Richard Burrows, Arts Education Director
Phone: (213) 241-6449
FAX: (213) 241-8928
Email: richard.burrows@lausd.net
Dona Stevens, Instructional Support Services Coordinator
Phone: (310) 354-3422
FAX: (310) 527-2957
Diane Sayrizi, Arts Education Advisor
Phone: (310) 354-3467
FAX: (310) 527-2957
Email: dsayr1@lausd.k12.ca.us
The visual and performing arts in District K provide a comprehensive standards-driven curriculum based on the art content standards and the Principles of Learning; and a belief that dance, music, theatre and visual arts stimulate critical thinking through the process of talking, reading, writing, reflecting about, and creating art.
District K promotes arts education by focusing on quality instruction and rigorous standards and provides opportunities to highlight the talents of our students through the many school site programs and performances, the K-12 district art show and community events. To build arts content knowledge for teachers, planned professional development is offered to elementary and secondary instructors throughout the year.
In addition to teaching the arts as core curriculum and the discipline specific courses in visual and performing arts offered by our middle and senior high schools, a number of our District K elementary and secondary sites also participate in specialized arts programs in partnership with the Arts Education Branch and other arts organizations.
ELEMENTARY
ELEMENTARY ARTS PROTOTYPE SCHOOLS
There are presently fifteen District K elementary schools who are designated as Elementary Arts Prototype Schools: l56th, 186th, Ambler, Broad, Cabrillo, Caroldale Learning Community, Catskill, Dolores, Gardena, Hawaiian, Park Western, Pt. Fermin, South Shores, Taper and White Point .
Each site receives the services of a traveling arts teacher for an 8 -12 week instructional rotation in drama, dance and visual arts. Each discipline is presented in a skill-building sequence based on content standards and linked to the core curriculum with the understanding that the classroom teacher actively participates in the lessons. Coaching by the arts teachers is also an integral component, as well as funding for professional development, art texts, equipment and supplies. The ultimate goal is the implementation of a school-wide visual and performing arts program
SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS
153rd, Denker, Halldale, Leapwood and Pt. Fermin Elementary Schools are now in their second year of participation in a unique program that brings Shakespeare into the schools. Twenty 4th and 5th grade classes (four at each site) and their teachers, study an assigned piece of a Shakespeare play under the direction and guidance of a professional actor and assistant from the Theatricum Botanicum Shakespeare Theatre. Before the class sessions begin, teachers and administrators are invited to a sample workshop to acquaint them with the text and curriculum. Each classroom studies a different scene of the same play and is responsible to reinterpret, write and rehearse it for presentation. At the conclusion of the ten-week project, all twenty classrooms present their scenes at the Theatricum theatre; at a later date, students see the play performed by professional actors. Many of the classes present their scene as part of their Open House activities and demonstrate their "ownership" of Shakespeare's text; the goal of the program.
SECONDARY
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPANSION PROJECT
Last year (2001-2002), Wilmington Middle School was selected by the Music Center and the Arts Education Branch to be one of five grant recipients to develop a comprehensive middle school arts program. Music Center artists-in-residence provided professional instruction and expertise to students and their teachers in visual arts, drama and dance. Wilmington will again partner with the Music Center to fulfill the school's visual and performing arts vision and continue the work begun last year.
Dana Middle School was recently named as a grant recipient for the 2002-2003 year and was the second District K site to become part of the expansion project. Dana will begin the planning and implementation phase with the support of the Arts Education Branch.
SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL, DOCS ROCKS PILOT PROGRAM
San Pedro High School continues its second year of a pilot program with the International Documentary Association (IDA) to develop a critical film studies and documentary production curricula that fully integrates the English and Visual Arts Standards. San Pedro was the first high school in the entire District to collaborate with the IDA and to test the media program.
An education devoid of the arts is incomplete. In District K we will continue to strengthen our visual and performing arts programs and expand the knowledge and skills of both students and teachers in order to provide a complete and quality education.
