March+2011


 * Advisory Team Meeting Schedule (with discussed changes)**
 * April 20th, 3:30 p.m. at Cambridge Springs Elem. School
 * May 18th, 3:30 p.m. at Cambridge Springs Elem. School
 * June 15th, 1:00 p.m. at Cambridge Springs Elem. School


 * Federal Budget Update**
 * Discussions and freezes pertaining to the federal budget are cause for concern. We ask that the Art in Action partners communicate to legislators just how important arts in education programming is. To learn more, visit http://www.artsusa.org/get_ involved/advocate.asp. Americans for the Arts provides a simple way for you to take action.


 * Technology and Documentation**
 * On March 14th Camille, Holly, Melinda, Tracie Yorke and Matt Soffel met to discuss technology and documentation. As a result of this meeting, the following determinations were made: 1. ArtsErie will serve as the project archive and collect all raw documentation. To do this, ArtsErie will purchase additional memory cards for the audio/video equipment. 2. Matt and Tracie will work together to prepare documentation guidelines and suggestions for the wikispace. 3. Jude Shingle, a teaching artist with expertise in videography and filmmaking, is willing to speak with teachers at each school. The goal is to have Jude work with teachers in each school and collect documentation for use at the 2nd tech training with Camille.
 * The 2nd tech trainings with Camille have been scheduled for April 4th 11:15-3:00 at CSES, April 6th 3:30-5:30 at SDES and April 13th 12:30-2:30 at UCES. She has already sent an email out to each school explaining what she will need for each training session.


 * Residency Planning/Training**
 * Full-day training has been completed at SDES and UCES. Each day was a tremendous success, and provided excellent feedback for the Art in Action team.
 * Training at Cambridge Springs is scheduled for March 28th and April 1st, 8:30am - 2:40pm. The March 28th training will focus on the drama residency and grade K-1 teachers, and will occur at the Penncrest School District Admin Building. The April 1st training will focus on the visual arts residency and grade 2-3 teachers, and will occur at the Riverside Inn. CSES teachers are to bring their calendars and the curriculum they will be covering during the residency period. It was suggested that mention is made of expectations concerning lesson plan writing. As teachers and teaching artists collaborate and plan, they are expected to create written lesson plans.


 * Project Evaluation**
 * Keystone Research Corporation is continuing to search for a control school. They will look at Titusville, Oil City and Sharon schools next.
 * Classroom observers received training on how to conduct interviews on March 7th with Joyce and Tania. This was the final training session for observers.
 * Two classrooms per residency have been randomly selected to be part of the project evaluation. The first "official" pre-residency observations have been scheduled for Friday, March 18th at Second District. Pre-residency observations for UCES are being planned for next week, and CSES the following week. Melinda is working directly with classroom teachers to schedule pre, post and follow-up observations.
 * The evaluation process and assessment tools continue to evolve. At each assessment training, teachers have provided great feedback and suggestions. The last assessment trainings for this project year are scheduled for March 28th and April 1st at CSES.


 * Step Afrika! Performances**
 * SDES had approximately 150 students and parents attend the February 25th performance of Step Afrika! at Allegheny College. UCES and CSES students, parents and staff have been invited to attend the March 28th Step Afrika! performance at Edinboro University. An email has gone out to UCES and CSES with additional information.


 * Art in Action Trainings/Events**
 * A planning meeting with CSES teachers and the Art in Action core team is to be scheduled within the next few weeks. The meeting will be used to plan the itinerary for the April 11th (4pm-7pm) Art in Action training at CSES.
 * A planning meeting with the Art in Action core team and Kelly Armor (Erie Art Museum) is to be scheduled. The topic of discussion is the May 21st Art in Action training at the Erie Art Museum.
 * Holly is continuing work on a June Artists Showcase at the Riverside Inn. June 13th is the tentative date. Act 48 credit will be available