From Marilynn Cunningham, Bluegrass Principal

Dear SCAPA Families:

I am thrilled about the start of our 2009-2010 school-year. I hope you are, too. I have heard comments from many of our experienced teachers. They thought it was the best start-up they have had. This is a tribute to the families of our students. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful support. School is important and the first days of school do set the tone of the year. I am looking forward to a wonderful year.

Congratulations also for helping us achieve the rating of being in the top five middle schools in the south. To be exact, we were rated fourth! You can read more about this by connecting to the kudos column in Stu’s News.

This month our focus will be on hard work and enthusiasm. I want to encourage you to teach your student to work hard, agenda style. You can help your child to work hard by:

• Checking your child’s agenda regularly
• Helping your child break large tasks such as tests and projects into smaller pieces
• Creating a homework schedule

It is doing little things every day that make the big things happen. I want to encourage you to take steps with your family that will help your student’s dreams come true. (1) Help your student create a homework area. Stock this area with extra supplies your student might need when he or she is studying. (2) Remind your child that doing hard work isn’t always fun at the time, but the great pay-off comes later. While playing games might be exciting today, a high score on a test might be even more exciting tomorrow. (3) Give your child chores to complete around the house. Chores help instill a sense of pride, work ethic and importance.

Thank you for all your leadership at the picnic and silent auction. Now let us work hard to sell the most Innisbrook. We have one more week to sell Innisbrook. This, too, is a way you can help your child. For those students who sell 12 items, we will have a social on September 18, 2009! Set a family goal to sell 12 items by September 9, 2009, and come join us at the social.

Sincerely,

Marilynn Holt 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 Friends of the Arts
It doesn’t take long to get back into the routine of school. Already, students are reading, writing, solving problems and working on projects. The Lafayette teachers are already looking forward to meeting parents at our Open House on Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 pm.

Something that we want to bring to the attention of parents this year is the Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The ILP is a web-based computer program that offers many opportunities for students to take interest inventories, document their high school accomplishments, research college and vocational opportunities and apply for scholarships. Students complete the ILP at school, but there is not enough class time for students to get the true benefit of the program. We encourage parents to ask students to work on their ILP’s and share their progress with parents at home. In addition, parents will need to get into the program before the end of the year to approve the progress the students make. We will offer help sessions in the spring for parents who would like more information and guidance on the ILP’s.

Thank you to all the parents who helped with our summer programs, Pre-Registration, Freshmen Orientation, and first few days of school. We couldn’t do it without you!

Vicki Ritchie

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Let ‘Em See You Sweat

The other evening while performing the ritual agenda reviewing and signing I noticed that the themes for September are “industriousness” and “enthusiasm.” The take home message being that hard work is a prerequisite to achieving your potential AND being excited about working hard makes the process more enjoyable and rewarding. I find it fascinating that we have to convince our children of the value of hard work when not that long ago, that was the only kind of work there was. Day to day living was work. You didn’t have the luxury of deciding whether or not you wanted to do it, you just did it or you didn’t survive.

When did the value of hard work come into question? I am awfully afraid that we have seen the enemy and the enemy is us. What is it that nearly every generation of parents has wanted for their children? A better life. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way the word “better” became confused and eventually equated with “easier.”

Millions of people for centuries have travelled thousands of miles to this country for the promise of a better life. For the most part they have been hard working, responsible, self-reliant, disciplined individuals. It seems to me that the qualities that made them such upstanding citizens in the first place were the very things from which they tried to protect their children.

The honor that was once associated with hard work turned into embarrassment and shame. The focus and value shifted to leisure. The goal became to have as much leisure as possible and to work as little as necessary to get it. You know, the whole living for the weekend mentality. I guess the other five days, which happen to make up the vast majority of our lives, are basically meaningless. It is the weekend, the vacation, the leisure time that really makes life worthwhile.

I remember an ad campaign some years ago for an antiperspirant that said, “Never let ‘em see you sweat.” Sweating, the natural by-product of hard work, became a social and professional faux pas. The notion that struggling or exerting effort to accomplish a goal is undesirable and even demeaning has become a powerful message. It is no wonder our children and young people, actually people in general, are confused about the value of hard work.

The evidence of this even extends into personal appearance and interpersonal relationships. Hours spent making it seem as though one hasn’t bothered with one’s looks. Hundreds of dollars spent on clothing that looks like it’s been worn before, by several previous owners. Heaven forbid that one should put forth the effort to keep one’s pants up. Conversation that sounds as though very little thought has been put into the selection of words, using as few as possible and filling in the gaps with ‘like.’ Failure or unwillingness to make eye contact. Apparently the goal is to convey an air of disinterest bordering on boredom and creating the impression that everything can be accomplished without any effort.

Look at what has happened in the arts. If you have garage band, you’re a musician. If you can wiggle your hips, you’re a dancer. If you have 19 children, you’re an actor. If you can paint by number, you’re an artist. By suggesting that these are reasonable assumptions, we have fundamentally devalued the work of truly great artists - artists who have dedicated thousands of hours to perfecting their work. Artists who make what they do look so easy because they have worked so hard. Artists like Mozart whose hands were deformed by the time he was in his twenties from the hours of practice. Or Fred Astaire who spent hours working on choreography that would distract from what he considered oversized hands. These are but two of the countless examples of people representing every art, every profession, every walk of life, who have been absolutely certain that – Being your best requires working at it and working hard. There is honor, pleasure, satisfaction and reward in hard work, both physical and mental. Nothing worth doing or having comes easy. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

A compelling scene in “The Lion King” is Mufasa declaring to Simba, “You are more than what you have become.” This is the ultimate outcome of the failure to recognize the value of hard work and accept responsibility for pursuing one’s potential. I cannot imagine any parent ever wanting to say that to their child. But what incredible courage, wisdom and love it would take to do so. My preference is to prevent such a scene from ever becoming necessary. Here are some measures that might help:

• Live the motto. The new motto at SCAPA this year is, “Everything you do is a self portrait. Autograph your work with excellence.” Talk about what this motto means with your student. Ask them how they will know if they are living the motto.
  
• Reserve the refrigerator for their best work. Help them learn to recognize their best work in every area of their life, ie. schoolwork, their art, relationships, etc. Demonstrate appreciation for their efforts toward excellence but reserve the celebrating for when they have accomplished it.
  
• Expose them to excellence. Take them to museums, professional performances, read award-winning literature, view classic movies and discuss what makes these exceptional. Help them learn to identify the qualities of excellence.
  
• Provide them with role models. Read and watch biographies about people who have accomplished great things. Point out how much time was devoted to their achievements, their determination in the face of setbacks and their commitment to continuous improvement throughout their lives.
  
• Remember that practice makes permanent. Make sure they are practicing correctly and to the best of their ability. Take them to watch professional rehearsals if possible. Even the masters have to practice. In fact, they probably practice more than anyone. That is why they are masters.
  
• Try something new. Find something you want to be better at, something you have always wanted to learn how to do, something that you have been reluctant to try because you might not be good at it. Let your children see you struggle. Let them see your progress.

Don’t be afraid to let them see you sweat!

---

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)

• Tuesday, September 1, 8:00am, District Walk Through, Bluegrass SCAPA
  
• Monday, September 7, Labor Day, No School
  
• Tuesday, September 8, 6-7:30pm, Parent Meetings for Peter Pan, HH and MPR
  
• Wednesday, September 9, Innisbrook Fundraiser ends
  
• Monday, September 14, Bluegrass SCAPA Open House, throughout building
  
• Tuesday, September 15, 8:15-10:55am, 8th Grade EXPLORE TEST, MPR
  
• Wednesday, September 16, BARRAGE Clinic and Concert, Transylvania University
  
• Thursday, September 17, 4-5:30pm, Innisbrook Party, MPR
  
• Monday, September 21, 8:45-11am, School Pictures, HH
  
• Tuesday, September 22, 6pm, FOAS Meeting, Creative Writing Lab
  
• Tuesday, September 22, 6-7pm, Lafayette SCAPA Audition/Application Information Meeting, Lafayette Library
• Wednesday, September 23, 3:30-5pm, LHS SCAPA Vocal Master Class featuring Dr. Noemi Lugo from UK, LHS Choir Room
  
• Monday, September 28, No School for Kids
  
• Thursday, October 1, 8:25am-3:45pm, 4th Grade Trip to Boonesboro, tentative upon approval by school board
  
• Thursday, October 1, 6-7:45pm, BG SCAPA Information Night & Audition Prep Workshops, MPR & Arts Rooms
• Friday, October 2, 7pm, LHS Chorus Gala featuring performances by SCAPA vocal majors, Immanuel Baptist Church
  
• Saturday, October 3, CELLOPALOOZA, Tates Creek High School
  
• Friday, October 9, 6pm, 8th grade Band Night, Lafayette High School
  
• Thursday, October 15, No School
  
• Friday, October 16, No School
  
• Monday, October 19, 4pm, Peter Pan Headshots
  
• Tuesday, October 20, 4pm, Peter Pan Headshots
  
• Tuesday, October 20, 4pm, FOAS Meeting, Rm. 146
• Thursday, October 22, 7-8:30pm, Performing and Visual Arts College Night, Lexington Catholic HS
• Saturday, October 24, 10am-Noon, Peter Pan Costume Parade for Elementary, MPR
  
• Saturday, October 24, 12:30-2:30pm, Peter Pan Costume Parade for MS, MPR
  
• Sunday, October 25, 2pm, Lexington Philharmonic Youth Arts Day, Singletary Center
  
• Sunday, October 25, 3pm, Bluegrass SCAPA chorus sings with Lexington Philharmonic and CKYO, Singeltary Center
  
• Monday, October 26, Red Ribbon Day
  
• Monday, October 26, 1pm, School Picture Retakes, HH
  
• Thursday, October 29, 1:55-3:45pm, Karl Paulnack (from Boston Conservatory) visits BG SCAPA
  
• Thursday, October 29, 4-5pm, Karl Paulnack Public Presentation, Arts Place
  
• Thursday, October 29, 7-8pm, Karl Paulnack SCAPA Presentation, MPR
  
• Thursday, October 29, 7pm, Lafayette Playathon, LHS Cafeteria
  
• Friday, October 30, First block, Karl Paulnack speaks to LHS SCAPA students, Beeler Auditorium
  
• Saturday, October 31, 9am-?, BG SCAPA auditions, MPR and Art Rooms

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Announcements and Reminders

Mr. Karl Paulnack from the Boston Conservatory

Next month Mr. Karl Paulnack from the Boston Conservatory will be visiting SCAPA and Lexington for a series of presentations. He will be at Bluegrass SCAPA during majors on Thursday, October 29th as well as speaking at Arts Place as part of LexArts Distinguished Speaker Series from 4-5pm and then back at Bluegrass SCAPA that evening to speak to SCAPA parents, faculty and staff in the MPR. He will present to the Lafayette SCAPA students during first block on Friday, October 30th and will return to Bluegrass SCAPA in the afternoon to speak during the Middle School ABs celebration. Please take the time to read Mr. Paulnack’s presentation made last year to the Boston Conservatory’s entering freshman class and their parents.

Here is a message I just received from Mr. Paulnack. This is a great opportunity to preview his philosophy and work before he arrives. I certainly hope you will join us for any and all of his presentations during his two-day stay in October.

Hi friends,

Just a quick note to let you know that this Friday’s Performance Today broadcast from American Public Radio will be an hour long interview/performance with me and my violinist partner/friend Jorja Fleezanis with host Fred Child (host of “Piano Puzzler”--what a great show!)

The interview is about teaching and performing and how the two fit together, and includes some music from us as well. For local stations and broadcast times, see http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/stations/ (for Lexington listen to WEKU-FM, 88.9 at 8:00pm)

The show will also be available online for those who live in areas where APR is not carried.

Hope those of you who are beginning academic years are off to a good start! All best,

Karl

Lafayette Drama Department's presentation of "The Miser"

Don't miss these SCAPA students in Lafayette Drama Department's presentation of "The Miser", Beeler Auditorium, October 9th and 10th at
7:00pm. Congratulations!

Valere.................................Will Swisher
Elise.................................Nicole VanDenburg
Cleante.................................Jimmy Betts
La Fleche.................................Jordan Pruitt
Master Simon.................................Zenas Rother
Frosine.................................Sydney Steele
Master Jacques.................................Miles Conger
Marianne.................................Elaina Henderson

The aging but vital Harpagon is hoarding every centime he can get his hands on, making sure his two children, Elise and Cleante, live under
his iron will. To complicate matters, Elise has fallen in love with the handsome Valere, who masquerades as a servant in the household, despite his noble birth, and, worse yet, Cleante and Harpagon are both smitten with the same woman, the beautiful, if somewhat dim, Marianne. Meanwhile, scheming servants and assorted hustlers angle for Harpagon's incredible wealth, much of which is now buried and protected by snarling Dobermans. The delirious plot spirals to a wildly comic finish, filled with al the masterful plot twists and outrageous revelations one would expect from one of Moliere's finest plays.

Paragon Music Theatre's production of "Hello Dolly"

Come see these SCAPA Students in Paragon Music Theatre's production of "Hello Dolly"

Ambrose.......Andrew Wiemann, junior, contemporary dance
Ermangarde......Haley Fish, freshman, ballet

Ensemble
Meredith Ruddell, 5th, contemporary dance
William Arnold, 4th, strings
Natalie Betts, freshman, contemporary dance
McKenna Slone, freshman, drama
Kaitlyn Ryan, sophomore, contemporary dance
Margie Wiemann, 8th, contemporary dance
Carolyn Meier, sophomore, contemporary dance
Adela Wilson, junior, ballet
Fiona Mowbray, junior, ballet
Will Swisher, junior, drama
Jamie Harvener.....Dance Captain & Barnaby understudy, sophomore,
contemporary dance

Paragon Music Theatre presents "Hello Dolly", The Lexington Opera House, October 22-24 at 8pm and October 25 at 3pm. Tickets available through the Lexington Center Box Office, 233-3535.

Museum GO Round

The Explorium of Lexington is gearing up for the 10th annual Museum GO Round 2009 and they want to see you there! Last year they welcomed over 3,000 visitors! It's very exciting to watch MGR grow and see more and more neighborhood friends join in! Pencil it on your calendar for Saturday, October 17 - and get ready to entertain and dazzle guests, artists and families.

• Museum Go Round (MGR)
• MGR performer registration.
  • Please include a description of your talent and the name of your company on the registration. Please call if you have any questions. You can reach Sarah Chamberlain at 859-258-3253 x11 or via email at chamberlain@explorium.com

Performing and Visual Arts College Night

FOAS/SCAPA is jointly sponsoring the Performing and Visual Arts College Night with Lexington Catholic. Please encourage your high school juniors and seniors to attend. This is a wonderful opportunity to actually experience a college audition here at home. Congratulations to Ashlea McIllwain for creating the artwork for this event!

WE NEED YOUR BOXTOPS!

Each month SCAPA Bluegrass will hold a boxtop contest between homerooms. A prize will be awarded to the top collecting homeroom on the last school day of each month, beginning in September.

Please send your clipped boxtops to school with your child. The student should deposit the boxtops in the container in the designated container in their homeroom. At the end of each month the winning homeroom will be announced on the SCAPA News.

The winning homeroom in September will receive a Popsicle Party!

Good Luck and Happy Clipping!!!

GOD'S Pantry Food Drive

Backpack information will be forthcoming to inform you about SCAPA'S annual GOD'S Pantry food drive. It will begin in early September and continue in October

Margaret Powell Fund Donation

A donation of $205.24 was made to FOAS to help with purchasing Dance SCAPA t-shirts. The donation was received from the Margaret Powell Fund established in 1986 to help support children in Fayette County. The fund is a tribute in memory of a special lady who died too young, but worked tirelessly as a volunteer not only for her children, but for any child in need. Ms. Judi Conrad presented the donation. We are honored to receive this generous gift. Thank you.

BARRAGE

The string group, BARRAGE, will be performing at Transylvania University on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30pm. Six of our own SCAPA kids will be performing “Calypso Jam” on stage with Barrage: Dylan Rowe, Hitomi Shimojo, Blakeley Burger, Sarah MacDonald, Sarah Takahashi and Katie Jones.

Students tickets are $10 and adult tickets $15. Friends and family are welcome to join us in the SCAPA block. See Ms. Nancy Campbell about tickets.

For more info about Barrage, visit their website: www.barrage.org. Also, they have several posts on YouTube you might enjoy. Ms. Campbell had the opportunity to work with them at a camp this summer. Their concert is sure to be a lot of fun. Come enjoy the show!

Alumni! We Want To Know What You Are Doing!

We would like to make plaques to hang outside each of the arts rooms with the names of graduates and what they are doing professionally. Mr. Love has one on the wall just outside his door. Every year he takes his new 4th graders out in the hall, reads the names of past students and what they are doing, and tells the current students that if they dedicate themselves to their work, someday their name will be on the plaque. This is a great motivator! We want every arts teacher to have the opportunity to do the same thing. Please send me your name, year you graduated, major and what you are doing professionally so that we can expand and maintain this tradition. My address is carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us. We are looking forward to hearing from you and celebrating your success.

Fees and Forms Sessions

Thank you to everyone who attended the fees and forms sessions before school started. By taking care of the paperwork and paying fees before the first day of school you have helped not only the administrative staff, but the teachers as well. Less time spent on paperwork in the classroom means more time spent on instruction. We had 100% participation for some grade levels. A special thank you to those who helped with this event. We hope to have 100% participation for the whole school next year. We are off to a great start! Sylvia Aldrich

Become a Production Sponsor

SCAPA needs you! The time has come for parents and friends to consider advertising in the programs for all of the 2009-2010 productions. You may do so by completing the benefactors, patrons, supporter form which allows you to place your name, or the name of other family members such as grandparents, under the appropriate category in our production programs. If you own a business, perhaps you would like to purchase a business card ad where an exact copy of your card in black and white will appear in the programs. All names and business card ads purchased will appear in the programs for all six productions for the 2009-10 school year: Lost in Yonkers, Peter Pan, Amadeus, Dance SCAPA, And A Child Shall Lead, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You may complete the form(s)) and mail them along with your check to FOAS, PO Box 866, Lexington, Ky. 40588. Your support is needed and is greatly appreciated!

If you know of someone who owns a business and who might be interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2009-10 production season, sponsorships are available ranging from $500 to $5000. or more. The sponsors of our productions make it possible for our audience members to enjoy our wonderful shows. Sponsors will receive ads in all programs as well as signage at the event venue.

• Benefactors, patrons, supporter form
  
• Business card ad form
  
• Becoming a sponsor form

If you know of a potential sponsor or if you would like to serve on the sponsorship committee, please contact the VP of Development, Tracy Lovan at (859) 948-1955.

Innisbrook Gift Wrap & Chocolate Sale

The annual Innisbrook Gift Wrap & Chocolate Sale has been scheduled for August 18 through Sept 9. Last year we raised over $7,300 which was spent directly on our students during the school year! This is the Friends of the Arts School's (FOAS) biggest and only schoolwide fundraiser. The catalogs will be sent home with the students on August 18! Any questions, contact Kim Kearns (kskearns@aol.com) or Jennifer Gorena (gorenas@insightbb.com or 552-6434). We depend on and appreciate your support!

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."

Arboretum Birdhouse Display and Benefit Auction

The Arboretum Birdhouse projects will be on display September 4-13. Please go out and view the over 100 entries. Vote for your favorite SCAPA birdhouse.

The second annual Tea and Tweets event will be held on Thursday, September 10th and includes a tour at 11am and tea at noon. The menu includes Basil-Lemon Scones, Smoked Salmon with Sprouts on Endive, Tea Party Cucumber Sandwiches, Curry Chicken Rolls, Ritz Tea Sandwiches, Raspberry Angel Cake, Amaretto Mousse in Chocolate-Dipped Tarts, Sticky Toffee Tea Cookies, Orange Delight and of course, Tea. The cost is $25.00 and reservations can be made by calling (859) 257-6955. All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Garden at The Arboretum.

UK Opera Theatre creates Academy for Creative Excellence A.C.E.

We now officially have a name for our year-round program! UK Opera Theatre's Academy for Creative Excellence will train students beginning as young as age 3, as well as offering music, theatre, and dance programming to students in 1st through 8th grades and music and dance programming to high school students.

• What? Here is a list of classes being offered (subject to change):
  • Music Classes - Private voice lessons, Small Group vocal lessons, Sight Singing and Ear Training, Music Theory
  • Musical Theatre Classes - Singing Actor, Song and Dance, Triple Threat
  • Dance Classes - Ballet I, Technique I and II, Jazz, Tap, Broadway Tap/Rhythm Tap/Hip Hop, Storytelling Through Dance, Private Dance Lessons, Pre-Ballet (fours and fives) Pre-School and Kindergarten Classes - Music, Moves, and Me (music & dancefor three year olds,) Bouncin' Beats (music & dance for fours), Grin and Share It (music & dance for fives), Pre-Ballet (fours and fives, offered between Bouncin Beats and Grin and Share It)
• When? Classes begin September 10th, 2009
• Who? Mary Joy Nelson (A.R.C.T., BMusEd, MMus, DMA candidate), the director of the UK Opera Theatre-KCTC program Broadway Bound
  will be the artistic director, as well as teaching vocal and music classes. Jenny Fitzpatrick (BFA in theatre, professional choreographer
  and dance teacher) will teach dance disciplines and some theatre classes. Brittany Benningfield (BMusEd, MMus candidate) will teach
  vocal and music classes.
• Where? Classes are scheduled to be at the University of Kentucky (T, Th, Sat), as well as downtown (M, W).
  
• How do I sign up?
  • REGISTER IN PERSON
    Friday, Sept. 4 4pm-6pm
    Saturday, Sept 5 10am-12pm
    Fine Arts Building, 465 Rose Street
    (Registration form will be emailed out before live registration and will be available at registration).
• How much? Classes range in cost with most falling between $35 and $85 a month, depending on the length of class, number of teachers involved, and material taught. Private lessons are $25 per half hour lesson

Friends of the Arts School (FOAS) Meetings

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

• September 22 @ 6pm
  
• October 20 @ 4pm
  
• November 17 @ 6pm
  
• December 15 @ 4pm

Meeting Minutes

• August 25, 2009 - Meeting Minutes
• June 26, 2009 - Meeting Minutes
• May 18, 2009 - Meeting Minutes
• April 21, 2009 - Meeting Minutes

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Recent Events

4th Grade Ice Cream Social

The 4th Grade Ice Cream Social took place on Sunday, August 9th in the MPR. 4th graders and their families, FOAS members, 5th grade SCAPA guides and several faculty members enjoyed making and eating ice cream sundaes on the last Sunday of summer break. The 4th graders discovered who their homeroom teacher would be and had a chance to meet and greet Mr. Beers and Ms. Holmes. 5th grade SCAPA guides met with their respective 4th grade art majors cohorts, answered questions and gave a tour of the arts classrooms. This was a great opportunity to begin building relationships and strengthening ties to the SCAPA community. Our sincere thanks to Perry and Perry, State Farm Insurance for sponsoring this event. Thank you to everyone who made this the biggest turnout yet and another success!

Lafayette SCAPA Reception

New and returning Lafayette SCAPA students were welcomed back with a reception hosted by the FOAS in the LHS cafeteria on the evening of Monday, August 10th. The students and their families were treated to a lovely array of refreshments, artswear was available for purchase and several LHS SCAPA faculty were on hand to answer questions. The highlight of the evening was provided by current students whose performances represented all nine of the art disciplines offered by SCAPA. What an inspiring way to start off the year!

First Day of School

The first day back to school at Bluegrass SCAPA was one of the smoothest ever! Smiling students were greeted by cheerful faculty and staff. Everyone seemed happy to be back together and ready to learn, play, create and perform. Where else but SCAPA would you be welcomed back by none other than Elvis DaVinci in blue suede shoes no less? How fortunate we are to be a part of the SCAPA family!

Getting Acquainted at SCAPA

On Friday, August 14, Mrs. Erbe ate lunch with our new middle student students. In addition to laughs, jokes and stories, students shared what they like about SCAPA, what they need help with and what we could do better to help them along the way. Clearly, what they liked at SCAPA dominated the conversations, but they also learned they are not alone, not the only new person in the building, and who they can ask for help. On Wednesday, August 19, our fourth and fifth grade students enjoyed a mixer outside, getting to know each other both within each grade level and also scrambling the two grade levels of students. Each pair of fourth and fifth grade students asked each other questions, guided by an interview form. Then each student asked any/all other students certain questions, such as "Find someone who came from your neighborhood school." Or, find someone who has a pet, who sings, or plays a string instrument, or draws or writes stories, swims, plays a sport, who likes to eat cookies, etc. Additionally, fourth and fifth grades students are together during lunch, recess and their major art area. These are some of our SCAPA 'family' times. Mrs. Erbe invites all parents/family members and fans our of elementary students to join us for lunch any week day 11:26 - 11:51 in the multi-purpose room, and be prepared to sit with many of your child's newest friends.

SCAPA Back to School Picnic

The SCAPA Back to School Picnic, on Sunday, August 30th, was a glorious success! We could not have asked for better weather. The turn out was fantastic and the most popular activity, by far, was the inflatable gym/slide. The kids were having so much fun, several adults considered taking their shoes off and having a go at it. There were terrific items in the silent auction, plenty of good food for all, and enough paint to cover several faces. Everyone had a wonderful time and helped raise money for our many SCAPA ventures. A huge thank you to those dedicated parents who organized this event for all of us to enjoy! The Silent Auction alone made $2,629.00 for SCAPA!

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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.

Will Lovan, 8th grade trumpet major, was invited to march with the Lafayette Band this school year. Will has been playing trumpet since 4th grade after "retiring" from playing cello for four years. He has been a student at SCAPA since 2005. The band's show this year is entitled "Metamorphosis" and is based on Hindemith's "Symphonic Metamorphosis." For a list of the band's competition's this season log on to http://www.lafayetteband.org. Lafayette SCAPA Visual Artists on Display Artwork from Lafayette SCAPA Visual Art majors is on display in the cases at IAKSS for the month of September. The display cases are to the left of the reception desk on the first floor at the main entrance. Their work is incredible and you will be doing yourself a favor if you take the time to go see what they have created. When I see the talent these young people possess, I am so grateful there is a SCAPA where it is nurtured and celebrated. Thank you to these students for making their work available for display: Seniors Jesse Averitt Emily Collier Sasha Dantchenko Ashlea McIllwain (2 pieces) Sara Mullins Michael Sikora Katherine Spears Juniors Olivia Bruner Lauren Perkins Haley Pierce Ari Sogin Max Thibault Sophomores Kenneth Freeman Erin Hardy Armando Reyes Claire West

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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

Thanks to an FOAS grant awarded this spring the library was able to upgrade the number of A.R. tests available to students from 5,000 to 125,000. We now receive weekly updates as new tests are available whereas before we had to purchase them once a year. Although students can only take A. R. tests at school, they can access a website from home to discover which books at SCAPA are accompanied by an A. R. test. A parent letter was distributed in L.A. classes for parents to access their child's A. R. account and check tests taken and points earned for the nine weeks. Some teachers chose to staple them to agendas and some chose to wait and hand them out during open house which will be held on Monday, September 14th.

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Arts News

Bluegrass

Band

The SCAPA family welcomes to our staff, Dr. Karen Akel, who is working as a part time teacher assisting Ms. Robin Barker with all band classes at SCAPA. We are also pleased to have Mr. Ross Uber from the University of Kentucky, who is student teaching with Ms. Barker during the fall semester.

FOURTH GRADE BAND - The fourth grade general band class will have their first class meeting on Friday, September 4th. At this time we will distribute a folder with class expectations, a parent letter to be signed, a practice report, and a band calendar which has elementary and middle school band dates. Band will meet Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 11:00 to 11:30 each week. Students need to make sure they bring their instrument and book, "Standard of Excellence," Book 1, for their instrument. Cases and books should be labeled with their first and last name. Things will move slowly at first. Practice reports are turned in every Wednesday, and returned to the student every Friday. The first practice report is due September 16, and requires a parent signature each week. At first, we will do a lot of work with the mouthpieces. Seventy-five minutes per week, outside of class, is the expected practice time. Rental forms for school instruments will be issued within the next few weeks. Patience, encouragement, and support will go a long way in this beginning stage of playing.

FIFTH GRADE BAND - We are off to a great start. All students should have the "Accent on Achievement," Book 1, at this point. Students should have cases and books labeled with their first and last name. Folders have been issued with a parent letter to be signed, a practice report, an information sheet to be filled out by you, and a band calendar with important dates. The parent signature sheet and information sheet need to be turned in for a letter grade. Practice reports were taken up for the first time, Tuesday, September 1st. Please sign reports weekly. Seventy-five minutes per week, outside of class, is the expected practice time. Rental for school instruments will be issued within the next few weeks. Your encouragement and support is always appreciated.

ELEMENTARY BAND MAJORS- We are enjoying getting to know each other. Students are reviewing musical concepts, and new ones have been introduced. Fifth graders are working on a composition project with Dr. Akel, while fourth graders are getting some special attention. There are 6 new vocabulary terms to be learned weekly. They will be tested each Wednesday for the next 12 weeks. Practice reports are due each Wednesday. One-hundred minutes per week, outside of class, is the expected practice time. Students may count their private lessons on their practice reports.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND- Our 56 middle school band majors and minors are off to a great start. Students were issued folders on the first day of school. You should have received a band calendar, a parent letter, and an information sheet. Several students have not turned in the parent letter with a signature and the information sheet for a grade. Please sign and return. At this point, you should have signed the practice report three times. These are due every Wednesday, 150 minutes per week for majors, 100 minutes per week for minors. Musical terms test are every Wednesday for the next 12 weeks.

Drama

• Peter Pan cast list

Lafayette

Band

• Lafayette Band News
  

Drama

Congratulations to the cast members of “Amadeus” which will be presented at the Downtown Arts Center November 19-21.

Antonio Salieri – Blake Sugarman
Salieri’s Valet – Alex Holloway
Salierei’s Cook – Cody Taylor
Venticelli #1 – Ema Horvath & Hayley Sternberger
Venticelli #2 – Hannah Ferrell & Elaina Henderson
Emperor Joseph II – Jonathan Karp
Von Strack – Jacob Yates
Orsini-Rosenberg – Mason Reeves
Van Swieten – Forrest Loeffler
Bonno – Colton Ryan
Major Domo – Miles Conger
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Jimmy Betts & Elliott Mattox
Constanze – Sidney Steele & Nicole Van Denburg
Katherina – Gabby Barker
Teresa – Ellie Todd

Voice

• Wednesday, September 23, 3:30-5pm, LHS SCAPA Vocal Master Class featuring Dr. Noemi Lugo from UK, LHS Choir Room
• Friday, October 2, 7pm, LHS Chorus Gala featuring performances by SCAPA vocal majors, Immanuel Baptist Church

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Club and Team News

Bluegrass

Bluegrass Math Counts Team

Devin Onkst will be coaching our 2009-2010 SCAPA Bluegrass Math Counts team.

• Practices will begin in mid-September.
• Keep eyes and ears open for details to come!

Visual Arts

• The visual arts majors will be creating scarecrows for the competition sponsored by Artique in Lexington-Green again this year. Don't forget to go vote. We'll let you know when.

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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.)

Recommended by Melanie Stivers

• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. Twyla Tharp. Simon & Schuster, 2005.

Recommended by Carolyn Waterbury-Tieman

• The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron - New
• Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michael Michalko - New
• 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

Alumni! We Want To Know What You Are Doing!

We would like to make plaques to hang outside each of the arts rooms with the names of graduates and what they are doing professionally. Mr. Love has one on the wall just outside his door. Every year he takes his new 4th graders out in the hall, reads the names of past students and what they are doing, and tells the current students that if they dedicate themselves to their work, someday their name will be on the plaque. This is a great motivator! We want every arts teacher to have the opportunity to do the same thing. Please send me your name, year you graduated, major and what you are doing professionally so that we can expand and maintain this tradition. My address is carolyn.tieman@fayette.kyschools.us. We are looking forward to hearing from you and celebrating your success.

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 Harrison 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

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!

• Bluegrass Volunteer Form
• LHS Volunteer Form

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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