2014 Spring Academics and the Arts Emphasis

For those of you who have long been a part of life at The Learning Center! you are very familiar with our annual spring emphasis on the Academics and the Arts. If you are new to the campus or if you just want to know the latest, you may want to check out the information on our website www.naturallygrownkids.org , under Events, then click on Academics and the Arts.  Additionally there is more detailed, related information:

Historically, the Spring Academics and Arts emphasis started as a two-day celebration, then expanded to a week-long event, to several weeks, and next to a semester. It is so exciting to realize that we are pulling off an arts emphasis that happens all year long. Check out our ongoing accomplishments for the 2013-2014 school year:

1. Beginning of fall semester: Introduced Get Exposed to Music Friday and The Beat Goes On, private music lessons. Both programs will be ongoing.

2. K-4 Chorus Program

3. GrowZone Players participate in the annual Street Drama event through Cherokee County Arts Council Art Walk.

4. Annual Veterans’ Day Program, K-4 Chorus

5. Annual Tree Lighting Program, 2nd-4th Chorus

6. Annual Murphy Christmas Parade, GrowZone Players

7. Elective Program, 6th -8th, Art and Design(Carrie Dyer, instructor), Pottery (Julie Johnson, instructor) Knitting and Crochet,( BJ McFalls and Carol Jean Smith, instructors)

8. K-4 Visual Arts Program, Carrie Dyer, instructor

9. New “arts connection” with Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, Woodstock, GA, Gay Grooms, Director. GrowZone Players and Jackie Ward Foundation representatives were recent guests at an Elm Street performance of Treasure Island.  It is through the Elm Street connection and the drive of our own Music Education Program Director, Judy Coleman, that we are beginning a K-4 Drama Education Program, starting late spring with grades 3rd-4th.

10. Annual Talent Show, K-8

11. Jo Kilmer, clogging instructor, is finishing up today the 2014 Artist in Residency stint here on our campus. This residency offering is made possible through a Grassroots Arts Grant promoted through the Cherokee County Arts Council. Kelly and I have enjoyed the number of parents coming into the office asking for more details about the dance classes that Jo offers at the nearby Wellness Center. We have also enjoyed students coming in to tell us that they have bought tap shoes for clogging.

12. Annual Spring Concert, K-4, Judy Coleman, Director

13. Annual Spring Play, THE BIG BAD MUSICAL, Lisa Maliska, Director, Judy Coleman, Music Director, The GrowZone Players,

14. Group of 5th-8th graders attended NORTH CAROLINA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA concert sponsored by Brasstown Concert Association, with special thanks to Roberta Rankin, Jackie Ward Foundation.

15. K-8TH YOUTH ARTISTS, working with Carrie Dyer and Julie Johnson submitted entries in the Valley River Arts Guild 2014 Student Art Exhibit.

16. ANNUAL CONTESTS FOR THE WRITTEN ARTS, PROSE AND POETRY, 2ND-8TH and Annual Art Contest, K-8th. (DETAILS FOR THESE EVENTS ARE COMING OUT SEPARATELY.)