From the President Terri McGrawHello SCAPA friends!
While the holidays are a great way to give to others; FOAS/Friends greatly appreciates those who were able to give by helping wrap at Amazon, or if you clicked on the School Rewards Zone from Amazon, or if you were able to use your Kroger re-loadable card. We THANK YOU! That money also goes straight to the needs of the school and kids. These were a few of the easy ways to help raise funds without purchasing anything. Any of the small things that we can do to help fund all the needs of the students at SCAPA are greatly appreciated! Thank you to everyone!! Let's keep up the good work. We are getting a lot accomplished this year! See you around school!
Hope to see you around school! Terri McGraw |
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Jan 2011
Table of Contents
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From Beth Randolph, Bluegrass PrincipalDear SCAPA Family, As we head into 2011, it is a good time to recommit to excellence with our academic and artistic studies. Our students are unbelievably capable and with dedication and devotion can become academically and artistically accomplished at extremely high levels. As parents and teachers we need to help the students reach all that they are capable of achieving. One way we can do this is by impressing and assisting them in their need to engage and commit completely to their studies. Technology, when used appropriately, is one incredible tool to help the students achieve at these high levels. Unfortunately when not used appropriately, available technologies like incredible cell phones, iPods and MP3 players, gaming devices, and the Internet can be a huge distraction and hindrance to students’ academic and artistic pursuits. Recently, it was brought to my attention that the social networking site, Facebook, was consuming large quantities of some of our students’ time. It was then that I decided to explore a connection between student grades and Facebook. One study out of Ohio State University has found a link between Facebook users and grade point averages. In this study, students at the college level who use Facebook score a grade level below non-Facebook users. Although the study can’t directly say that Facebook lowers student grades, it does conclude that Facebook users spend less time studying than non-Facebook users, thus contributing to lower grades. Not surprisingly, when those Facebook users were asked if the social networking site contributed to their lower grades, 79% of them said it did not. If a study were done at SCAPA, it would be interesting to see what the results would be. However, as adults, we can certainly be mindful and attentive in trying to help our students use their time most effectively because we know without a doubt that more uninterrupted and focused study time leads to mastery of content and therefore better grades. We all want the best for SCAPA students. This means balance between work and play time. Let’s make 2011 a prosperous academic and artistic year filled with ample, concentrated study and practice time. I look forward to seeing you around SCAPA and getting to know each one of you even better. Sincerely,
Beth Randolph From Vicki Ritchie, LHS PrincipalHello SCAPA friends!
We encourage students to take the most challenging courses they can. If students are interested in signing up for Advanced Placement (AP) courses for next year, they can find out more information at our AP night, January 27, at 6:00 pm in our library. We will have staff on hand to answer questions about the AP courses and requirements. I’d like to remind families again that Juniors will take the ACT here at Lafayette on March 15, 2010. In order to prepare for the test, all juniors have access to an ACT online prep course. All students can use the program at home at any time and we have Saturday practice sessions scheduled here at LHS for additional support of our students. For more information, please see our webpage under “TCA ACT Parent Letter” or call our counseling office. Happy New Year! Vicki Ritchie Will return next month...by Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman
Prior to her role as SCAPA Arts Facilitator, Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman was a Parent/Family Life Educator and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She was the author of The Parents’ Toolbox for The Lexington Family Magazine as well as Pastoral Parenting for the Church of the Resurrection newsletter. (Please check the SCAPA Calendar regularly for updates)
Attention 5th Grade ParentsYou are invited to attend our annual 5th Grade Minors Fair on Tuesday, January 18th from 1-2pm in Helm Hall. Each arts teacher will have 3-4 minutes to speak about their area and describe what being a minor in that area entails. This is a terrific opportunity to gather information that will assist you in guiding your 5th grader in making their decision about what arts area to minor in for their middle school years. Thinking About Changing Your Major??Every year we have a few students who discover an interest in a SCAPA arts area other than their current major. As we get closer to audition time, I would like to take this opportunity to share with everyone the procedure for changing your major at both SCAPA Bluegrass and SCAPA Lafayette.
Please Note: If you are a current 6th or 7th grader and are wishing to audition in the area of your current minor, you need to complete the major change application as soon as possible!!!! Your minor selection can not take place until your major change audition is completed. Lafayette Drama Presents "Bye Bye Birdie"You won't want to miss Mrs. Kewin's final Lafayette Drama Department production, Bye Bye Birdie, the musical she made her debut with as well. She has invited all her alumni to come back and take part in this final theatre extravaganza! Performance dates/times are: Thursday, January 13th through Saturday, January 15 at 7pm and Sunday, January 16 at 2pm. All performances are in Beeler Auditorium at Lafayette High School. To reserve tickets call 489-8572 or email cindy.kewin@fayette.kyschools.us. Remember that there is a large SCAPA contingent in the cast! Audition Dates and Times for Paragon’s Production of “Gypsy”
Thank you from Military MissionsI received the following note and wanted to share it with those of you who made donations to the Military Missions box: A Message From Sylvia AldrichPlease email me, sylvia.aldrich@fayette.kyschools.us, if you have any contact information changes that need to be made on your Bluegrass SCAPA students’ records, i.e., changes in email address, home address, phone numbers, etc. Thank you. SCAPA's 2010-11 Winter Coat DriveStarting December 1st through January 14th we will be collecting new & slightly used coats. Please drop coats off in front of room #224 (Ms. Stayton's room). Coats will be taken to Hart's Dry Cleaners for cleaning and distribution. Thanks for your support! Friends of the Arts School (FOAS) MeetingsMark you calendars for the meeting dates in 2010-11 All FOAS Meetings will be held in Bluegrass SCAPA, Room 146 at 6:00pm on these dates:
Meeting Minutes
SBDM Meeting Minutes SCAPA Seniors Delight NSALDuring the December 12th meeting of the Kentucky Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters, held in the home of Jackie Roberts, the following SCAPA seniors shared their talents, delighting the audience with beautiful music, words and images. Thank you to these young people for representing their majors and their school so very well:
Musical GiftDuring lunch on Dec. 15th the BG Middle School Band majors and minors presented a musical gift to their fellow Bluegrass SCAPA students. This has become a SCAPA tradition and a highlight of the holiday season. As you can see, the music put the students into the holiday spirit! Thank you to Ms. Barker and Dr. Akel as well as all the band students for this delightful opportunity to celebrate together!
Here, There, SCAPA, SCAPA EverywhereI attended several events during the holidays and break including Kentucky Christmas Chorus, the Alltech Victorian Square Concert, and the Mayor’s Inauguration. I cannot tell you how pleased and proud I was to see SCAPA students, from the past and present, performing for each of these events. And I know there were many other events that involved our students as well. This is awesome! This is what I dream about for SCAPA – that we are a part of every art activity or event that takes place in Lexington. That when there is a need for high quality art, of whatever discipline, people come to SCAPA to get that need met. I want us to be the “Go To” source for the arts in Lexington. We are on our way!
BG Science
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The Arts Roundtable is a place where we can share valuable information about the essential role of the arts in our lives and the lives of our children. (Please submit items to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, by the 20th of each month.) |
Submit information to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman (carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us)
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The Arts Bookbag is a place where we can recommend books about the arts that we have found to be informative and inspiring. (Please submit titles to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, by the 20th of each month.) |
SCAPA FUNdraising Opportunities
There are 3 ways that you can financially support SCAPA all year long with minimal effort!
Remember that when you contribute to SCAPA it benefits every student, grades 4-12, in every arts area. You can make a difference!
General Mills Corporation, sponsor of the Box Tops For Education program, has been involved in giving to educational programs since 1996. Over the past 13 years, participating schools have earned over $300 million dollars in funding. The Box Tops program is a simple way for our school to receive money without having to write grants, sell products, work hours, or buy things we don’t want or need. As a parent, relative, or friend of SCAPA, all you have to do is clip the “Official Box Top Coupon” off of the products you already buy and use. A complete list of these products can be found at boxtops4education.com. After clipping, send the box tops to school with your student. Each homeroom teacher has a container in their classroom for collection. Each month, the box tops are collected and counted, with the top collecting homeroom earning a prize. Come on SCAPA Penguins, keep clipping and collecting those box tops. Let’s make this an awesome box tops year.
Please download a copy for each of the FCPS approved volunteers in your family. Completed forms may be turned in to Ms. Barbara Talbert at the front office of Bluegrass SCAPA. Thank you so much for your commitment to making SCAPA great!
Please be aware that a records check is required in order to participate in volunteer activities in the Fayette County School system.
It's hard to believe that we are into the 2nd half of the school year!
Happy and prosperous 2011 everyone! I trust your holidays and winter break were enjoyable and a time of relaxation. With the snow days and the regular break time it seems quite a long time since I’ve seen everyone. I’m anxious for the smiling faces to return to school and for the buzz of happy students to fill the halls once more. Before the break, several students were to sing at Paul Miller Ford for the Toys for Tots program. However, the snow days cancelled our participation in this event, but Paul Miller decided to give us a gift of $500 anyway for our willingness to be a part of it. What generosity! We are grateful for this liberal expression of appreciation to our school. 
It’s hard to believe that we have just finished one semester and we are already gearing up for our next school year. In January, students will be meeting with the counselors to make course selections for next fall. Please be on the lookout for your child’s schedule choice card and return it with your signature after discussing the best choices for your student.
BG Band
BG Dance
Bluegrass Vocal
LHS Orchestra