SDAN Contact:Russ Sperling Title: Director of Visual and Performing Arts Mailing Address:
670 L Street, Suite C, Chula Vista, CA Phone: (619) 691-5848
2010-2011 VAPA PROGRAM
New Program Activities
• South Bay VAPA Collaborative comprised of district-level assistant superintendent/ curriculum directors representing the five South Bay School Districts, plus Sweetwater and San Diego County VAPA Directors, discussing arts education policy initiatives that affect the area.
• South Bay Alliance for Arts Education (SBAAE), created by the California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) to advocate for arts education in South Bay School Districts. Comprised of school, community, business and student representatives, headed by Ron Bolles.
• Scholar’s Music Project is a South Bay implementation of the Venezuelan El Sistema principles, in this case a community-based program redistributing donated musical instruments and supporting grassroots music instruction.
• Student Leadership Summits established, where students representing all district schools meet to share ideas for promoting VAPA activities at their individual sites.
• Strategic coordination with ROP/CTE to expand and enhance performing and media arts programs district-wide.
• California Music Project collaboration, working with state organization and SDSU to support enhanced student-teacher mentorships.
Program Highlights
• More than 17,000 students across 24 middle and high schools; 3.5% increase in VAPA enrollment, and over 42% of District students enrolled in a VAPA class
• Summer Theater Institute, with District-wide auditions for summer stage production with professional direction.
• Residential Summer Arts Camp for 150+ students, completely free (training in 7 of our 9 specialties)
• Annual Student Art Show at Chula Vista City Library.
• VAPA web site highlighting information on district-wide events, and coordinating site programs
• Archival library of district VAPA events, available to all teachers for classroom use
• On-site musical instrument repair workbench and FTE
• Instrument Maintenance Awareness Program with instructions and downloads through website.
• Honor Band program established for High Schools and Middle Schools
• All-day Curriculum Instruction and Assessment meetings with each arts discipline, for arts advocacy and Professional Learning Community (PLC) work
• Costume Library to support theater productions throughout the District
• Ongoing District-wide technology training program, including new technology purchase for each attendee
• Music Library for Instrumental and Vocal music.
• New Arts Education Partnership with Timken and Mingei Museums offering free admission, free docent-guided tours, and free transportation to SUHSD students and teachers.
Strategic Planning
• Ongoing strategic Arts Planning committee
• Twice-annual all-teacher meetings where Arts Plan is reviewed and developed by discipline and site subcommittees
• Creating and writing standards-based curriculum for dance and art courses, following on completed music and theater work
