While music clearly corresponds to higher performing students and adults, student access to music education had dropped about 20 percent in recent years, thanks in large part to the constraints of the No Child Left Behind Act."  Musician and music education activist Steven Van Zandt was also in attendance at the event and added, "Obviously, music is a big part of my life and I’ve had remarkable experiences as part of the music industry. That is why I am now combining my life's work and my passion for music education. The survey and other studies like it document the fact that you don’t have to be a rock star to benefit from music education.”   To view the results of the poll visit: http://www.menc.org/unlinked/harrispoll.html

ASCD Whole Child Report

What We Believe

We believe “The arts contribute to the creative, collaborative and critical thinking skills necessary for a global workforce. We also acknowledge that “the arts are inherently valuable as core disciplines themselves, and are a valuable and useful component of effective instruction in other core disciplines.”
~ Colorado State Board of Education Resolution Concerning Arts Education 2005

Standards-Based Instruction

Our district teachers and instructional leaders have worked diligently designing and implementing an aligned curriculum that prepares our students with the knowledge and skills that meet and/or exceed State and National Standards. It is our goal to “ensure equal opportunity and access to the study of and participation in the arts as part of a core curriculum within the school day” for all of our students.
(Items in italics are extracted from the Colorado State Board of Education resolution concerning arts education, http://www.camci.net/CSBE_arts_resolution.pdf )

 

Curriculum

An overview of the suggested curriculum for each quarter within each grade level is listed below.

K-12 Fine Arts Curriculum

 Kindergarten

 Music Art

 Grade 1

 Music Art

 Grade 2

 Music Art

Grade 3

 Music Art

 Grade 4

 Music Art

Grade 5

 Music Art
Middle School Music Course Descriptions Art Course Descriptions
High School  Music Course Descriptions Art Course Descriptions

Honors Credit - District 11 provides opportunities for students to earn Honors Credits in the visual arts. Students who enroll in identified upper level high school art courses can choose from a variety of projects and experiences to expand and add rigor to their learning. The honors courses are identified with an “H”.

District 11 provides opportunities for students to earn Honors Credits in music. Students who enroll in identified upper level high school music courses can choose from a variety of projects and experiences to expand and add rigor to their learning. The honors courses are identified with an “H”.

Assessment

Visual Arts - District 11 focuses on authentic performance assessments for its visual arts experiences. Teachers have designed a rubric that is used to guide the assessing of student art at the district and regional levels. Other formative critiquing assessments are used at the individual, classroom and school level. Participation in juried art shows is encouraged to honor and recognize exemplar student work. Teachers are provided in-service training in the form of a “Gallery Walk-Through” to deepen their understanding of the assessment process and inform their future instruction. The current district and regional level art shows coordinated by the Fine Arts department include:

Music - District 11 focuses on authentic performance assessments for its music experiences. Teachers use scoring rubrics designed by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) that are found in the CHSAA Music Handbook. Students across the district participate in individual and small ensemble (two to sixteen students) assessments at the CHSAA Solo and Ensemble festivals and large group assessments (sixteen or more students) are provided at the CHSAA Large Group festivals. Teachers are encouraged to utilize similar formative scoring rubric assessments to give students feedback on their solo and ensemble experiences and to inform their own delivery of instruction.

Parent Resources

Music
Parent's Music Room                                   
Why Music Education? 
 Songs for Teaching		 Visual Arts
Arts Activities to do at Home                        
Visual Arts Activities                 
Why Art Education?		 Arts Magnet Schools
 Bristol Elementary School
 Russell Middle School
 Wasson High School
Teacher Resources
 Music

Visual Arts

General ARTS Resources

Music Memos and Agendas Art Memos and Agendas
  • Fall All-District Music Meeting - Fine Arts Center on August 15, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. Agenda
  • High School Music Meeting -  TBD
  • Middle School Music Meeting - TBD
    Agenda
  • Elementary General Music Meeting - TBD
  • Elementary Band and Orchestra Meeting on September 19, 2008 from 9:00 to 12:00 p.m. Agenda
  • A certificate of attendance will be provided for licensure re-certification.
  • Fall All-District Art Meeting - Fine Arts Center on September 16, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. Agenda
  • High School Curriculum Meeting -October 2, 2008, 3:30 p.m., Palmer High School Art Room - Agenda
  • Middle School Curriculum Meeting - September 30, 2008, 4:15 p.m., Mann Middle School Art Room - Agenda
  • Elementary School Curriculum Meeting - September 29, 2008, 4:00 p.m., Bristol Elementary Art Room - Agenda
  • A certificate of attendance will be provided for licensure re-certification.

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