From Marilynn Cunningham, Bluegrass Principal

Dear SCAPA Families:

Welcome to the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year in Fayette County Schools at SCAPA Bluegrass. With a new year comes the opportunity for a fresh start and new ideas. As I write this, I can hear the voices of the students who are attending the two camps at our school, dance camp and five freedoms academy. Each one of these camps was envisioned at this time last year. For the second year, SCAPA will participate in the July 4th parade and in The Arboretum birdhouse project. That is progress. As always, I can envision an even closer connection between our SCAPA families and school, but I am still working toward ways to make that happen.

Speaking of connections between families and school, we have made a formal effort to offer a venue of how we can stay in touch. Two years ago, I planned and led quarterly forums, “What is on your Mind?” Last year, Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman and I scheduled monthly conversations about parenting issues and school connections. These were scheduled an hour before the FOAS meeting. The attendance at each of these efforts was low. Since continuous improvement is a natural way of life at SCAPA and good is not good enough, I would like to try some other ways that we can attempt to meet your needs and listen to your concerns as they relate to our school improvement goals. As a reminder, the improvement goals are to (1) increase student achievement in the core content areas; (2) increase the students’ creative and performing arts skills (3) increase the communication between families and school and (4) improve the demographics to mirror the district’s demographics. Please communicate your ideas of how we might develop ways to meet challenges of our SCAPA families.

My challenge as a leader is to develop ways that people feel comfortable in expressing their concerns in productive ways. Because of our small, but very engaged community, we have shortened, formal channels of communication. That channel starts with the teacher or staff person most closely connected to the situation, then if need be, continues to the team leader or appropriate staff leader and finally, if necessary, the principal. Let us all serve as mouthpieces to make SCAPA a place where we spend time and conversation appreciating and respecting each other while building a solid team based on self-discipline. I am looking forward to another great year together!

With our SCAPA family in mind,

Marilynn Cunningham, Principal, SCAPA Bluegrass

If you need help as a parent, remember, I am an email (marilynn.cunningham@fayette.kyschools.us) or phone call (859) 381-3332 away. Don’t hesitate to contact me. If we work together, it offers a structure within which your student may accomplish great things.

From Vickie Ritchie, LHS Principal

Dear Students and Parents,

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather and activities. Before you know it, we will all be planning for school to begin. Towards the second half of July, freshman students should be on the lookout for a letter inviting them and their parents to the Freshman Orientation on August 6. Upperclassmen will receive a letter towards the end of July with information about paying fees and filling out forms before school begins. Like last year, there will be several sessions available during the week of August 3-7 for parents to get these administrative tasks completed.

Parents who want to help at school or with school activities can go ahead and fill out the online volunteer application during the summer so our list of approved volunteers will be ready to go in August. Also, students should be getting a copy of their book choice and doing their summer reading. The list of summer reading books is available on the website.

Have a wonderful summer break and please be safe. See you in August.

Sincerely,

Vicki Ritchie

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With Privilege Comes Responsibility

By Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman

My husband and I left Lexington in 1985 for a period of seven years. During that time, in 1987, a new school was established in the Fayette County Public School system, The School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA). We returned to Lexington in July 1991 with our one-year-old son. He enrolled in public school in 1996, but it was 1999 before we learned about SCAPA - too late to apply and audition for that all-important 4th grade year. We spent the next four years filling out applications, preparing for and attending auditions, and anxiously awaiting results. Finally, in the summer of 1993 we received that long-awaited call informing us that a space had opened up and our son was in!
In the meantime, we had become avid proponents of SCAPA. We kept up with recurring threats to the program and advocated for its continuation long before we were officially part of the SCAPA family. We passionately believed, whether our son attended or not, that there must be a haven for children and young people whose talents and passions lie within the realm of the creative and performing arts, a place where these are valued, nurtured and allowed expression. SCAPA is that place.

SCAPA was originally the vision of a group of dedicated parents and educators. They fought long and hard to bring their vision to fruition. Their uncompromising determination and perseverance have afforded our children the opportunity to attend this unique and remarkable school. As is true with any privilege, this too comes with responsibility, both for our children and for us. Together we are now the ambassadors and stewards of the great tradition known as SCAPA.

Our children are entrusted with the awesome task of maintaining the level of excellence, both academically and artistically, that has become expected of SCAPA students. When serving as representatives of SCAPA to other schools, the community and beyond, they are charged with upholding a standard of conduct and performance befitting a SCAPA student. In addition to reaping the personal benefits and rewards of participating in this exceptional experience, our children are integral to preserving the legacy of SCAPA for future generations of creative and performing artists.

The effort we put into getting our children into SCAPA was just the beginning of what it means to be a SCAPA parent. We have a duty to commit generous portions of our time, energy, talent and/or financial resources to ensure both current and future students that their needs, academic and artistic, will be provided for. Certainly no one of us can be expected to do it all, but neither can we expect others to do it all. Each of us must find a niche that we can fill and fill it. Goodness knows there is no shortage in number or variety of niches (BG volunteer form, LHS Form will be provided soon). So in the words of Toy Story’s Woody the cowboy, “Get one!”

One committee we are all on is promotions. We should all be promoting any SCAPA activity whether our child is participating or not. We all stand in checkout lines, sit in doctor’s offices, live in neighborhoods, and attend social functions. These are ideal opportunities to inform friends, relatives, neighbors, acquaintances and total strangers about what SCAPA is and invite them to attend SCAPA events. In this way, and all the other ways we find to involve ourselves, we are guaranteeing that SCAPA will not only survive, but thrive. I can think of no better way to demonstrate our commitment to current and future generations of SCAPA families as well as our gratitude to the founders of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

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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.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

(Please check the SCAPA website regularly for updates)

• Saturday, July 4, 2pm, SCAPA marches in 4th of July Parade, Downtown Lexington
  
• Friday, July 17, 12:15-1:15pm, Friends of the Arts School (FOAS) Mtg., Puccini’s Restaurant in Chevy Chase
• Friday, August 7, 3-5pm, 7th Grade Fees & Forms Session, Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)
  
• Friday, August 7, 5-6:30pm, 8th Grade Fees & Forms, Session, MPR
  
• Sunday, August 9, 2-4pm, 4th Grade Ice Cream Social, MPR
  
• Monday, August 10, 4-5:30pm, 6th Grade Fees & Forms Session, MPR
  
• Monday, August 10, 6:00 – 7:30 - Sixth Grade Orientation, Helm Hall (HH)
  
• Monday, August 10, 7-9pm, Lafayette SCAPA Back to School Reception, Lafayette cafeteria
  
• Tuesday, August 11, 2:30-4pm, 4th Grade Fees & Forms Session, MPR
  
• Tuesday, August 11, 4:30-6pm, 5th Grade Fees & Forms Session, MPR
  
• Wednesday, August 12, 2009 - First day of School
• Tuesday, August 18, Innisbrook Fundraiser begins
  
• Friday, August 21, No School for Kids
  
• Monday, August 24, 4pm, Peter Pan auditions
  
• Tuesday, August 25, 4pm, Peter Pan auditions
  
• Friday, August 28, Peter Pan cast posted
  
• Sunday, August 30, 2-5pm, Bluegrass SCAPA Back to School Picnic, MPR & outside

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Announcements and Reminders

2009-10 SCAPA Public Performance Production Schedule

Peter Pan

The Lexington Opera House

Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 7:00pm         
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

Lost in Yonkers

Beeler Auditorium, Lafayette High School

Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7:00pm
Friday, November 6, 2009 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8:00pm
Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 2:00pm

Amadeus

Downtown Arts Center

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00pm               
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8:00pm
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

Dance SCAPA

The Lexington Opera House

Friday, February 26, 2010 at 8:00pm
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:00pm

And A Child Shall Lead

The Downtown Arts Center

Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:00pm                  
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 8:00pm
Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Lexington Opera House

Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:00pm
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 8:00pm
Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm
2009-10 SCAPA Public Performance Production Schedule

The Spirit of the Season

In order to get prepared for the upcoming Production Season, your SCAPA family might want to read and/or view the following:

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
(For a creative, exciting explanation of how Peter Pan became such a magical boy read this trilogy)
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
The original 1960 Broadway cast of Peter Pan with Mary Martin
The 2000 Broadway cast of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby

Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
I am David by Anne Holm; also the 2005 film version
I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Hana Volavkova

Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon; also the 1993 film version

Amadeus, the 1997 film version

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the 2000 film version

Look What Your Hard Work Has Made Possible!

Each year teachers submit grant requests, every year the needs are different. This year this is what was asked for and granted. The approximate total this year is $11,708 raised and given from FOAS for in school use purchases to help teachers in each area of the school, academic as well as art.

• Gift bags for incoming 4th Grade Shadow Day
  
• Writing inspiration/educational books
  
• Instruction books for connecting writing with math Firstinmath.com, Brainpop.com
  
• TI-17 Overheard Calculator
  
• Accelerated Reader Update
  
• Video Production light and battery kits
  
• Yamaha Silent Electric cello
  
• Smart Music- electronic
  
• Piano Recital venues, flowers, and programs
  
• Cineline productions filming recitals for CH 13
  
• Tuxedo Case for Tuba
  
• Four pieces of music
  
• Kustom -Profile 11 Portable PA System for the school
  
• Document cameras
  
• Interwrite tablets
  
• Marley Floor for dance
  
• Art Field trip to Louisville Glassorks Studio

SCAPA Directory Updates

If you have had any changes to your contact information, ie. change of address, phone number, email address, please email those to Mary Kay Rayens, mkrayens@uky.edu, as soon as possible. We would like to have the SCPAPA Directory available as close to the beginning of school as possible. Thank you for your cooperation!

SCAPA in 4th of July Parade

Believe it or not the 4th of July Parade is less than a month away! We will meet between Noon and 1pm on July 4th in the Lexington Herald-Leader parking lot on Midland Avenue. I will need all parents to sign a waiver when they arrive so please find me when you get there. I will then turn in our parade registration and we will be given our parade position. We will remain in the staging area until the parade begins at 2:00pm.

We will be walking and carrying our SCAPA banner. Since Bluegrass SCAPA will be doing the musical “Peter Pan” this fall, I think it would be great if the students want to dress up as a character from the play. If they would rather dress or carry something that reflects their art major or simply wear SCAPA artswear that is fine. Parents please dress in SCAPA artswear if you have it. If you do not have it and would like to purchase a shirt let me know and I will make arrangements to get you one. I would like it to be clear to everyone that we are SCAPA!

I plan to play the Peter Pan CD. If you have a CD player or sound equipment that we could use, please let me know.

We will be passing out handbills with the 2009-10 SCAPA Production Season on them as well as candy. If you would like to donate a bag of cheap candy for the cause, please let me know that as well.

I am really looking forward to seeing all of you for this fun and memorable event. Please let me know if you have any questions. My cell phone number is 536-1313.

Summerfest’s Musical Production

Pack up a picnic dinner, a blanket and lawn chairs and head to The Arboretum for a performance of Summerfest’s musical production, “Once On This Island”, July 22-26th. The cast includes SCAPA alumni, Katie Berger, and incoming SCAPA 4th graders, Tamia Bowden and Joseph Waterbury-Tieman. Performances will be at 8:45 p.m. Weds.-Sun., at the Arboretum on Alumni Drive. Tickets will go on sale in June for $10 adults and $5 children 12 and under.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), under the direction of Paul Thomas and featuring SCAPA Lafayette senior actors Jimmy Betts, Tyler Stahl and Blake Sugarman, will be performed Friday, August 28th and Saturday, August 29th in the Thoroughbred Theatre in Midway on Railroad Street with an 8:00pm curtain. The show will then move to Natasha’s Restaurant, Café, Bistro at 112 Esplanade in downtown Lexington and run from Sunday, August 30th through Wednesday, September 2. Specific times and ticket information will follow as soon as available.

Bluegrass SCAPA Teacher Web Pages

Many of our Bluegrass SCAPA teachers have web pages that are accessible from the SCAPA website (www.scapa.fcps.net). Just follow these steps:

1. At SCAPA website directory choose "Staff"
   
2. From there, choose "Faculty/Staff Directory"
   
3. Web pages are the "world" links next to each teacher's name

If you are unable to locate the information you need, please use the email option to request assistance from the teachers. Remember that they are busy teaching our children and may not be able to respond immediately.

Arts Facilitator Seeking Alumni Liaison

The first fourth grade SCAPA class was established at Harrision Elementary School in 1987 which means (if my math is correct) that the first SCAPA class graduated in 1996. Therefore, we have fourteen years worth of SCAPA alumni families. This is an essential group that needs representation. I would like to invite any SCAPA alumni student or parent to serve as our alumni liaison. If you are interested in volunteering in this capacity, please contact me, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, so we can begin exploring how we can better stay connected to and serve this population. This could be one person or a committee, so do not fail to volunteer because you figure someone else already has. I look forward to hearing from you.

New FOAS Board Members, Representatives and Committee Chairs

Introducing our new slate of FOAS Board Members, Representatives and Committee Chairs. Please take the time to thank these people for stepping up to lead us through the next exciting school year at SCAPA. When they call you to ask for your help on one of our school's numerous projects, just say "YES."

Living Arts and Science Center Summer Fun

Fun and creative opportunities for Middle School students this summer at the Living Arts and Science Center!

Arboretum Birdhouse Display and Benefit Auction

The Arboretum has invited our students to create and submit birdhouses for their annual Birdhouse Display and Benefit Auction again this year. Birdhouses will be displayed in the gardens of The Arboretum from September 4-13. The display will end with a reception and silent auction on Sunday afternoon, September 13 from 2-4pm at the Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center. Ribbons will be awarded this year for the Best Children’s Birdhouse (age 10 and under) and there will be a ballot box for visitors to vote for the Visitor’s Favorite Birdhouse. New this year, the Pat Morris Creativity Award will be presented for the Most Creative Birdhouse.

Entry forms are available for download. This is a fun summertime project for creative kids and families that raises money to benefit The Arboretum. Your student may choose to donate their birdhouse to the silent auction or they may reclaim it after the display period is over. Please consider participating in this worthwhile event. We would love to have a great showing of SCAPA birdhouses. I hope to see your student’s entry at the 8th Annual Birdhouse Display in September.

Forms and Fees Sessions

Parents! Please mark these days on your calendar to go to Bluegrass SCAPA and complete all the necessary paperwork and pay next year’s fees. This process saves everyone time in the long run. See you there!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
7th GRADE – 3:00 to 5:00
8TH GRADE - 5:00 to 6:30

MONDAY, AUGUST 10
6TH GRADE – 4:00 to 5:30

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
4TH GRADE – 2:30 to 4:30
5th GRADE - 4:30 to 6:00

Volunteers Needed!

If you can help with the Forms and Fees Sessions that occur before school starts in August, please contact Sylvia Aldrich, 381-3332 ext. 1106, sylvia.aldrich@fayette.kyschools.us for more details. There will be separate days and different times scheduled for each grade level.

Harvard University Announcement

Harvard University announced over in June that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only ten percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in the lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution."

If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free... no tuition and no student loans!

To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/ or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

Friends of the Arts School (FOAS) Meetings

Mark you calendars for the meeting dates in 2008-09:

• August 19 - Meeting Minutes
• September 16 - Meeting Minutes
• October 21 - Meeting Minutes
• November 18 - Meeting Minutes
• December 16 - Cancelled
• January 20 - Meeting Minutes
• February 17 - Meeting Minutes
• March 16 - Meeting Minutes
• April 21 - Meeting Minutes
• May 18 - Meeting Minutes
• June 26 - Meeting Minutes

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Recent Events

Senior Inspiration

Senior Inspiration was held at 3pm on Sunday, May 17th at Calvary Baptist Church. SCAPA graduate, Kelly Hieronymus, a drama major, was one of the speakers. Click here to download a copy of her speech.

SCAPA Senior Banquet

Each May the Lafayette SCAPA seniors are treated to dinner and presented their medallions from their art major teacher. Each of the two students who receive the Don Trivett award give a speech and are then presented with a $500.00 scholarship check. Family members are also invited to attend. It is a lovely occasion and a fitting tribute to our graduates, many of whom have been together for nine years. The event is organized by Ms. Carla Pleasant, SCAPA Gifted and Talented Facilitator, and sponsored by the Friends of the Arts School (FOAS).

SCAPA Graduates!

As co-president of the Lafayette senior class, John Krebs, SCAPA vocal major, presented the inspirational speech to his fellow graduates (click here to read his speech). John and Erin Brown, SCAPA drama major, also performed a duet during the ceremony as the recipients of the Grace Dean Award given by the choral department. In addition, there were numerous SCAPA students in both the band and the chorus. We are so proud of the significant contribution our SCAPA students made to this memorable event!

Senior Awards and Plans

On June 4, 2009 at 4:00pm at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington the following Lafayette SCAPA seniors received their diplomas. Take a few
minutes to appreciate all that these young people accomplished during high school and see what exciting futures our graduates have in store. Congratulations to each of you and please stay in touch now that you are SCAPA alumni! Graduating Seniors Awards and Plans.

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SCAPA Spotlights

This section is reserved for recognizing accomplishments by SCAPA students, parents, faculty and staff. Please send arts accomplishments to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman (carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us). Space limitations will determine how many we can include in any given month.

Top 10 Graduating Seniors Once again SCAPA was well represented among the top 10 graduating seniors from Lafayette High School. We can boast both the valedictorian and salutatorian. We are so proud of these young people and their years of hard work. We wish you all the best and extend our heartfelt congratulations! #1 - Ittai Eres (Valedictorian) #2 - Rea Rostosky (Salutatorian) #4 - Meredith Healy #6 - Heepke Wendroth #10 - Mollie Greenberg Kentucky’s 2009 History Teacher of the Year Our own Beth Randolph, 5th grade teacher, has been named Kentucky’s 2009 History Teacher of the Year. In addition to a $1,00.00 prize, Ms. Randolph is also in the running for the National History Teacher of the Year to be announced this fall. Congratulations, Beth! We’ve known this all along, but now the rest of the state knows and perhaps the rest of the country. A well-deserved honor!! Carnegie Center High School Poetry Contest Recent SCAPA graduate, Ittai Eres, won first place in the Carnegie Center High School Poetry Contest for his piece Birth of a Muse. Other SCAPA finalists included Dani Miller, Rebecca Sanders and Natalie Pacheco. In fact, of the five finalists only one was not from SCAPA. Way to go SCAPA creative writers!

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Academic News

Middle School Science

Ms. Randolph’s Classroom

Check out our classroom website that lists the weekly spelling words. This might come in handy if the book or pretest is accidentally left at home the night before the test.

Language Arts

Mrs. Aldridge's summer reading list:

• 7th grade reading list
• 8th grade reading list

Foreign Languages

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Arts News

Bluegrass

Band

• Band News

Lafayette

Band

• Lafayette Band News
  

Creative Writing

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Club and Team News

Bluegrass

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Arts Roundtable

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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Arts Bookbag

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.)

• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. Daniel H. Pink. (2005, 2006). Riverhead Books, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
• The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. Ken Robinson. (2009). Viking, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
• Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative, Ken Robinson, Capstone, 2001
  
• 5 Minds for the Future, Howard Gardner, Harvard Business School Press, 2009
  
• Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell, Back Bay Books, 2007
  
• Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell, Little, Brown & Company, 2008

Alumni News

ATTENTION SCAPA Graduates from the Class of 2000!

If you are interested in holding a ten-year reunion during the weekend of Lafayette's Homecoming (usually in September/October) or sometime during the 2009-2010 academic year, please contact Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman at (859) 381-3332 ext. 1102 or carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us. The Friends of the Arts School would be happy to host and help you plan a gathering for your SCAPA class! Hope to hear from you.

Submit information to Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman (carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us)

Arts Facilitator Seeking Alumni Liaison

The first fourth grade SCAPA class was established at Harrision Elementary School in 1987 which means (if my math is correct) that the first SCAPA class graduated in 1996. Therefore, we have fourteen years worth of SCAPA alumni families. This is an essential group that needs representation. I would like to invite any SCAPA alumni student or parent to serve as our alumni liaison. If you are interested in volunteering in this capacity, please contact me, carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us, so we can begin exploring how we can better stay connected to and serve this population. This could be one person or a committee, so do not fail to volunteer because you figure someone else already has. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer form for Bluegrass SCAPA parents. Turn in completed form to Barbara Talbert in the front office at BG.

Please be aware that a records check is required in order to participate in volunteer activities in the Fayette County School system.

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FOAS Board Officers and Representatives

• Officers and Representatives

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