Welcome to the Enrichment Classroom! Open House 2018

I am excited to meet with families at the RES Open House.  If you cannot be here or did not have a chance to visit the enrichment classroom....here is a peak into our room!

All students in fourth grade will be designing PinBox3000s this year during enrichment

We played with an 3D Augmented Reality iPad application called Quivervision

The puppet theater 

The kitchen area

A take a break spot

Kindergarten interests showcased

The classroom library is always open!

Save the date for the Flynn trips and plan to chaperone!

 And here are the videos which were playing while students and families explored the space:

If you ever have questions or ideas about enrichment, please do not hesitate to contact me throughout the year at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org.

Flynn Trips for 2017-2018 School Year--Save the Dates!

All students at RES attend a student matinee at the Flynn Theater in Burlington Vermont each year.  These shows are a great connection to the performance arts in our community and beyond!  Flynn field trips are a popular trip to chaperone--so save the date now and join us for a great show!

Here are the current show plans by grade level:

Grade K

Shhhh We Have a Plan

May 9th, 2018

Noon

(11:15 Departure, Approx 1:45 Return)

Grade 1

Shhhh We Have a Plan

May 9th, 2018

Noon

(11:15 Departure, Approx 1:45 Return)

Grade 2 

David Gonzales (Cuentos)

November 13th, 2017

9:30am

(8:15 Departure, Approx 11:30 Return)

Grade 3

David Gonzales (Cuentos)

November 13th, 2017

9:30am

(8:15 Departure, Approx 11:30 Return)

Grade 4

Freedom Train

March 15th, 2018

9:30am

(8:15 Departure, Approx 11:30 Return)

If you are interested in learning more about the Flynn or supporting additional connections to these trips by financing classroom workshops...please contact Darcie Rankin at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org for information.

See you at the SHOW!

Andes Manta Visits RES Third Graders

Today third graders had the amazing opportunity to make musical instruments with the musical group Andes Manta.  Students visited the Flynn for a performance this morning. Students and chaperones got to experience quite a show. 

At the Flynn Ready for the show

Here is an example of a similar performance of one amazing part of the show, when the Lopez brothers create a rainforest:


We were very lucky to not only see this great performance, but to welcome Andes Manta to our school to create payas, an Andean musical instrument.  Each student created their very own paya and participated in small group discussions with the artists.  Students talked about music, creating instruments, Ecuador (culture and geography) as they worked alongside great musicians!

This work connected to students study of South America in Spanish classes as well as their third grade geography unit (biomes, landforms, and culture!).

This great opportunity was made possible by the Flynn Education Department, collaboration between enrichment, Spanish and third grade teachers AND a very generous donation from Cumbancha (http://www.cumbancha.com/). Thanks to everyone who supported this effort to bring an enriching experience to our school!

Andes Manta to Visit RES Third Grade

RES ENRICHMENT and SPANISH PROGRAMS  in collaboration with the FLYNN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT are excited to announce an: AMAZING THIRD GRADE OPPORTUNITY!

After our attendance at the Flynn theater on Monday November 2nd to watch Andes Manta perform,      ANDES MANTA WILL BE COMING TO RES!!!  

The four Lopez  brothers will spend an hour and a half in the afternoon creating authentic Andean musical instruments with our students. Each student will create an instrument to bring home!

This opportunity has been sponsored in part by World Music Record Label, Cumbancha (based in Charlotte Vermont), http://www.cumbancha.com/ and we are very thankful for their support of music and making at RES.  

 

Performing Arts Enrichment Through the Flynn

Image from: http://www.flynncenter.org/education.html

Each year Richmond Elementary School participates in field trips to the Flynn theater.  As the Flynn coordinator, my role is to work with the Flynn theater and our classroom teachers to provide connected and meaningful opportunities for our students.  Each Spring I have the opportunity to learn about the Matinee series for the next school year.  Next I share this information with our school and classroom teachers decide on which performances they would like to attend with their classes.  When we pick shows we consider curricular connections as well as opportunities for new and diverse cultural and academic learning.  The Flynn does a great job of providing both quality and diversity in their selections and it is always fun to see what shows each grade level will attend. 

The performing arts is a great chance for students to learn in a different way. Physical movement, acting and/or puppeteering are all such important ways for our students to engage in meaningful learning, and to have a chance to experience this in a theater for a live performance with professionals is awesome!

This year students in all grades will be attending at least one show with their grade level, as well as an all school performance in the Spring.  In addition to these shows I am also working with the Flynn School Program to bring as many additional opportunities to our students as possible.  The Flynn provides workshops that bring teaching artists into the school right before or after a theater trip to further enhance student learning.  These workshops have additional costs which can sometimes be covered by grants.  (At one hundred dollars per classroom visit, we are always looking for families to sponsor these events--please contact me if you are interested).

Flynn field trips are a great trip to chaperone as well!  If you would like to plan ahead, below are a list of the Flynn field trips scheduled for this school year! (It is worth noting that chaperones would have to be available an hour before performance time).

Whole School Performance Grades K-4:

4/17/2015    9:30am   African Children's Choir

Grade K:

4/1/2015  9:30am  Harold and the Purple Crayon

Grade 1:

12/2/2014     10am       Charlotte's Web (at the Stowe theater)

2/16/2015     noon        Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Grade 2:
12/2/2014     10am       Charlotte's Web (at the Stowe theater)

Grade 3:

2/16/2015     noon        Schoolhouse Rock Live!

3/16/2015     9:30am    La Maleta  (sponsored by Senora Harris)

Grade 4:

1/13/2015     9:30am     Doktor Kaboom

Do you have questions about our Flynn trips? Do you want to help support additional opportunities for performance arts at RES? Feel free to contact me!

Details about the Flynn Matinee offerings can be found at:
http://www.flynncenter.org/education/student-matinees.html

Movement! Drama! Choreography!

  All RES students in third grade had the amazing opportunity today to participate in a Flynn Workshop.  These forty minute workshops are developed by the Flynn as a way to give students hands on experience with the performing arts that they will then witness during their trip to the Flynn Theater. The Flynn does an excellent job finding artists that are excited to share their passions and skills with students.  Today a choreographer led students through physical movement activities and helped them understand how performing artists fill in negative space on stage.    The workshop itself is a great chance for students to connect with an artist in our community (check out the joy and engagement captured in the photographs!), but it is also important because of the learning connections that it provides.  Students will now experience their trip to the theater more connected to the actors and their tasks.  The show will have more meaning and be more powerful!

These workshops were made available to RES through a generous grant from the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center.  We are grateful to be the recipients of this funding!

Third graders will attend "At NightFall" on Tuesday!   The trips to the Flynn Theater are an excellent way to view the performing arts and engage different learning styles for our students.  We hope that this experience will awaken a passion in some students, and create an appreciation of the arts in all!

A special thanks goes to the third grade teachers, Mrs. Ankerson, Mrs. Ayer and Miss Darby for freeing up time to attend this great class to support performing arts at RES AND the Flynn artist and workshop coordinator for making this experience possible.  If you are interested in learning more about workshop opportunities for future performances (the cost to fund a workshop is one hundred dollars per class), please contact me.  Below are the future performances that students will attend this year at RES.

 Grade 1:
Performance:            "Seussical" the Musical
Performance Date:       Apr 16 2014  9:30AM

Grade 2:
Performance:            "Stuart Little"
Performance Date:       May  7 2014  9:30AM

Thanks to Mrs Redford for the images!

Performance Arts through Flynn Workshops

This week students in kindergarten were treated to a very special workshop.  An artist and teacher from the Flynn worked with students to make connections to their upcoming trip to the Flynn Theater to see 'Step Afrika!'.  Each class participated in a forty minute workshop in which they learned and created, listened to music, and danced!  This workshop was funded by a grant from the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center.  We are grateful to be the recipients of this funding!

Students were able to build connections which will deepen their understanding and joy in their upcoming theater experience!

The trips to the Flynn Theater are an excellent way to view the performing arts and engage different learning styles for our students.  We hope that this experience will awaken a passion in some students, and create an appreciation of the arts in all!  

A special thanks goes to the K teachers, Mrs. Redford for use of the library space, and the Flynn artist and workshop coordinator for making this experience possible.  If you are interested in learning more about workshop opportunities for future performances (the cost to fund a workshop is one hundred dollars per class), please contact me.  Below are the future performances that students will attend this year.

 Grade 1:

Performance:            "Swimmy, Frederick, & Inch"
Performance Date:       Mar 10 2014 12:00PM

Performance:            "Seussical" the Musical
Performance Date:       Apr 16 2014  9:30AM

Grade 2:
Performance:            "Dream Carver" (with Senora Harris)
Performance Date:       Jan 22 2014  9:30AM

Performance:            "Stuart Little"
Performance Date:       May  7 2014  9:30AM

Grade 3:
Performance:            "At Nightfall"
Performance Date:       Mar 25 2014  9:30AM 

Important 2013-2014 Enrichment Dates

Here are some I important dates for RES enrichment in 2013-14.  

The after school enrichment program will be back again this school year with many great offerings!  The program will continue to be on MONDAYS after school from 2:30 - 3:30.  Sessions will provide many opportunities to try out a variety of classes in six week increments.  Here are the scheduled session dates:

Session 1 October 14th - November 18th

Session 2 January 6th - February 17th (but not Jan 20th)

Session 3 March 10th - April 14th

As the school year begins look for updates and information about specific offerings and sign ups on this blog and in home/school folders.

Students will also participate in Flynn trips again this year.  These are a great opportunity for parents to chaperone!  Here are the scheduled dates for these trips by grade: 

Grade K
Performance:            Step Afrika!
Performance Date:       Nov  1 2013 10:00AM

Grade 1:
Performance:            "Swimmy, Frederick, & Inch"
Performance Date:       Mar 10 2014 12:00PM
Performance:            "Seussical" the Musical
Performance Date:       Apr 16 2014  9:30AM

Grade 2:
Performance:            "Dream Carver" (with Senora Harris)
Performance Date:       Jan 22 2014  9:30AM

Performance:            "Stuart Little"
Performance Date:       May  7 2014  9:30AM

Grade 3:
Performance:            "At Nightfall"
Performance Date:       Mar 25 2014  9:30AM

Grade 4 :
Performance:            Step Afrika!
Performance Date:       Nov  1 2013 10:00AM

Notification will be sent home about these trips a few weeks in advance of the performances.

Please direct questions to Darcie Rankin, Enrichment Teacher at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org.

Enrichment Dates for 2013-2014

Here are some I important dates for RES enrichment in 2013-14.  

We know that for many these are too far in the future....and there will be many reminders, but we have had a few requests to post this information early and often!

The after school enrichment program will be back again this school year with many great offerings!  The program will continue to be on MONDAYS after school from 2:30 - 3:30.  Sessions will provide many opportunities to try out a variety of classes in six week increments.  Here are the scheduled session dates:

Session 1 October 14th - November 18th

Session 2 January 6th - February 17th (but not Jan 20th)

Session 3 March 10th - April 14th

As the school year begins look for updates and information about specific offerings and sign ups on this blog and in home/school folders.

Students will also participate in Flynn trips again this year.  These are a great opportunity for parents to chaperone!  Here are the scheduled dates for these trips by grade: 

Grade K
Performance:            Step Afrika!
Performance Date:       Nov  1 2013 10:00AM

Grade 1:
Performance:            "Swimmy, Frederick, & Inch"
Performance Date:       Mar 10 2014 12:00PM

Performance:            "Seussical" the Musical
Performance Date:       Apr 16 2014  9:30AM

Grade 2:
Performance:            "Dream Carver" (with Senora Harris)
Performance Date:       Jan 22 2014  9:30AM

Performance:            "Stuart Little"
Performance Date:       May  7 2014  9:30AM

Grade 3:
Performance:            "At Nightfall"
Performance Date:       Mar 25 2014  9:30AM

Grade 4 :
Performance:            Step Afrika!
Performance Date:       Nov  1 2013 10:00AM

Notification will be sent home about these trips a few weeks in advance of the performances.

So mark your calendars now, OR go back to your summer enrichment and know that great things await in the new school year!

Please direct questions to Darcie Rankin, Enrichment Teacher at darcie.rankin@cesuvt.org.

Flynn Trips at RES

Each year I work with classroom teachers to plan a trip to the Flynn Theater in Burlington for every student.  Sometimes these trips may tie into curriculum work they are doing in class, but often they are selected because of a belief that they will be of high interest to students.  By the time that RES students graduate to middle school they have attended at least five theater plays about a variety of topics. I feel privileged to support the arts through my efforts as the Flynn coordinator for our school.  I also love the fact that these plays are well attended by parent chaperones.  It is a great opportunity for families to participate in a shared experience and connect with some amazing art.

This year the Flynn Trip schedule is as follows:

Grade K--Complete!
Grade 4 (Erickson/Darby)-- "Mayhem Poets" November 12th
Grade 4 (Erickson/Darby/Ayer) -- "Flamenco Vivo"  January 25th
Grade 1 and 2-- "SkippyJon Jones"  January 30th
Grade 3 and 4 (Senning/Ayer) -- " True Story of the Three Pigs"  April 29th
Grade 3 (Ankerson/Berliner) -- "MOMIX Botanica"  May 3rd


To find out more about the matinee series (they have weekend shows as well) check out the Flynn website:
http://www.flynncenter.org/

Often Flynn shows are accompanied by Companion Workshops.  Although our teachers have expressed interest in these workshops, they are not supported within our current budget.  If you would be interested in sponsoring a workshop for a particular grade, please let me know. These workshops are a great way for students to take their learning and experience beyond the play itself.