Visual, Performing and Related Arts Program Moves Forward in School District

The Visual, Performing and Related Arts program in the Westwood Regional School District has made strides forward recently and more work is being done to enhance the program further.

Members of the Westwood Regional Board of Education and the public heard a presentation from K-12 Visual, Performing and Related Arts Supervisor Karen Forgione at the school board meeting last week. She explained how far the program has come and where it's going.

Forgione first explained that the arts encompasses a variety of courses, including the traditional art and music classes, but also courses in fashion and business marketing. She said members of the staff are trying to align themselves philosophically and that they "honor the process over product."

She explained that the state breaks down the arts into four disciplines -- art, music, theater and dance. Forgione said each student is expected to be able to communicate at a basic level in all four areas by the end of fifth grade. Then in sixth grade, they are able to choose an area of specialization.

Forgione said great strides have been made in the area of music within the district. Changes include the structure of concert band and choir for fourth- and fifth-graders. Those students now perform in two concerts, in January and June, with students in other schools. The breakdown is by municipality, with students from Berkeley and Brookside schools performing together and those from George and Washington schools together.

Music staff have incentives to retain students in the programs, Forgione said. To get third-graders interested in the music program, staff members have implemented a "karate program" for learning the recorder. Students receive a different color "karate belt" for each level of difficulty song they are able to play. There is also a student of the month for band and Forgione said there are additional instrument offerings of the French horn and baritone horn. Instructional time for instrumental music has also increased.

Enrollment is up for elementary students in instrumental music. The total number of students in fourth and fifth grade enrolled in instrumental music for the current school year is 271, up 39 students from 2009-2010.

At the middle school level, Forgione said there are additional ensembles for students to participate in and selective band and choir classes are held daily. The instrumental lesson program has also expanded at Westwood Jr./Sr. High School, with a greater focus on assessment.

Although Forgione said the visual art program was "quite strong before," she said the staff looked at the curriculum and made some changes. Staff members brought back an art history class for students, which teaches at an age appropriate level. Commercial art, which includes advertising, photography and graphic design, is also now offered for students. Jewelry/metals is another course students can take, which teaches them how to make different types of jewelry. Forgione said next year, the high school will offer AP Studio Art.

In the theater department, Forgione said staff created a dance/movement class this year for one semester, which focuses on movement for musical theater. She said it was one of the ways the district is making sure it has dance offerings for students.

To increase audience numbers at school productions, Forgione said the staff has focused on play choice and tried to pick productions that are well known and have wide appeal. They are also trying to increase parent and community involvement. She said the choice to do "The Music Man" in March seemed to pay off because the school saw the highest Saturday night attendance in years and came close to beating the record for total attendance over the four days the musical was performed.

Outreach to the community is an area Forgione said the department is focusing attention. Students currently participate in senior citizen matinees and luncheons, Memorial Day parades, art exhibited at the libraries and at the Education Foundation Gala, Home for the Holidays parade and more.

While the department has been moving forward and improving, Forgione said "there's still more work to do." She said in theater arts, communication skills will be a primary focus, with all eighth-graders required to take a communications class to learn how to speak in front of an audience.

To help students in theater and other departments work together, Forgione said art students could design play sets, others could build the sets and dancers could perform.

Forgione said dance is another area the district needs to focus on to meet the state requirements. "It's a place where you can get together arts and athletics and really have a great marriage there," she said.

To view Forgione's full presentation, visit the school district website here.