VISION
It is the vision of the Sanger Community Arts Team that all TK-8 students have access and opportunities to participate, exhibit, perform and celebrate dance, music, theatre and visual arts through sequential, standards-based curriculum and instruction that inspire creativity throughout the community.
MISSION
Teaching artists, staff members, arts organizations and the community will work together to enrich the arts experience for students and engage as audience members, mentors and supporters for the arts in schools.
During the 2015-2016 school year, Sanger Unified teamed up with The Kennedy Center and the Fresno County Office of Education to implement the "Any Given Child" program. The Sanger Community Arts Team was formed to study current instruction in visual and performing arts, identify areas of need, and create an action plan to address those needs.
Our Goals
Provide professional learning in arts integration for all K-12 teachers and administrators, as well as community members such as art docents who provide services to Sanger Unified students. Appropriate professional learning, will include foundational skills in all arts disciplines and strategies for integration with other content areas (ELA, math, science, social studies).
- Arts integration training for Principals and VAPA lead teachers
- Arts integration strategies included in grade level teacher training
- Continue Jefferson Elementary Art Docent Program, expand to Lincoln Elementary
Impact on Students
Ongoing training will build capacity of VAPA site leads, administrators and teachers to become more comfortable with arts integration, allowing for increased opportunities for students to learn through Dance, Music Theatre and Visual Art. Students will benefit from more creative teaching that engaged multiple modalities. Students will master rigorous academic content both in the arts and in other content areas. Students’ arts education will be sequential, and well articulated from grade to grade. Students’ attendance and behavior will improve due to a high level of engagement in school.
Measures of Success
100% of principals attend arts integration training.
100% of K-8 teachers attend arts integration training.
100% of school sites will have a VAPA lead teacher.
100% of K-8 classes will be included in the scope and sequence.
Provide equitable access to arts education and experiences for all students.
- Elementary schools will integrate each arts discipline by trimester so that students receive integrated arts education as part of their regular school day.
- The first trimester will focus on building theatre skills and knowledge
- The second trimester will focus on building visual arts skills and knowledge culminating in Youth Art Month.
- The third trimester will focus on building skills and knowledge in dance and music.
- Multiple arts disciplines may also be implemented throughout the year.
- Each grade level will have a high quality and diverse arts experience as an audience member.
- Sanger High School’s theatre department will perform for grades TK-2.
- 3rd grade will have a visual art experience such as “The Art of the Word” with the Fresno Art Museum.
- 4th grade will participate a music experience such as the Link Up music program with the Fresno Philharmonic.
- 5th grade will have a professional dance experience such as the Valley Performing Arts Council’s ballet performances.
- 6th grade will have a professional theatre experience, such as a Fresno Grand Opera musical or Broadway touring performance.
- The district will begin hiring new arts specialist teachers and creating capacity for arts instruction.
- Begin integrated music and movement classes for every 2nd and 3rd grade student.
- Create a TK-1 music program district-wide
- Explore new “integrated arts” positions for credentialed teachers, teaching artists, and community volunteers.
- Look for ways to engage middle and high school staff and students to provide more TK-8 arts experiences for students.
- School sites will begin engaging student activities related to the arts, such as the Cardboard Challenge or STEAM day.
Impact on Students
All students will have a rich arts experience at every grade level and equal access to a high quality arts education. Students will become aware of career possibilities in each arts discipline. Students will experience the arts of diverse cultures. Students will have the opportunity to connect the arts with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Measures of Success
All TK-8 students will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on STEAM project, such as the cardboard challenge.
100% of TK-2nd graders will see a high school drama production each year.
100% of 3rd graders will participate in a visual art experience.
100% of 4th graders will participate in a musical experience.
100% of 5th graders will see a professional dance production each year. 100% of 6th graders will see a professional theatre production each year.
Provide opportunities for all TK-8th grade students to perform or exhibit the arts for community members. Students will have the opportunity to experience performances and exhibits presented by artists and arts groups both on campus and within the community.
- Create resource list of free or low cost community arts resources and events for students and educators.
- Create parent docent programs for visual art.
- Initiate or continue school site arts events centered on existing school activities: Back to School Night, Open House, Cinco de Mayo, Unity Day, Martin Luther King, Red Ribbon Week, Peach Blossom, District Showcase,
- Early Literacy Nights, etc.
- Engage community performers and visual artists in performing and exhibiting at school sites.
Impact on Students
Increased visual art experiences, increased community involvement. Students will become more engaged in their community through frequent exchanges both at school and off site. Students will have the opportunity for their performances and exhibitions to be enjoyed by the community. Students will benefit from a multi-generational approach to teaching. Students will be more excited about going to school.
Measures of Success
Higher visibility of the arts at school site events. A comprehensive community arts resource list shared with all schools. Parent art docent programs will be implemented at all elementary school sites.
Create a culture of ongoing communication that advocates for the benefits of arts education and arts integration that supports the district vision:
- Create a communication plan to inform the community and schools of arts events and programs.
- Arts Programs
- Create and distribute advocacy information, e.g. brochures, signs, testimonials, research articles, etc.
- Create a district one-pager on benefits of arts.
- Display Any Given Child banners at elementary schools.
- Arts events:
- Create a communication plan to inform local media of events
- Create a communication plan to inform parents and community of events
- Arts Programs
Impact on Students
Increased opportunities for arts experiences for students and the community. Improved communication will increase attendance of families and community members at student performances, and attendance of students and families to community performances.
Measures of Success
A Visual and Performing Arts website has been created, and will be regularly updated with events. Any Given Child banners will be displayed at all school sites. Advocacy information will be shared with and displayed at all school sites. A resource list of free or low cost community arts resources and events for students and educators has been created and shared with all school sites.