Delta Kappa Gamma

Today I had the great joy of speaking with the ladies of the Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma.

 

The afternoon began with a most excellent performance from Lugoff-Elgin High schools percussion ensemble, lead by Glenn Price and his associate percussion teacher Mr Flowers. We were treated to two selections from their repertoire, this was incredible to see and hear. The confidence and dexterity with which these students performed was a real treat. This ensemble is one of eight ensembles chosen nationwide to perform at the upcoming festival in Indianapolis. I urge you to see one of their performances if you can! Thank you DKG for spotlighting one of our marvelous musical ensembles in the district at your meeting.

Mrs Karen Bullard, Principal of  Lugoff-Elgin Middle School, made the invocation for the meeting, and Mrs Julie Putnam, current president of the chapter introduced me. It never ceases to amaze me how exciting it is to be introduced as district Teacher Of the Year. I was able to share the journey of becoming district TOY with the group of current and former educators, and to share my appreciation for being placed in the position of ‘teacher voice’ for all educators in Kershaw county during this year. We heard from Martha Horton, President Alpha Eta State, and it was wonderful to be in the company of such great educators.

My journey continues and it is thrilling every step of the way!

 

SCABSE Conference at Myrtle Beach

“I want you to close you eyes for a minute and think about that classroom, or that teacher that made a difference in your life” said the Superintendent of Richland School district 1, Dr. Percy A. Mack. This inspiring speech lead us through Dr.Mack’s first grade classroom where he was one of five who stayed after school with his teacher Mrs.Harris, because they were in the ‘last’ reading group. This group were attended to after school by his teacher as she felt she did not have enough contractual time to spend with them. Dr. Mack lead us through an emotional journey which ends with where those five children are today. Dr. Mack of course, holds the highest office in one of our SC school districts, of the other four students one became a registered nurse working in an emergency room, another became a policeman, working his way up to lieutenant, also part of this group is a current secretary for a superintendent for another school district in SC, and lastly one is a three star general in the US Marine Corps and was a commander of US troops in Iraq. “Teachers believe this” said Dr. Mack “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish”. Dr. Mack pointed out how blessed the district TOY’s being recognized, and all teachers are for the service they give and the space they occupy in this life.

All district TOY’s in attendance were then presented with a beautiful print, poem and medal. This was not only inspiring but gratifying to realize that the work we do, day in and day out is recognized by someone.

Patti Tate our current State TOY went on to speak and talked about her life growing up and the influences who inspired who future path as a teacher. A banquet was set for all conference attendee’s and honored district TOY’s,everyone was very welcoming and friendly from all over SC. are the purveyors of all professions and should be more well recognized for their due diligence and the work they attend to daily, in my humble opinion.

However I too like Dr. Mack believe it’s not where you start, it is without a doubt where you finish, and although we may not have much control over our path in life, we are certainly given the choices that influence that final result. As I closed my eyes I saw my Primary school teacher Mrs. Miles by the rocking horse at ‘concert time’ giving us our solo moment to shine. I saw my 5th grade teacher Mr. Morgan playing guitar, reading stories and discussing history with us, and I saw My Flute teacher Mrs. Barratt. I shudder to think where I would have finished without these amazing influences!

Who do you think of when you close your eyes for just a minute?

State Teacher of the Year application

This is has been the toughest week of being district Teacher of The Year so far. The deadline for the State Teacher of the Year application was this week. After months of writing, rewriting, editing and re editing the final hours were upon me and I still didn’t have a final ready to submit. I liken the writing of this application to national board. It is a journey from beginning to end, combining your resume and lifetime achievements with your daily life, education beliefs and desires. However trying to say everything you want to say in the space allowed seems like an impossible mission at first. I owe a great deal of thanks to my Principal and many friends for the time they spent reading my many versions and their support throughout this process. But all the while I was writing, during every step of this process, it still came to me that the honor of being nominated by my peers in the very first instance when I became our school level Teacher of the Year, felt like the greatest honor of my lifetime. The rest of this journey is in the lap of the Gods I feel, but no matter the outcome, I am happy in the knowledge that I have given it my best. I advise all future district Teachers of the Year to start this process early and get your wordage required for the space allowed nailed down as soon as possible for each section of this application!

Here’s to further steps on an amazing journey in 2012!

 

Happy New Year England

Happy New Year England

London welcomes the new year in with a choreographed music and firework display, one of the most outstanding sights.

Happy New Year!

As I reflect on 2011 and all it presented me with both personally and professionally it is time to wonder where life will take me next. Welcome 2012!

I have been fortunate and blessed to have had an exceptional Christmas and New Year with my friends, ( my US family) but also with the pinnacle being when I was able to Skype with my Aunt and Uncle in England and see a couple of my cousins on Christmas day. Modern technology is an amazing thing when you can see and hear special people who are over 3000 miles away that you have not been able to see in over 3 years.

Tomorrow I once again get to see my special people at Doby’s Mill. When you love your job and hold students and colleagues dear,  it makes resuming life as normalish a little easier after a holiday. Although I know I won’t be able to sleep tonight in anticipation of the first day back tomorrow, I know I am well rested and ready to tackle the second half of the school year to serve my music students as best I can. We will journey through time, space, science and history in my music classroom over the next 5 months and explore all areas of the curriculum through and with music. It is always an exciting adventure!

My hopes for 2012 are to continue as I have begun broadening my students musical horizons. We will have our new iPads to explore the world of virtual music, digital music creation and the latest music technology in addition to everything else we are fortunate enough to have at my school.

In this new year 2012 there are many things I look forward to personally. My home country will be hosting the summer Olympics and Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee year on the throne. I shall continue to celebrate the rest of my district TOY year representing my friends, colleagues and profession with utmost importance. 

I leave this post with a link to how London, UK celebrated the New Year with an exceptional choreographed firework display set to some of the best of British music. Being an artist and a teacher of the arts I see daily the impact of the arts on peoples lives, this is just one example. happy New Year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1yLRK2M8YQ 

Diary of a district TOY and Music Teacher at Christmas

Last Friday saw the start of the holiday season for me as a musician with a local tree lighting. It continued tonight playing for the lovely ladies of St Timothy’s at their annual Christmas dinner. Next will be the Camden Community Concert Band’s annual holiday concert on December 11, 2011. I will also be playing for local churches at their request throughout the holiday season, these are the absolute joys of being an artist, in my humble opinion at this time of year.

This year for the first time in my life I will be a feature of three Christmas parades in our county also, I am looking forward to representing the district as I ride through the Camden, Lugoff and Boykin parades.

The holiday season began professionally in the classroom before we broke up for Thanksgiving. This is a musician and music teachers busiest time of the year. Lesson plans are consisting of holiday music from around the world in as many as 8 different languages, with students performing, composing, listening to and appraising their own musical creations and the music of others. In addition to this everything is cross curricular in my music room where what we do musically is a vehicle for teaching language, vocabulary, mathematics, social studies and science, as well as being music for music’s sake, with a good bit of music technology thrown in for good measure!

These next two  weeks will bring more Dolphin Pup, Choralier and Rockin’ Recorder Christmas concert rehearsals, where my students are learning to read the music they play and sing from.

I am so proud of my Choraliers being invited to sing on W.L.T.X for their ‘Sounds of the Season’ segment on December 8, 2011, be sure to tune in at 5, 6 and/or 7 p.m. This will be followed by our own Winter Chorale on December 13, 2011 a joint holiday concert hosted by the DME Choraliers and Rockin’ Recorders. We will conclude our whistle stop tour of performances with our annual joint caroling and wreath delivery with DME’s own Students Council members when we visit our school district offices, Morningside retirement home and a local supermarket on December 15, 2011.

The busiest but merriest of seasons awaits. I wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

 

Tis the season!

As we approach the holiday season, I believe it is a time  to reflect on the many blessings we have in life, but also on traditions that are an important part of making the season special.

I was fortunate enough to attend a superb performance of The Nutcracker last weekend presented by The Carolina Ballet for 2011 with the Columbia Festival Orchestra. This really is the heart of South Carolinas arts network. The arts are alive and well in our great state from the museums and historic building to the performing arts programs across our state that soldier on regardless of the economy. Thousands of children have participated in this over the years and it is a wonderful tradition in South Carolina enjoyed by many. The arts are at the core of any child’s education and go hand in hand with mathematics, english sciences and humanities.

Tonight I myself was part of a more local event. The tree lighting in Camden at City Hall has become an annual event, and I have been fortunate enough to be a part of it for two of the three years it has taken place. A wonderful celebration of our community in word, song and music, much to the joy of the people who attend. Please enjoy a concert or other such artistic event or performance during this holiday season!

The arts are not only a joy to behold but a necessary part of everyones life.

What would the world be without, music, art, dance, theatre and the creative use of language?! I for one would not wish to find out!

“I believe arts education in music, theater, dance, and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the surface. They (children) have an enthusiasm for life a spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need training – training that prepares them to become confident young men and women.”

– Richard W. Riley, Former US Secretary of Education

Gratitude!

On this wonderful Thanksgiving day, it makes me reflect on life in general, even though I have adopted this holiday rather than being born into it.

The blessings we receive in life are many, we need to stop and realize the abundance of them in our lives, particularly on special days, but for all of our days.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

 

Arts Appreciation

What is art appreciation?

This can be as simple as looking at a work of art, observing or listening to a performance and being able to draw an opinion about it.

Another way of looking at it is having the knowledge, background, and understanding of the universal and timeless qualities that comprise all works of art.

Today more than 20 volunteers from our community at large volunteered their time and art for the benefit of the students of DME.

We had the pleasure of four mini performances from the following;

Small ensemble from CCKC, the Chamber Choirs of Kershaw County

Mrs. Larsen and Mrs. Todd, twin sisters who recite poetry

Members from the Country Spirit line dance group

Betsy Gunter and Jose Soler guitarists from the Columbia Guitar Orchestra

Students were bathed in a range of performances which included classical music, world music, rock n’ roll, country, pop, hip hop, traditional children’s songs and flamenco.

Students also experienced the great words of Emily Dickenson, A.A. Milne and Robert Frost.

We travelled the world today through music, dance and poetry, and had a little fun with some delightful entertainment into the bargain!

“Education is not the filling of a vessel, but the kindling of a flame.” – Socrates

 

We Are The World…!

“Do not neglect your music. It will be a companion which will sweeten many hours of life to you” – Thomas Jefferson to daughter Martha, 4 April 1790.

The Camden Music Association of Kershaw County presented it’s Annual Fall Choral Showcase on  this evening of November 7, 2011.

Lugoff-Elgin high School hosted eight choirs from across Kershaw county who gathered to share the joy of music.

Mary Ellen Jordan, President of the CMA welcomed everyone to an evening of choral music in which the following choirs participated in order of appearance with their directors.

Stover Middle School Chorus – Brian Heyward

Kershaw County Show Choir – Sandy Pace

DME Choraliers – Helen Walker

Camden Elementary School of The Creative Arts – Regina McDonald

Lugoff Elementary Singers – Robin Courson

Pine Tree Hill Elementary School Chorus – Angie Lawson

Camden Middle School 8th Grade Chorus – Sandy Pace

Chamber Choir of Kershaw County – Dr Susan Wyatt

Each choir was presented with a monetary donation to their music program and all choirs combined for a mass choir finale’ of “We Are The World”.

All choirs gave outstanding performances and it was a truly joyous celebration of music. I was happy to have my students be part of this event. It was wonderful to see all schools represented with their Principals, administration and officials from our school district office as well.

I must say a big thank you to all my parents and families who came out this evening to support the DME Choraliers, this is such an important part of every childs life.

Craig Corey and Glenn Price were acknowledged with special thanks for their help this evening.

“Music expresses feeling and thought, without language, it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words.” – Robert G. Ingersoll