Virginia Department of Health Continuing Professional Development
September 14, 2020Welcome to a very new school year!This school year is bringing new challenges and new opportunities for fine arts education in Virginia.This issue of the Fine Arts Monthly News contains relevant and timely resources and professional learning opportunities. In addition to information in this newsletter, you can find resources on the Fine Arts Instruction page of the Virginia Department of Education website. As always, please reach out to me with questions, concerns, and ideas to share for fine arts education in Virginia. I can be reached at kelly.bisogno@doe.virginia.gov. I hope you all have had a wonderful time reconnecting with students at the beginning of this school year. Sincerely, Kelly Bisogno, Coordinator of Fine Arts, Office of Humanities Welcome to the new VDOE Music SpecialistThis month, it is our pleasure to welcome Michelle Milligan to the Virginia Department of Education as our new Music Specialist. Michelle Milligan was most recently the orchestra director at Gainesville Middle School in Prince William County Public Schools, where she maintained a program of more than 350 orchestra students. Previously, Mrs. Milligan was the orchestra director for Robert Frost Middle School in Fairfax County Public Schools, and taught elementary strings in FCPS from 2011-2014. In November 2017, Mrs. Milligan and the Frost Chamber Orchestra were the featured middle school orchestra performance at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference in Hot Springs, Virginia. Under her direction, Mrs. Milligan's orchestras have received consistent Superior ratings at the VBODA District Assessments. Mrs. Milligan was nominated for the Music Arts Educator of the Year Award in 2017 by her students. Mrs. Milligan is an active clinician and adjudicator in the Northern Virginia area. She was an adjudicator for VBODA District 14 and 16 Concert Assessment, and was invited as the guest conductor for the Loudoun County Public Schools Middle School All-County Orchestra in 2019, and the Alexandria All-City District Orchestra in 2017. Mrs. Milligan has served as a member of the Virginia Department of Education Resources Development Committee in 2020, and the SOL Review and Revision Committee in 2019. Mrs. Milligan was also a PWCS Orchestra Canvas Blueprint Designer in 2020, FCPS Fine Arts Curriculum Team member from 2014-2017, and was the 2017-2018 President of the Fairfax County Orchestra Directors Association. Mrs. Milligan graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College at George Mason University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2011. She currently resides in Bristow, VA with her husband, two sons, and black lab. Welcome to the team! Septembers Fine Arts Webinars of the Virginia Department of EducationDigital Resources for Fine Arts Educators from the Library of CongressTuesday, September 15, 2020, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. This webinar will explore the digital resources of the Library of Congress for fine arts instruction. Engagement with primary source images, objects and documents can spark critical thinking, deeper learning and interdisciplinary connections for students. Join Sherry Levitt and Cynthia Szwajkowski from Teaching with Primary Sources, Virginia (TPSVA) for a lively, interactive exploration of the Library's rich, digital collections for in-person and virtual instruction. As a demonstration, special guest Carolyn Bennett, former Library of Congress Teacher-in-Residence, will model an activity using WPA Posters. MUSIC - Teaching Students with Differences in Music ClassroomsDr. Alice Hammel Wednesday. September 16, 2020, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. There are specific strategies that can assist us as we plan and present instruction to students with disabilities and differences. Accommodations can be transferred to music classrooms and ensembles. Through careful adaptations and modifications when needed, we can truly meet the needs of all students. THEATRE ARTS - Interdisciplinary Connections with Theatre ArtsRyan Henderson Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Participants will gain resources and strategies focused on how the fundamentals of theatre can connect students to their learning, their peers, and themselves. Participants will understand how this connection creates a relevance and rigor that gives their students the skills necessary for success in and out of the classroom. Participants will also understand the role the state standards can play in creating these connections—specifically regarding the Five Cs. GoOpenVA for Fine Arts EducatorsJean Weller Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Participants will learn how to use #GoOpenVA to locate arts-based lessons (many of which are also cross-curricular). All such lessons are openly-licensed so they can be adapted to your own students and purposes. Additionally, #GoOpenVA provides a community space for teachers to connect with each other in these challenging times, when everyone is learning how to approach teaching in new ways. Resources for Fine Arts Educators for 2020-2021All Fine Arts Disciplines
Dance Education Resources
Music Education Resources
Theatre Education Resources
Visual Art Education Resources
September 13 - 18 is Arts in Education Week, from the Americans for the ArtsPassed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education. In celebration of this year's 10th anniversary National Arts in Education Week campaign, Americans for the Arts is hosting a#BecauseofArtsEd Chatwith actressAnnette Bening and singer/songwriter Josh Groban on September 16 at 7:00 p.m ET/4:00 pm. PT.Register now to learn more about the importance of arts education and how you can support arts education in your local community! According the Americans for the Arts website, there are several ways to join in this year's campaign:
COVID-19 Health and Safety Information for Fine Arts ProgramsUpdated health and safety information for fine arts programs during COVID-19 is currently being reviewed by the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Education and will be posted to the website when available. Fall 2020 Professional Organization ConferencesVirginia Art Education Association: Creativity Isn't CancelledThis year's virtual conference will take place November 13-15 and 20-22. Find out more on the VAEA website. Virginia Music Educators AssociationThe 2020 VMEA Professional Development Conference will take place on November 19-21 virtually. Virginia Theatre Association: Imagine 2020This year's virtual conference will be held October 29 - November 1. Learn more on the registration website. The Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artists RosterThe Teaching Artist Roster includes contact information, fees, background, availability and educational program information for the consideration of schools, not-for-profits, or units of government applying for Artists in Education grants. These high quality professional artists have been selected by a panel of arts leaders to represent outstanding representatives of dance, music, theatre, visual arts, design arts, crafts, media arts and literature. Recorded Webinars are available On-demand
Contact Kelly Bisogno, Coordinator of Fine Arts Michelle Milligan, Music Specialist |
Source: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VADOE/bulletins/29f2c23