Out and About in the Washington and Duchesne Districts

My job is one of the best!  I have the opportunity to visit schools in all regions of the state.  It is such a highlight for me to see the wonderful work our BTS Arts Educators do in the classroom.  To see the engagement, joy and deep learning that happens when our arts educators teach the arts with other content is wonderful.  This past month I was able to spend a couple of days in St. George and Duchesne.  It was great to spend time with BTS Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Art Educators.

Duchesne is not only a beautiful area of our state, but there are some fabulous BTS educators in the schools.  Sarah Butterfield at Altamont Elementary is an example of a wonderful drama educator.  She teaches her students all about the components of a readers theater while teaching them about science and energy.  Sandra Wilde at Duchesne Elementary teaches her students about working with clay and how to make a 3D form.  These fun ghost shapes were displayed at a community Halloween Festival.  What a great way to involve the community.  Another wonderful educator is Carla McGee at Neola Elementary.  She works with her Kindergarten students to make stained glass art.  At Kings Peak Elementary, Heather Jacobson engages her students by talking about texture, actual and implied, foreground and background.  Her students drew art that included the snow hare.

The Southern part of our state is gorgeous as well.  The work that happens in the schools with the beautiful red rock backdrop is wonderful.  Lyndy Butler, BTS Music Educator includes movement in her music class at Hurricane Elementary.  Her students are confident when singing solos or trying an instrument for the first time.  At Sunset Elementary, Jared Nicholson, has his students drumming with confidence and joy.  They are starting the prep work to play the ukulele.  Stacie Bowden, Music Educator at Legacy Elementary uses the book “The Napping House,”  to connect words with instruments.  Her first-grade class was engaged in the process and each student had a part to play.  The students at Bloomington Hills are fortunate to have Cathy McCaan teach them to play the recorder.  One of the highlights of my stay was visiting Santa Clara for an art night.  Jamie Stucki the music educator at Santa Clara put together a wonderful event which brought in parents and community members.