No images? Click here USDAN MUSING & ONLINE HIGHLIGHTS: WEEK 5 Lauren's Musing: Last Friday, districts submitted their school reopening plans to the state for approval and we began to learn how schools intend to teach this fall. As I read some of the proposed plans, my heart went out to the staff and boards who worked with great commitment throughout the summer. It is apparent that the amount of change they had to design, the level of detail they had to examine, and very importantly, the strength of empathy they must feel for their community is incredibly high. The reason I feel so connected to these school leaders is that the Usdan board and staff worked on a similar challenging puzzle a few months earlier. At the time, we were deciding how we would open in-person camp as well as whether or not we believed it safe to do so. Though those months from March to May were stressful, they were also incredibly rewarding because we were in touch with so many of you. Your support for Usdan buoyed us, and the concerns you shared about our thinking improved our plans and decision making that in turn benefitted the community as a whole. Today, I write to encourage all of you to be in touch with your school leaders. Whether you like what you are hearing or not, based on my experience, they want to know. If you have not done so yet, send a quick email today. I just did so myself. Though it is almost the moment when my colleagues and I usually pass the torch back to schools, we decided this year to keep our torch shining. In early September, we will open enrollment for our fall season of Usdan Online: our online art education program. Thank you for being such a communicative community, and please do not just write to your school leaders, keep writing and calling my colleagues and me as well. I welcome you to explore below the inspiring art our kids are working on in their online studios. - Lauren Brandt Schloss, Executive Director Choreography Introduction to Music Theory: In their first day discussion, teacher Mike asked his students what they thought "music theory" was. In response, a student came up with the title “Behind the Music”, which immediately became the unofficial name for the class. Nicknames became a class pattern two days later when a student didn't know she was unmuted and started playing a tune the class was figuring out on the piano. The moment earned her the nickname "Awesomely Unmuted Rebecca", and she even changed her Zoom name to that. The class agreed "Awesomely Unmuted" could be a T-shirt slogan. Introduction to Music Theory ClassPhotography & Creative Installation: On Thursday, teacher Julia began the class with a sketch prompt: "What does quarantine look like for you?" Julia shared how sketching helps her compose the images she is envisioning as a photographer. Students had some unique sketches of what the question meant to them. Photography & Creative Installation ClassUpcoming Community Events Usdan Happy Hours The Usdan Happy Hours event is free of cost and open to all members of Usdan's community. Usdan Online students and their parents are especially encouraged to attend. The event will celebrate student work created in this summer's online studios in visual art, dance, music, theater, writing, and culinary arts. In three acts, we will briefly visit each of the online studios, making an effort to represent every child's creativity. Usdan Happy Hours will also include some of Usdan's most beloved traditions including the gong ring, Festival performances, and a Lifer ceremony. We hope you will tune in for an afternoon of Usdan-love, creativity, and festivity. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 / 4:00 PM - 6:15 PM Act I: Courses July 6-17 / 4:00 PM* *Estimated start times (to be confirmed prior to the event) Thank you to our sponsors Purple Level: The Gewirtz Family We love our sponsors. Interested in sponsoring the event? Email Stella Shepherd at sshepherd@usdan.org. All sponsors will be honored at the event. Create a U We are now accepting submissions for new U ideas, and we want your child's help. The U’s can be anything. Think of things that are U shaped or things that can be made into a U shape. All areas of study at Usdan can be used as inspiration: Art. Theater. Writing. Dance. Chess. Nature and Sustainability. Music. Recreation. Deadline to submit is Friday, August 21, 2020. |