!It is freezing!!

Have a great week!

We all witnessed a moment this past week where regardless of your politics it was clear that artists will be leaders as we make our way out of the darkness of 2020 and into the light of 2021. A beautiful young woman used her poetry to bring us that light. Poetry, storytelling, theatre, design, music. films, binging TV shows, dance, art have kept our spirits alive and now this lovely, talented young woman has used poetry to help us heal.

If you needed to be reminded that what you do every day is important this poetry was loud and clear. She used her art to inspire a nation. You use your art every day to inspire the future. It is our job as educators to captivate our students and you do that in every class.

"When day comes we ask ourselves,

where can we find light in this never-ending shade?"

We find the light in you- our teachers. Thank you

Teri Shea, the Drama teacher at Cameron, jumped right on this as an opportunity and created a lesson based on "The Hill We Climb". With her permission I am sharing it with you here. She welcomes you to use it as is or modify it for your level or discipline. Thanks Teri.

Cameron, Fuller and Walsh combined to bring you this event.

On January 21, 2021 Diane, Chris and John combined forces to celebrate the music they have been working on in a virtual world. Hundreds of people attended this virtual event. The audience included parents, teachers, administrators and kids!

Every student musician had a moment. This is such a challenging time for the arts but these teachers and students found a way and it was truly inspiring and fun!

I am including a link to the video created by Kyle Trumble that was a part of the event. Take a minute and watch. The kids are the stars!.

Thank you teachers! I know how hard it was but you make it look easy. I am so grateful.

This was a great afternoon. I watched theatre and dance teachers create new works. I watched visual arts teachers create to call and response in art. I watched music teachers discover ways to use restorative practices as a healthy practice to promote inclusiveness, relationship building, and conflict resolution.

Mostly it was a time for you to refresh yourselves in your art and with your colleagues. I think the timing was perfect as we prepare to come back to school.

I am including a link to a video shared with me by Brenda Maurao, the principal at Stapleton. It features Caitlyn Tucker speaking about the concurrent classroom. If you don't click any other link in this newsletter- PLEASE- watch this. Thanks Brenda.

Please don't overlook these. It is a way for our kids to reach out beyond their isolation. Please find a way to incorporate these into your classes.

Arts ARE Education is a new national campaign in support of arts education for all students

Sign the pledge below and click on the link above please and pass it along!

Thank you to Luke, Matt and Mark for sharing their band cohort spreadsheets with me. I would appreciate if all of you could do that. It is for your benefit as well. I want to be sure to have the correct data as I speak to principals about space for band when we return. Remember, with proper PPE and distancing of 10 feet we will be playing upon our return. NO RECORDERS- that should remain virtual. Ukuleles for grades four and five are allowed, but since they will be shared you will need to clean them between uses. Please reach out to your principal for the correct cleaning products.

I have included links to the spreadsheets I have received so you can use them as a model. I won't be able to help without this data. Thanks

As you prepare to return to your school I am hoping to visit and support you on Monday and Tuesday. Dr Tremblay is giving us these days (you should be providing asynchronous work for your classes) so we can prepare for our students. For elementary especially that means a new practice- teaching from a cart. It is my hope to get to all 9 elementary schools over those two days to check in and see what I can do to help. If you have a preference of day or time (or already know you need something) please let me know. I will be asking Ellen to create a schedule for me and I will share it with you.

My job, my only job, is to support teachers. Let me help.

Inna asked us to share this with staff. You will certainly get it from many places. That should indicate the importance of completing it. Thanks for your attention.

IT IS DUE JANUARY 29

Director, Fine and Performing Arts Department

Email: dwresinski@framingham.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/Domain/74
Phone: 508 782 7770
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraminghamFPA/