ARTS NEWSLETTER #12-10 July 2007

GREETINGS FROM ARGY’S CUBBY with a view of the STATE HOUSE DOME at the Department of Education

ARGY’s NEWS

I hope you are enjoying your summer break! The view from the cubby has been grey this week. On sunny days I try to have lunch on the capitol steps where the view across the river is beautiful. I was fortunate to travel to Washington D.C. to the Model Schools conference last week with Commissioner Gendron and a team from the MDOE. The conference was sponsored by the International Center for Leadership in Education. To learn more about the research and practices of the center please click here: http://www.leadered.com/

NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is now being mailed electronically to 472 educators, 15 more than were receiving it two weeks ago. If you are interested in reviewing back issues of the newsletter click on: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/doe-arts/
If you know of others that wish to receive the newsletter please ask them to email me argy.nestor@maine.gov

CASTINE: AUGUST 1,2,3-DON’T WAIT!!!

The registration deadline for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative

Teacher/Leader Institute is looming! The Institute will be held at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine with David Warlick as keynote speaker and presenter... DAYS FILLED WITH GREAT CONTENT in extended learning sessions, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and project-based learning, using 21st Century tools. Registration deadline is Thursday, July 12. For more information please see the attached information or click on http://www.mainelearns.org/ The cost is $190.00, double occupancy.

STATE-WIDE ARTS CONFERENCE-OCT. 5, 6, 2007
AT THE CREATIVECENTER

THE ARTS IN MAINE SCHOOLS
Plans for the state-wide arts conference sponsored by the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), The Maine Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) and the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) partnering with Maine Art Education Association (MAEA), Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA), Maine Drama Council (MDC) Dance Education in Maine Schools (DEMS) and VSA arts of Maine (VSA) are underway. We’ve had over 50 outstanding proposals submitted to present at the conference. Thank you to everyone that submitted the necessary paperwork. Thank you also to everyone who is interested in attending. I have received many emails and phone calls requesting information. This Friday, July 13th we are having an all day planning meeting where our work will continue. With any luck and much work the registration information and conference details will be available by August 1st. Please watch in this newsletter for more information. And by all means email argy.nestor@maine.gov or call 624-6825 with questions.

REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS

There have been many questions about the district reorganization. When the hearings are completed at the end of this week department personnel will have traveled throughout Maine for 26 hearings to share the plans. I hope you’ve had a chance to attend a session. Please go to the website where you will find the law and a question and answer section: www.maine.gov/education. I suggest you check it periodically as more information becomes available. If you have questions that are not answered you may ask a question by emailing: communications.doe@maine.gov

PAL UPDATE:

The Partners in Arts and Learning Program, better known as the PAL program, is transitioning to a new format. During the next school year the Maine Arts Commission is piloting a program with each of the following organizations and schools. At the completion of the year, the work will be assessed to determine the next steps. Organizations: Figures of Speech Theater of Freeport, PCA Great Performances of Portland, L/A Arts, Lewiston of Auburn, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Denmark Arts Council, Denmark.
Schools: East End School in Portland, Mt. Desert Island High School, North Haven Community School, MSAD #33 Frenchville – Dr. Levesque School, MSAD # 67 Lincoln.

MAINE ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION

It has been a delight working with Carol Trimble, Executive Director of the Maine Alliance for Arts Education. We are busy planning the fall arts educators conference. Shortly conference information will be posted to their website. For their site please click: www.maineartseducation.org I suggest you book mark their link so you get to the site easily. They are a great resource for arts education!

NEWS From music teacher MIKE DAVIS

Some of you might remember that Mike received a $4000.00 Maine Arts Fellowship from the Maine Alliance for Arts Education and the Maine Community Foundation to go to West Africa to study drumming for a month. Attached is an email Mike sent from Bamako, Mali. Please keep in mind that he was typing on a foreign keyboard. I enjoyed reading his email and hearing of his travels. What a wonderful opportunity Mike is enjoying. I am sure he will share his stories at the fall arts conference!

CENTER FOR MAINE CONTEMPORARY ART

The center, located in Rockport, has many wonderful opportunities for folks, young and old. Cathy Melio is CMCA’s Education Director and can be contacted at cmelio@cmcanow.org . If you haven’t been to their site, I suggest you take a look by clicking here: http://www.artsmaine.org/

KAREN MONTANARO

Many years ago when my son’s were 4 and 7 years old (they’re now 17 and 20) my husband and I traveled in a snowstorm for our annual trip to Portland for an overnight during the Christmas holidays. We went to Portland High School to see the Nutcracker where Karen Montanaro was a lead ballerina in the performance. I was in awe of her beauty! During the intermission her husband, Tony invited the children to join him in front of the stage where he had each child learn to mime. What a delight watch this fine performance. My older son was fascinated. Recently I met Karen for the first time and we had a delightful conversation over a cup of tea. She will be joining us at the fall arts conference to share some of the work she is presently doing. If you’d like to learn more about Karen’s work please click here: http://www.mimetheatre.com/

NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Music teacher Andrea Peterson, the National Teacher of the Year from Washington state, recently spoke with U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings about music and No Child Left Behind. Please click here to listen to the conversation: http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/2007/ntoty.html

QUOTE OF THE NEWSLETTER

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle

Visual and Performing Arts Information

contact information:

Learning results Information

ARTS NEWSLETTER #12-10 July 2007