Henderson Mill In DeKalb Receives New School Art Award

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — Henderson Mill Elementary School in DeKalb County is being recognized as one of five schools to win a new creative arts award. The Georgia Department of Education has created a new Creative School Arts Integration School of Excellence Award.

The purpose of the Creative Schools arts Integration School of Excellence award is to promote arts integration as a way to increase engagement and learning in and out of the arts classroom, according to the department of education.

Henderson Mill Elementary School
As the Georgia Department of Education’s first STEAM-certified school, Henderson Mill Elementary prioritizes the fully daily integration of the fine arts into all content areas. Through a partnership with the Alliance Theatre Arts Education Institute, teaching artists visit every class multiple times each year and equip teachers with theatrical concepts to use in the classroom, such as scriptwriting, creative movement, music, tableau, costuming and more.

At Henderson Mill, where 47 percent of students have a second language at home and 29 percent receive ESOL instruction, the fine arts have served to bring the school community together.

“By integrating the PBL and the arts into our daily work, we have removed the language-learning barrier for a significant part of our school population, giving everyone a universal language that can be used in many ways to learn and demonstrate learning,” school staff wrote in their application. “For example, second graders at HMES might be found creating a mixed media map while learning about topography; kindergarteners create a song about community helpers; first graders act out the water cycle through use of tableau.”

The winners are schools where all students have access to arts integration in every subject and there is both rigor and relevance in the arts integration programming. Arts integration professional development is ongoing, the program is well-organized, and the school involves the community in the arts.

“We believe the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, that they are valuable on their own and that they enhance learning in other subject areas,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “This award recognizes schools who are going above and beyond to integrate the arts into their students’ day-to-day learning experience.”

The other winners are: Powder Springs Elementary School and Labelle Elementary School in Cobb County Schools, Coleman Middle School in Gwinnett County Schools and Kay Pace School of the Arts in Clayton County Schools.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize these schools for their dedication to providing both high-quality arts integration in all subject areas, and arts education to students,” GaDOE Fine Arts Manager Jessica Booth said.