2010-2011 - ArtSpace Charter School

10 YEARS OF EXCELLENCEAnnual Report: 2010-2011ArtSpace celebrates its 10th year with School of Distinction!In 1999, a small group of people had a vision for a school where the standardstate curriculum could be effectively integrated with all arts—visual, dance,drama, music and technology. That was ten years ago. Today, with a staff of 56and 382 students, we are stronger than ever, currently rated as a School of Distinctionby NCDPI. We’ve come a long way—from temporary quarters at Christmountwhere a handful of staff had to move in and out each week to our current38,000 square foot building. ―I remember the entire staff sitting around a picnictable for meetings,‖ said Steve Lipe. ―On Mondays, the students and I unpackedand set the room back up to get back to work.‖After five years, ArtSpace wasgranted a 10-year charter. We are now midway through that and have just submittedthe 5-year review to NCDPI. ―We have come such a long way. I’m proudof our staff, our students and our community,‖ said current Executive Director,Lori Cozzi.ArtSpace staff since the beginning. Left to right, Darlene Turner, Erin Carr, Lyn VanOver,Steve Lipe, Jane Horning, Josh Batenhorst and Carol Davis.I N S I D EArtist Residencies 2Grade Level Highlights 3Grade Level Highlights 4Facility 4Technology 5Arts 5Fundraisers 6Service 7Community Garden 7Musical 7Mural 8

P A G E 2Artist ResidenciesWilliam Rogers ResidencyArtSpace welcomed William Rogers, a local visualartist renowned for his metal work. Thanks to agrant from Hand-Made in America, Rogersworked for two weeks with students and teachersto create a mobile sculpture integrating science,math, and history into an art form.Students in the 7th grade and in themiddle school art elective learned thehistory of metals in various parts ofthe world, integrating the SocialStudies and Science NC StandardCourse of Study. All students werechallenged in creative problem solving,decision making, and the handsonprocess of forming metal intoseparate pieces that were combinedinto a balanced, moving mobile. Thefinal piece is installed as permanentartwork in the Arts Wing and wasdedicated to Norma Bradley,Education Director at Handmade inAmerica. The artist residency with Rogers was supportedby a grant from Handmade in America andthe NC Arts Council.Top— Rogers working with Chris Behrens and Rickie LeachAfrican American SpiritualsCenter— Rogersdemonstrates blacksmithingto GrahamWood, Zoey Benbow,and IsaacEckard.The 5 th grade studied American history as part oftheir social studies curriculum and in quarter 3,learned about the Civil War era. To align withtheir studies and coincide with Black HistoryMonth, visiting artist and ethnomusicologist,Cathy Riley, taught African American Spirituals.Ms. Riley concluded her residency with anArtSpace student performance on February23. The students sang in each of the four typesof Spirituals: praise songs, sorrow songs, message songs, and Spiritualsrevised to become anthems for the Civil Rights movement in the 20 thcentury.Throughout the course of Ms. Riley’s residency at ArtSpace, shebrought in special guests: Ms. Lucille Ray, a former early childhoodspecialist who grew up in the Swannanoa area and is a published poetshared her poetry; Mr. Rodney Lytle from Warren Wilson Collegeshared stories and Spirituals from his childhood; Ms. Norma Bradleyfrom Handmade in America showed quilts and discussing the importanceof such textiles during the time of the Underground Railroad; anda group of senior citizens from St. John’s Baptist performed a collectionof songs and who joined students in the final performance.Right— Lori Cozzi(right), NormaBradley of Handmadein America(front) and WilliamRogers(back) are joinedby students tocelebrate the installationof themobile.Allan WolfResidency forPoetry SlamAllan Wolf, famous slam poet,worked with students on writingand performing original poetry.ArtSpace’s 2011 Middle SchoolPoetry Slam included studentsSpencer Stevens, Caitlin Groetsch,Kyle Brooks and RavenMcKnight. They were amongthirty student poets from sevenmiddle schools and four highschools who competed at theWordSlam 2011 spoken wordpoetry competition!Left— Mr. Rodney Lytle, CathyRiley and Ms. Lucille Ray.Below— 5th grade sing with St.John’s Baptist Church.

P A G E 4Grade Level HighlightsSIXTH GRADEStudents engaged in a varietyof learning activities and projects,activities including theannual Shakespeare and Greekperformances. This year studentsperformed Aristophanes’satire The Frogs, as part of anintegrated unit on Greek historyand culture (top). Students also learnedabout the Greek origins of theatre, the themeof the play and how the playwright has influencedmodern theatre. In science studentsexplored the scientific process of creating ahot air balloon. They worked in teams to designand construct a large scale balloon out oftissue paper. In math they used geometry toimagine the balloon, the launch pad, and anobservation point as a right triangle so duringthe balloon launch they could observe andmeasure the height of the balloons.SEVENTH GRADEStudents were introduced to fourcore subject teachers and rotatedclassrooms. Language Arts andSocial Studies integrate as studentsread literature from Asia,Africa, and Australia. Studentsare offered a choice of electivesto further develop artisticskills in the areas of their interest.MeghanPowell workson a drawingof herselfusing mathematicalconcepts ofproportionand percentages.Jesse Rackley and Zeb Greene(above) played the didgeridooand Lani Erker’s created aDreamTime dot painting (below)in Social Studies while learningabout the Aboriginal tribes ofAustralia.EIGHTH GRADEThe eighth grade curriculum integrates the arts and nature, and encourages each student to form a vision for theirfuture. The eighth grade Career Project uses personality tests, interest inventories, budget planning and researchof different careers of interest to help students develop realistic educational goals and a detailed plan for theirhigh school education. Students celebrated their year on the annual Outer Banks trip which combines key elementsfrom science and social studies. A very special thanks to Darlene Dimenna, Angela O’Brien, Robin Allred,Marianne Mascitelli, and the other 8th grade parents who assisted with the fundraising efforts to make thistrip possible.Chance Hunterdisplays hisedible cell createdwhile studyingcell structure.FacilityThe theater has had wonderful additionsthis year. The school wasable to acquire equipment fromBlue Ridge Motion Picture Studioincluding black velvet curtains,stage lights and gels, and moreprops. The school also purchased ablack light system for special effects!Students and faculty (right) have certainlymade use of the new additions!Faculty await the judging of Foolsfor Poetry Competition (above).Black Light Wonders:2nd Grade and 8th grade (ABOVE) use the newblack light system for special effects in original playproductions.

TechnologyIn 10 years, ArtSpace has made amazing strides in the useof technology. Below are some examples of how we’reusing it to better communication with the ArtSpace communityas well as enhancing classroom instruction.ArtsP A G E 5SMART Boards— ACS added two digital, interactivewhite boards.Document Cameras— ACS added five digital documentcameras with projectors26 Dell laptops with mobile cart allows more studentsto access technologyUpgraded and expanded memory for current PC laptopsUpgraded server storageSix additional security camerasThe Physicist and The Tempest (above) were performedby 7th and 8th graders this year in Drama.The second year of band was a success! Studentsperformed on numerous occasions (below).Visual Art from multiplegrade levels were representedin the Asheville Mall ArtShow and the Spring ArtsFestival in school.Dance Elective performed at the Winter and SpringArts Festival. Dances included student choreographyand costumes.1st grade students did ballet aspart of an AfterCare class and hada recital at the end of the year.

P A G E 6Fundraisers:Over $30,000 for 2010-2011!ArtSpace has had a wonderful fundraising year!INGLES CARDSSKATE NIGHTBOOK FAIRStudents enjoy reading books from theBook Fair (below).In total these fund raisers have brought ArtSpace over $10,000!The 3rd Annual ArtSpace Annual Fund generated $ 6,785.66!CabaretThanks to All who helped make this year’s Cabaret an amazing evening! ArtSpace raised $20,000! The staffand community’s joint effort made this such a successful event. Special thanks to parent volunteers KarenStobbe, Wendi Diamond, Alisa Hixson, Rachel Wyatt, Katie Butler deWit, Joyce Hunter, and Johanna Rackleyfor all their hard work.―Boom Chix (left) with their high energy drumming anddancing were awe inspiring. To have high caliber performerssuch as Grammy Award winning Al Petteway andAmy White grace us with their presence was a real honor.It was also great to have such amazing talent from ourimmediate ArtSpace community.” - Gail ForsythSilent auction items included trips to Disney Land,Trans Air Tickets and lots of local items donated bylocal businesses.Chick Fil’A Art Opening at the Asheville MallArtSpace Charter School had its first art show at the Asheville Mall theweek of May 25 through June 1, 2011. Featured art showcased a variety ofart integration projects that combine concepts from core subjects with visualart. Chick-Fil-A sponsored an ArtSpace Family Art Opening from 5-8pm on May 26 th with 15% of the sales going to ArtSpace in which wereceived $126.02!

ServiceArtSpace students dedicated their time and support to our communitythrough a variety of service activities. In 2010-2011,every grade level was involved in at least one service opportunity.LynergyMany service projects this year have been sales to benefit theVanOver family. Staff members also donated wares for sale tobenefit the family.Math-a-thonMath-a-thon is a national fundraiser for St. Jude Children'sResearch Hospital, and ArtSpace has participated since2001. When students complete math equations, they receivesponsorship from friends and family. CollectivelyArtSpace raised $3,620 this year to help doctors and scientistsfind cures to children’s cancer and diseases!Empty BowlsVarious grades participated in ArtSpace’s annual EmptyBowls event and raised over $1,300 for Manna Food Bankto provide over 4,000 meals for families in WNC.Community ChestArtSpace opened its first Community Chest to support anyschool family with basic necessities. Items were collectedby students and staff and included toiletries, food, and clothing.2nd Annual School Musical goes Downtown!This year’s school musical, The Wind in the Willows (below), showcasedat the Scottish Rites Temple located in the heart of DowntownAsheville.P A G E 73rd grade sold plants they grew from seedsincluding squash, tomatoes and sunflowers(above). Proceeds benefited Ms. Lyn!Garden & Art Students ReapState Fair RibbonsIn 2010, ACS had 70 garden,flower, and art student entriesin the Mountain StateFair. Agriculture studentsentered their vegetables andherbs into the youth gardencompetition and won 22 ribbons!In the School ArtShow category, our elementarystudents placed 2nd andmiddle school students received4th. Individual winnersinclude Kealyn Byrne,Maya Coffin, ElaineReiter, and Rowan Smith.Above— 8th grader, Alec Ashton, poses with his awardwinningsquash.Right— new gardenshedBelow— Kindergartenstudents engagedin garden artSpecial thanks to the hard working volunteerswho helped build the new garden shed andfence: Kate & Brandon Duinkerken, DylanEide, Pierce Harmon, Chad Pedler, Darlene &Michael Dimenna, Eric McKnight, Stephanie &Adam Wallace, Thomas Solesby and ChristyEvers. Our supportive donors include: ProBuildin Hendersonville, Henson’s in Black Mountain,Build it Naturally, Jennifer Barrine andWarren Wilson College. We are so very thankfulfor both of these beautiful additions to theschool garden!

P A G E 8Explore, Create, Achieve!ArtSpace is pleased to announce the completion of the ArtSpace mural,funded in part by the Old Depot Association is complete. The mural, designedand painted by local artist, Scott Allred, gave many of our studentsthe opportunity to see the work of a professional artist go from conceptionto completion. The mural is more than just a beautiful work of art, it is asymbol of ArtSpace – our hopes, our accomplishments, and our values.A very big thank you to Scott Allred and The Old Depot Association formaking this possible!Right— Scott Allred working on mural design; Above— Completed muralCelebrating the Class of 2011ArtSpace celebrates the 10th Anniversary with agraduating class of 41. Many students in this classhave attended ArtSpace since kindergarten makingthis the second class having this capability.Above— Class of 2011Above— The class of 2011 and 2019 exchange stars at the10th Annual Star CeremonyRight— Class of 2011 celebrates at the Farewell Formal