Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Finale of Constitution presentation at ORWF
Guest speaker Steve Jackson
will conclude his two-part U.S. Constitution series at the April 16 meeting of Orange Republican Women, Federated. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. with registra- tion and social at the Orange Con- ference Center, 300 S. Flower. Titled “Organizing the Powers,”
the presentation will focus on a quote from Patrick Henry: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the Government to restrain
the People. It is an instrument for the People to restrain the Govern- ment.” Jackson will discuss how the quote relates to our govern- ment today. A civil engineer with a career in manned space, Jackson has hosted the Institute on the Constitution for 17 years. Interested members of the com-
munity are cordially invited to at- tend. Required reservations at $25 may be made at (714) 998-9717.
Get ready to chow down on some good chili
Sharpen up your appetites for
the 10th annual Silverado Chili Cook-off and Cinco de Mayo Festival at Irvine Lake, Sunday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch out for Really Desperate Housewives, adorned in fabulous costumes manning wondrously decorated chili booths. Contests will be held for best chili, peo- ple’s choice chili, best booth and best team spirit. Visitors will also enjoy a sing-
along and dancing to Americana band Citizen Joe and Throw- ing Stones on stage. The festival also features 16-year-old singer/ songwriter Maya Burns, artists,
vendors, family activities, petting zoo, beverages, and, of course, great food. The event is sponsored by the Silverado-Modjeska Parks and Recreation District, which pro- motes programs and activities that protect, preserve and enrich the canyons’ heritage, open space and unique way of life. Proceeds will help fund SMRPD parks and recreation programs. Admission to the lake area is
free (though there is a charge if you wish to take a boat out or fish); parking is $3 per ve- hicle and a chili taster’s kit will cost $5.
Foothills Sentry
By Michael Christensen, OUSD Superintendent
Page 15
Arts return to OUSD elementary schools The past seven years of eco-
nomic downturn forced OUSD, like many other school districts, to cut back on spending. Regretfully, programs that were beneficial to students ended when there were no longer funds to maintain them. Last year was the first time since
2007 that California ended its fiscal year with cash left over in its gen- eral fund. The improving economy led the OUSD Board of Education to ask staff to design an action plan for the restoration of the elemen- tary music program cut during the budget downfall. A District Visual & Performing
Arts (VAPA) committee consist- ing of teachers, administrators and staff was formed and charged with determining what steps would be necessary to restore music at the elementary level. The VAPA com- mittee held numerous meetings to discuss the scope of the elemen- tary music prior to the 2007 fund- ing cuts and the pros/cons of the previous program. All elementary school teachers and administrators were surveyed to glean their feed- back on the previous program and, more importantly, what they en- visioned the new program should entail. In addition to numerous
OUSD elementary students express their artistic acumen in the Arts Master program.
committee discussions, pertinent information was gathered from a myriad of school districts to un- derstand their varied, successful art program models. In September 2014, the VAPA committee presented its findings on four plausible models for el- ementary music restoration and the associated program costs to the OUSD Board of Education. In order for any one of these models to be effective, successful and sus- tainable, it was agreed that the pro- gram must be aligned to district- wide objectives.
A plan comes together To better define those objec-
tives it was necessary to update the OUSD District Visual & Perform- ing Arts Plan, which included two days of strategic planning facili- tated by the California Arts Project and the Orange County Depart- ment of Education. Stakeholders, including parents and community partners, looked at different focus areas included within the arts plan created in 2007 and analyzed the current strengths and weaknesses in each of them.
Through col-
laboration and consensus-building, stakeholders defined the goals and objectives they envisioned for Or- ange Unified regarding the arts. All stakeholders were in agreement that the foundation of the plan should be Arts for All -- equitable access to a quality arts program for all K-12 students. Following the development of
Photo by Suzan Grab
the updated arts education plan, stakeholders provided additional feedback on plausible models that truly provide students with the op- portunity to compete in the global economy.
Through this process,
stakeholders agreed that providing students with instruction in music only would not be in alignment with the plan.
Instead, based on
the plethora of feedback gathered over the 18-month process, a rec- ommendation to the board includ- ed the Implementation of the 21st Century Integrated Arts Wheel for the 2015-16 school year. In the initial implementation year, fifth and sixth grade students in all 27 elementary schools will receive 90 minutes of instrumental music or participation in an arts wheel where they will have the oppor- tunity to experience theatre arts, visual arts, dance, general music/ choir and/or STEM and art integra- tion. This model has an initial cost of an estimated $2.5 million and was approved by the OUSD Board on March 12. It is expected that the program will expand in future years to include more grade levels. All stakeholders are excited that
OUSD is on the cutting edge of arts education, providing 21st Century learning opportunities that enable students to see that they have pur- pose, voice and the ability to con- tribute to society. For additional information about
the program or to donate instru- ments, contact the Curriculum & Instruction office (714) 628-5452.
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