RUSH ARTS RESOURCES

It’s easy to miss a lot of the information we’ve got packed into our Web site, so every now and then we try to focus on something we think is helpful to students, parents, or anyone in our learning community.

The RushArts RESOURCES page is a list of valuable research links, news sites, including news that is written by and for students (including OUR students’ reporting on the PBS News Hour), and CNN Student News. There is information about the economy for students and teachers (with lesson plans!), the Internet Public Library (IPL), with online newspapers from around the world, even VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF TOP NEWS STORIES with sites like Newsmap (an application that visually reflects the constantly changing landscape of the Google News news aggregator), and Ten By Ten (an interactive exploration of the words and pictures that define our time).

These are just some of the highlights. Make sure you check out our RESOURCES. Go to the top of the home page, under the OUR SCHOOL menu, and select ABOUT, and then Resources.  Have fun!  :)

September Events

September 7, 2010
Students return to school

September 9-10, 2010
Holiday/No School

September 20, 2010, 6:15pm
First Home & School Meeting (IMC)

September 27, 2010, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Back to School Night

Supplies needed for September:

ALL 9^TH, 10^TH, and 11^TH GRADE STUDENTS
(2) 2-inch binders
(2) pkg. dividers with pockets (for binders)
(6) pkg. college ruled looseleaf paper
(3) pen (black or blue)
(3) pencil (mechanical preferred)
(1) flash drive 4gb (used for all classes)
(1 pack) highlighters
(1) pkg 5×7 index cards
(1) Spanish / English dictionary (pocket size) (for Spanish)
(1) scientific calculator (suggested model – TI-84)

Select teachers may require individual composition books. You will receive this information in September.

ALGEBRA I and II STUDENTS ONLY
(1) package/book of graph paper

GEOMETRY STUDENTS ONLY
(1) compass (to draw circles)
(1) protractor

DANCE
Supplies listed on the dance Web site

MEDIA ARTS (Including electives)
(1) SD memory card. Minimum 2gb.
(1) SD card to USB adaptor.

(July 19-30th Philadelphia Writing Project’s Writing Camp.)

August 24th-26th – New student Institute/9:00 – 1:00pm

Students: Please bring your lunch!

Student Institute – 2010
Students should bring their lunch
August 24th, 25th, and 26th

Goals:

The goals of our student institute are to welcome all incoming 9th graders (and a select few of new 10^th and 11^th graders) into The Arts Academy community. We will review expectations including an overview of our rigorous instructional program, habits of mind, and behavior expectations. Students will participate in various team building activities, learn skill building/high school survival tips, and tour the school as well as adjusting to their roster. Ultimately, they will be given a sense of our school culture and community.

In summary…

Outcomes

* Readiness for first day

* Fostering relationships between sophomores, juniors and freshmen

* Moving toward the AABR frame of mind (the uniqueness of our school)

* Learn a sense of importance & rigor in all of our courses

* Navigating technology (websites, gmail, media literacy)

• Welcome 9^th graders and create a sense of school culture
• Explain school expectations

(Habits Of Mind, rigor across all classes)

• Undergo team building
• Undergo skill building (9^th grade survival)
• Explain day-to-day logistics of school

SCHEDULE

Day 1 (Aug 24th)

9:00-9:30 Welcome Parents & Students

9:35-10:05 Parents: Info session and Tour (in groups) & technology lab

Students: Team building activity

* Parents Leave

10:10-10:40 Scavenger Hunt/Tour

10:45-11:45 ID pictures & Team building (in groups)

11:50-1:00 Skits about expectations, Q&A, slide show and video from last year

Day 2 (Aug 25th)

9:00-9:30 Expectations review

9:35-10:45 Math Placement Test (all students)

10:50-12:35 Mock School Day – Habits of Mind introduction

12:40-1:00 All Student Send-off

Day 3 (Aug 26th)

9:00-9:30 Welcome

9:35-10:20 Tech workshops

10:25-11:25 Organizational skills & Transportation buddy interviews (in groups)

11:30-12:00 Send Off

12:00-1:00 Spanish Placement Test (for those who want to place into Spanish II) Math Placement Test Make-Up

Are we changing as fast as the world around us?

Recently, I read a book review of a book where the writer of the review posed this question. I thought it would be a great one to reflect on as we end our second year at the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush.

The vision for the Arts Academy is to create an academic environment which fosters students careful questioning about what they are studying and the world around themselves. Have we done this? As a leader of the school, I have generated my own questions to this question: Have I created the systems of organization that are needed to allow teachers and courses to create an inquiry classroom? What more is needed to develop and support units of study which require well thought-out essential questions connected to learning tasks and authentic assessments? Have we used technology well as a tool for developing knowledge and concepts that we feel students need to know in English, math, science, etc? Or do we use technology for technology sake? How have we applied what we require students to learn in our courses to the world?

Further, the writer of the book review also included a list of values that companies see as important. I thought that these were values that schools should embrace. The values included:

Passion
Creativity
Initiative
Intellect
Diligence
Obedience

They mesh nicely with our core values at The Arts Academy:
Imagination: What if?
Communication: How can I be sure I’m understood?
Empathy: Who is affected?
Perspective: Through what lens do I examine this? Where does this come from?
Analysis: How do I know what I know?
Commitment: What action do I need to take?

As I look forward to the transition of another freshman class, and having 11th grade students, I hope to continue to build a school where important and critical questions are generated (and rewarded) around all subject areas.  I believe that  “high stakes testing” occurs when students are asked to take the questions that they are passionate about from their classrooms, research these questions deeply, and articulate their findings in a way that has caused a shift or expansion of their thinking.

The world is a fast changing place.  We want to continue to instill in our children the values of collaboration, morally good decision making, and a thirst for learning, but we also want to ensure that what we are doing at The Arts Academy is innovative.I will use the term “new thinking.” Our world is changing fast, and we want to prepare students to be as successful as possible.

We look forward to another successful year in 2010-2011! Have a great summer.

THE ARTS ACADEMY AT BENJAMIN RUSH HOSTS THE PHILADELPHIA WRITING PROJECT’S SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG WRITERS!

Download the application HERE.
For more information, contact RushArts: 215.281.2603

Here is a reminder of our final special events:
Tomorrow is the Academic Assembly from 11:15 to 12:15 and Vocal Recital at 7pm in Ms. Spencer’s room
Friday is Field Day 9:00am to 1:30 and the talent show.

The lineup for the talent show is now posted outside the auditorium. Additional copies of the line up are also available so for participants to take.

Any athlete who was not at the assembly to receive a certificate, a letter or a trophy, please see Mr. Katz.

Any student that is 16 years old or older and interested in taking a driver’s education class:  The School District of Philadelphia is offering free classes this summer.  You will received 30 hours of classroom instruction which runs 2 hours each day starting on June 29th.  Classes will take place at the following locations:  Ben Franklin, Swenson, Lincoln, West Philadelphia, CAPA and George Washington.  If you are interested see Ms. Senner for an application.

Current 10th grade students interested in dual enrollment (meaning you can earn college credit while in high school).  Three colleges are currently enrolling for summer 2 and fall semesters:  the colleges are Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), Eastern University and St. Joseph’s University. Eastern University’s registration must be completed by June 11th.  For St. Joseph’s and CCP you still have time. If interested see Ms. Senner in Room 147 for an application.

(Above L to R: Samantha Sekula, Catherine Cardoza, Kiara Brickhouse,
Pedro Quinones, Priscilla Disla, Anthony Galdo, Marc Colon, Julian
Watson, Rebecca Slutsky)

PBS NEWSHOUR STUDENT REPORTING PROJECT INCLUDES RUSH STUDENTS

Student Reporting Labs is an experiment that connects high school students to local PBS stations and news professionals in their community.  The young people who created these videos are learning how to report, synthesize information and investigate important topics: journalism as a form of learning and teaching.
Benjamin Hesse’s 2nd period American History class participated in this program that examined three different current issues affecting our community and our world.

See the videos and learn more about this ongoing project here: –>  PBS STUDENT REPORTING LABS

Field Day is rescheduled for Friday, June 18th due to thunderstorms predicted for Wednesday.

Here is a reminder of special events coming up this week:
Today is the Athletic Assembly after school at 3:15pm in the auditorium
Tomorrow is Field Day beginning at 10:30am (Talent Show auditions to be held before field day start)
Thursday is the Academic Assembly from 11:15 to 12:15 and Vocal Recital at 7pm in Ms. Spencer’s room
Friday is the Talent Show at the end of the day, exact time TBD

Attention Honors English 3 students:  There will be a meeting after school today in Ms. DeFurio’s room from 3-3:30 to discuss your summer reading assignment.  This meeting is MANDATORY.  If you cannot attend, you MUST make other arrangements with Ms. DeFurio to get all the necessary information.

For everyone in AP Chemistry, you must come and see Mr. Wagenhoffer during seminar or after school today to get your summer assignment and receive your textbook

Talent Show Auditions will  be held at the beginning of field day. Once you have performed you talent you are free to join the other kids outside. Please sign up for the show with Ashley Lanetti, Brooke Schmanek or Eileen Toribio.

Any stage crew members that would like to help with some closing down of the theatre responsibilities this week please stop by 144 or the dance studio and see Mrs. Masters.

Current 10th grade students interested in dual enrollment (meaning you can earn college credit while in high school).  Three colleges are currently enrolling for summer 2 and fall semesters:  the colleges are Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), Eastern University and St. Joseph’s University. Eastern University’s registration must be completed by June 11th.  For St. Joseph’s and CCP you still have time. If interested see Ms. Senner in Room 147 for an application.