CRS PTO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMS

For the 2009-2010 school year, the CRS PTO will fund a total of $7,000 in cultural arts programs or assemblies for the children of our school.  An additional $1,500 - $1,800 in programs will be funded through grants.  Both whole-school assemblies and specific grade programs are organized. 

Anyone with questions regarding any of the cultural arts programs, can contact any of the following committee members:

• Heather Schauster

Thanks for your efforts in bringing these wonderful programs to our school! 

2009-2010 SCHEDULED ASSEMBLIES

September 11, 2009:  The Tirebiter Band presents POP 101.  This is a whole school assembly in which our students will take a journey with the band o a historical "musical time line" with commentary on the evolution of music from the 1940's era to today. 

September 28 & 30, October 1 & 5, 2009:  Thomas Mezzanote's Photo Workshop for 5th Grade. 

In this class, students make a pin hole camera and shoot their own photograph.  They develop the photo and print positive pictures from their negative allowing them to understand the process of photography.

November 9, 2009:  Storyteller Tom Lee (grades 1-5)  In the course of a 45 minute session, each grade will hear one or more traditional folk tales from cultures around the world.  Stories are chosen spontaneously from a repertoire established over fifteen years.  After a brief conversation with the classes, Tom Lee pulls the kids into his stories with his words, imagery, and student participation. 

November 19, 2009:  High Touch High Tech "Give Me Dirt" - Grade 2:  Hands-on look at the inner workings of a plant:  how they use soil, water, sunlight and carbon dioxide.  Soil is not just "dirt" when it comes to plants.

December 9, 2009:  High Touch High Tech "Dig It" - Grade 3:  Kids will step into the world of geology and learn about gems, rocks and minerals and learn how the Earth makes them.  The kids will plan for real gems and keep what they find.  They will also classify their gems and find out why they are so precious.

February

February 12, 2010     First Grade – Lutz Children’s Museum – Animal X-Ray Program  

February 19, 2010     Third Grade – Jeffrey McQuillan – African Drummer                         

No events scheduled due to CMT schedules.

April

April 5, 2010  Fourth Grade – James Dina – Storyteller  

“Voyage of the Ant.”  Mr. Dina presents the slide show of his arduous canoe trip up the Connecticut

River to rediscover the world the Indians inhabited, demonstrating Stone Age tools and Indian skills.

April 14, 2010  Full School BMX Bike Assembly

April 15, 2010 First Grade – Wind Program – Tom Alena – Talcott Mountain Science Center      

This program teaches about wind, what causes wind, and air pressure.  A device is brought in that

creates hurricane force wind. 

April 16, 2010:  Leslie Johnson, Specialist in Creative Writing, will conduct a creative writing workshops for each of the 3rd Grade Classes.  The purpose of each one hour peotry workshop is to help the students improve their use of the meaningful language detail: allow them to be more expressive with their language and promote fluency and confidence in their own writing process.  This is a hands on activity that is designed to help the students expres themselves in a very creative way resulting in very imaginative peotry.

April 27, 2010:  Lenka Pichlikova will present Circus Performance to the Kindergarten classes.  This program includes clowning, juggling, magic tricks, puppets, pantomime, balloon animals, and other circus acts.  These areas are explored in a performance designed to excite the children about their upcoming field trip to the circus adn perhaps alleviate any nervousness or fears.  An invitation will go home iwth the morning kindergarten classes so that they have the opportunity to return back to school with their parents to see the performance.

May

May 18, 2010  Fourth Grade – Ben Franklin Basement – West Hartford Science Center 

Learn about the electrical discoveries made by Franklin (and some other famous electrical

scientists) as you try your own experiments with static electricity, electromagnets, circuits an

much more

June

June 1, 2010  Second Grade - Motoko – Japanese Storyteller 

Motoko specializes in telling stories from Japan, combined with participatory songs and mime

movements. She also tells tales from China, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Her stories are humorous

and wise, and impart cultural lessons and morals