This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
March 5, 2012
This Week's Good News!
- This week has been designated as National School Social Work Week in America. Please join me in thanking our School Social Workers for all that they do for our children and families in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
- Several Community High School students have had their artwork selected for exhibit as part of "March is Youth Art and Music Month" sponsored by the Main Street Association of local downtown businesses and the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
At The Washington Street Gallery, 2012 opening show Sunday, March 18, 4-5p,, the following students, their grade and medium are represented:
Nikila Lakshmanan, 12, Acrylic Paintings (2)
James Mackin, 11, Graphite Drawings (2)
Max Bonilla-Medina,10, Acrylic Painting
Hannah King, 11, Photo
Sacha Moravy-Penchansky, 10, Conte Pastel
Clara Motiño, 9, Mixed Media W/Photo Transfer
Becca Amidei, 11, Mixed Media
Justine Samaha (2 pieces,) 12, Acrylic Paintings
Emily Brod (2 pieces), 9, #1 Mixed Media W/ Photo Transfer; #2 Mixed media collage
Kylah Thompson (2 pieces), 12, Graphite Drawings
Elizabeth Davis Craig, 11, Acrylic Painting
Drake Johnson, 12, Charcoal
Sonny Spears, 12, Graphite/Pastel
Debbie Park, 12, Conte Pastel
Bethany Wang, 11, Collage
Corey Wellik, 11, Acrylic Painting
Alexa Carlson, 12, Acrylic Painting
Lauren Childs Photo
Jake Levine, 12, Photo
Lauren Kuperman, 12, Photo
Sanna Kullin, 10, Photo
Alisa Ianelli, 12, Photo
Underground Printing, 329 S. Main St–displayed through the month of March in the window of this business.
Benjamin Helber, 11, Ink Drawing
Charlotte Steele, 10, Acrylic Painting
Elizabeth Davis Craigm, 11, Collage
Micayla Rowe, 10, Graphite Drawing
Juliet Gustafson, 9, Collage
Jean Luc Thompson-Burt, 10, Collage - Betsy Armstrong, Huron Class of 2000, has been nominated for the 2011 Sullivan award for water polo. The Sullivan Award honors the top amateur athlete in the nation. Betsy played water polo at the University of Michigan. As goalkeeper, she helped the women's national water polo team win a gold medal and an Olympic qualification berth at the 2011 Pan Am Games. She is also an advocate of preserving the earth and literacy. The Sullivan Award highlights athletes from a variety of sports, including football, hockey, rowing, water polo and track and field. The AAU Sullivan Award honors the nation's outstanding amateur athlete. The award, which has been presented annually since 1930, is based on character, leadership and sportsmanship. The winner will be announced March 20 in New York. The nine nominees for 2011.
- The "Avian Ambassadors" of Leslie Science Center were the main attraction March 1, at Northside School. The Leslie Science Center presented "Birds of Prey" to grades K-5. Students learned about red-tailed hawks, vultures, and owls while LSC naturalist Sarah Gilmore displayed these birds just a few feet away. Seeing the raptors close up was exciting, and a great way to learn about these beautiful creatures. Thanks to the Northside Community Church for making this event possible.
- Congratulations to all of our music students and their teachers.
- The Pioneer Bands hosted the District 12 Band and Orchestra Festivals on Saturday March 3rd. Sixteen bands and orchestras performed. We were at Pioneer from before 6 am until after 6 pm. Pioneer Concert and Symphony Bands, under the direction of David A. Leach, both received straight I’s from all four adjudicators in this state qualifying event. Not only did our students perform their three prepared pieces and sight-reading piece beautifully, they also graciously represented Pioneer and our district all day long by helping each of the other groups who attended. Many thanks to David Leach, Nancy Waring and the rest of Pioneer’s music staff members for their hard work in hosting this event.
- On Saturday March 3, at Pioneer High School, the Skyline Symphony Orchestra took the stage at 4:15 PM for their performance in MSBOA District 12 Band and Orchestra Festival. The students performed Overture to Ruslan and Lydmilla by Glinka, Pictures at an Exhibition orchestration by Ravel (Promenade and Great Gate of Kiev movements) and the finale movement from "New World Symphony" by Dvorak. Our students performed this professional literature at a very high level of expertise. The group was evaluated by three judges on the topics of tone, intonation, rhythm, technique, and interpretation. All three judges gave the Symphony Orchestra a I (Superior) rating. Following the stage performance the orchestra went into the sight-reading room where they were allowed 5 minutes to study and discuss a piece of music that they had never seen before performing it for a judge. The orchestra was evaluated on tone, intonation, dynamics, articulation, bowing, style, phrasing, balance, key, repeats, and interpretation during their performance. The sight-reading judge gave verbal feedback to the orchestra and awarded them a I (Superior) rating.
MSBOA has five ratings that they award at District 12 Band and Orchestra Festival based on the combination of the stage performance ratings and the sight-reading rating. Division I, II, III, IV, and V with Division I representing an excellent level of performance and musicianship and Division V representing a unsatisfactory performance. Congratulations to the Skyline Symphony Orchestra for earning an overall Division I rating as well as receiving straight Division I ratings from every judge. This is the highest rating that can be earned and the students achieved that through their hard work and dedication. Great job everyone. Andrea Cowper is Skyline’s Orchestra Director. - On Saturday March 3rd, the Skyline bands participated in the MSBOA Band and Orchestra Festival at Pioneer High School. Each ensemble prepares three concert pieces and sight reads one additional piece. Our Skyline Varsity band received a Divison One rating, the Skyline Concert Band received a division One rating and the Skyline Symphony band received a Division One rating. Congratulations to all band members for their hard work and dedication for the past several months. You did a fantastic job! Jason Smith is Skyline’s Band Director.
Patricia P. Green, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Ann Arbor Public Schools