MAY 2021
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS NEWSLETTER
Dear Educators,

We hope you enjoyed the love and showering of support and appreciation last week. You all definitely deserved every bit of it and more. In this May 2021 edition of the School Partnerships Newsletter, you will notice a lot of opportunities pertaining to teacher professional development and you find special incentives from our member organizations in honor of Teacher Appreciation.

Table of Contents:

Follow us @DCCollaborative on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on featured programs and professional development! Got questions? Contact Ashlee@DCCollaborative.org
DC Collaborative Announcements
Congratulations to our Teacher Appreciation Raffle Winners: Renee Larue of Ballou Stay HS and Perrine Punwani of Hardy Middle School!

Teacher Appreciation Week may be over, but we will never stop celebrating you! Many of the discounts offered by our member organizations in last week's newsletters run through the end of the month. Check them out and spoil yourselves because you deserve it!

Submit Photos, Testimonies, and Blogs to feature you and your students in our Story Bank blog and on our website. If you have pictures, video reactions, or if you are interested in submitting a blog post about your experience using the AHFES programming, please complete the Submission Form.

Become a Representative of DCPS and DCPCS educators on the Equity and Justice or Assessment and Evaluation Committees of the Any Given Child (AGC) initiative. This is a nationwide network of like-minded communities striving to create full access to and equity in arts education programs. If interested, please email Ashlee McKinnon at Ashlee@dcccollaborative.org. 

Stay Informed by signing up up to receive our monthly Collective Impact Newsletter to that presents the voices of the entire arts and humanities education community and is at the center of our operations.
AHFES Program News
1) AHFES Registration Open until May 31st: We are keeping registration open until the end of May to make it more accessible for you all. Register for programs to use in the month of June now!

2) AHFES Assessments: Please complete the 5 minute reflection forms for programs requested in April. They are embedded on the program page and are provided below in English and Spanish for your convenience. You may also request DC Collaborative staff to come into your virtual classroom and guide your students to complete their student reflections for 15 minutes.
Designed with emoji-based and child-friendly language 
If you’d like to count (tally) your students’ responses, please make a copy of this doc and respond directly to this email with the counts. 

Contact BoBeen Chung at bobeen@dccollaborative.org for assessment questions.
Featured Programs
The National Museum of Asian Art: Freer/Sackler Gallery

Teacher Virtual Workshop: Making Me: Identity Artifacts 
Tuesday, May 18, 6–7 pm EDT

How can we guide the inquiry of identity through the arts? Examine a work of art using the lenses of identity and family through thinking routines. Define the many layers of your identity through a self-reflection activity. Then create and document your own identity artifact by using metaphor and objects found in your home. This workshop is designed for teachers, parents, and care providers of all stripes and is part of the Remake Learning Days Festival. Register now.
Washington Bach Consort presents "WUNDERKIND PROJEKT"

Calling all Wunderkinds! WUNDERKIND PROJEKT is a three-part program designed to inspire your music students. The virtual program is designed for grades 6-12 and centered around a collaborative video performance of a cantata (a short story told in song) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Two professional musician-educators from the Bach Consort will lead a virtual lesson to provide musical, narrative, and historical context to enhance students’ experience, followed by a recorded musical performance and live Q&A. Wunderkind Projekt, designed on DCPS ELA Standards, is ideal for music, drama, fine art, English/literature, foreign language, social studies/geography, and history classes or focuses. The program is free for students and teachers. Sign up today!
Washington Bach Consort presents "Bach to School"

Bach to School is BACK! Calling all elementary classes to join us virtually. Engaging, entertaining, and fast-moving, BACH IN TIME is a fun, interactive program for 3rd through 5th grade students performed by costumed professional musicians and actors. Students learn basic principles of music and are introduced not only to the musical instruments used by Bach, but to the composer himself through the magic of time travel! Students discover the significance of early music in modern times through an interactive musical play, filmed especially for virtual distance learning, and followed by a live Q&A/talkback session with two performing musicians. The program features teacher materials and access to asynchronous materials, including an interactive online comic book with narration, video, and musical examples. The program is free for students and teachers. Sign up today:
JUST FOR EDUCATORS:
NEWS, PD, & WORKSHOPS
Funding Opportunity!!

Calling all educators and music non-profits: Classics for Kids Foundation Published an RFP

The mission of Classics for Kids Foundation is to empower young people to shape positive futures through music, build sustainable stringed instrument music programs, and provide grants for high-quality instruments.

If your school or non-profit organization believes in the role of fine instruments in your program, and can show evidence of need and commitment to raising matching funds, you are a strong candidate for the Classics for Kids matching grant program. Applications accepted quarterly. Deadlines are June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31.
Please Complete the 2 minute Survey from DC Public Charter School Board

We are the DC Public Charter School Board, the sole authorizer of public charter schools in the District, and we are placing equity and student outcomes at the forefront of our work. To do this, we need your help.

We invite you to participate in a brief survey that will help us develop a clear and robust accountability framework to ensure DC public charter schools are environments where all students, especially those who are historically marginalized, can thrive.
Doctoral Studies Program at George Washington University

"Reimagining Curriculum Through the Humanities," a Research Practice Team of the Doctoral Program (Ed.D.) in Curriculum & Instruction at George Washington University, is accepting applications for Fall 2021.

Engaged with the field of curriculum studies, the Research Practice Team will explore the significance of curriculum scholarship and its foundations in the humanities for the practice of education in schools and communities.

Individuals in PreK-12 education, higher education, and community-based education with experience or interest in humanities scholarship (e.g., literary studies, the scholarship of social justice, psychoanalytic criticism, theories of race and gender, etc.) are encouraged to apply. For more information, please contact Brian Casemore (casemore@gwu.edu)
National Oratory Fellows presented by Ford's Theatre

A multi-year professional development opportunity for teachers grades 5 to 8. As part of a national professional learning community, fellows work closely with Ford's teaching artists and staff to learn the Ford's Approach to Teaching Oratory, including skills to teach text analysis, public speaking, performance and speech writing. At the same time fellows develop their own powerful voices as teacher leaders.

A cohort of five fellows begins the August prior to each school year, becoming part of a national network of supportive and like-minded educators. Video conferencing is used to connect fellows and Ford’s staff, and to create an online meeting space for active and collaborative conversations.

Fellows meet in-person in Washington, D.C. twice a year to plan and share work. At times throughout the program, they bring student delegates with them to learn and perform on the stage of Ford’s Theatre. Classroom Internet access and a webcam are needed to participate in this fellowship.
SAAM and the Renwick Gallery are Reopening Friday, May 14!!

We are delighted to welcome visitors back to our galleries and we thank you for your continued support! The Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery are reopening with continued health and safety measures in place. Free timed-entry passes are now available and are required for both buildings. Reserve your passes today.

Explore the landmark exhibitions Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature, and Culture and ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now, currently on view at the main building. Visit the Renwick Gallery and seek solace with Forces of Nature: Renwick Invitational 2020. We look forward to seeing you in the galleries soon! Enjoy your visit and stay safe.
State Board Releases Results of All-Teacher Survey

At the end of January 2020, the State Board surveyed 1,060 public-school teachers from 185 different schools representing every DC Public School (DCPS) and the majority of public charter schools. The survey’s aim was to learn about public-school teacher’s thoughts on returning to in-person teaching, teacher and student experience during COVID-19, teacher retention, and well-rounded education.

Key findings include:
- Uncomfortable with returning to in-person learning
- Increased likelihood of teacher departure
- Worsening social and emotional well-being
- Inequitable rates of student engagement
- Ongoing concerns and barriers with technology and internet access
- Less content coverage

The All-Teacher Survey and its findings will be used by the State Board—specifically its Teacher Practice Committee and Taskforce on School Reopening Amid COVID-19—in identifying strategies and policies to ensure that teachers are supported and retained, as well as stakeholder-engaged solutions are implemented to tackle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teaching for Change is partnering with Filmfest DC for The Washington, D.C. International Film Festival (June 4-13)


Spread the word about the international film festival and bring films and filmmakers for several films into your D.C. virtual classrooms.

Students gain a lot from viewing the documentaries, preparing questions, and discussing the film with the visitors. While most Teaching for Change programs are for the D.C. metro area, the funding for these visits is limited to public and public charter schools located in the District of Columbia.

Filmfest DC is offering tickets for classes to see a specific film during the festival and offering opportunities for filmmakers to virtually visit a class after the class has viewed the film. Click the button below for tickets.

Films include:
A Tale of Three Chinatowns
Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust
Go-Go City: Displacement & Protest in Washington, DC
Our Alexandria
This Is the Way We Rise
Landfill
Tikkun Olam
and many more
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Registration is now open for Girls Rock! DC’s Summer Camp!

Girls Rock! is offering a week-long online music education program for young folks ages 8 to 18 in the DC area.

We’re holding TWO sessions of Summer Camp this year: July 12-17 and August 9-14. Each session is unique, and campers can attend one or both sessions. Summer Camp tuition is $0-280 per session, available on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale. Learn all about Summer Camp by clicking on the button below.

Applications are also open for teaching artists and other adult volunteers who lead programming for campers. A variety of roles -- including instrument instructors, counselors, workshop facilitators, band coaches, and performers -- are available, and all volunteers are offered a monetary gift for their contribution. Prospective volunteers can apply here below.
Gandhi Memorial
Gandhi Memorial Center presents Art Historian on Saturday Mornings in May!!

Art historian, Benoy K Behl, takes us on a journey through Indian art, across ancient and medieval times. He joins us from Delhi, India on Zoom each Saturday morning in the month of May. These talks are illustrated by Behl's well-known photographs and films on Indian art, including the scarcely-seen ancient murals. He shows the continuity of the tradition of painting and sculpture in India, through ancient and medieval times. Selected films are shown from his series of 52 documentary films, on Indian paintings and on sculpture. He shows the first deities that were conceived in Indian thought and art, as well as the development of subsequent spiritual traditions and deities.

Benoy K Behl is a film-maker, art-historian and photographer who is known for his tireless and prolific output of work over the past 43 years. He has taken over 52,000 photographs of Asian monuments and art heritage and made 144 documentaries which are regularly screened at major cultural institutions worldwide. His photographic exhibitions have been warmly received in 72 countries around the world. Use the Zoom information below to access the meetings on Saturdays in May at 10:00am.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89188500020?pwd=WTB6QzNSRXVuTmdsdEpvb2hQL0JqZz09

Meeting ID: 891 8850 0020
Passcode: 539537
The White House Historical Association is hosting a national student art competition

To celebrate its 60th Anniversary and the legacy of its founder, First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, with the theme “The White House: An American Story,” WHHA seeks submissions from students across the country that depict and reflect the White House, its collection, and its diverse history – that of presidents and first families, enslaved workers, dedicated staff, and the American public.

The competition is open for submissions through May 21, 2021 and will have three grade-level categories: grades K through 3, grades 4 through 8, and grades 9 through 12. Winners in each category will be chosen via a panel of three judges and will be announced in July as part of the Association’s annual celebration of Mrs. Kennedy’s birthday. First place entries in each category will win $1,000.
Based on teacher feedback, we've created five sets of classroom resources that can be implemented virtually or in-person and that speak to students' needs now. They include art activities to support emotional wellness, artworks to spark conversation on social justice issues, and artmaking and writing exercises. We've also curated "Uncovering America," a collection of eleven modules that explore works of art that reflect the richness and diversity of the people, places, and cultures of the United States.
 
Virtual School Tours
Virtual school tours are available for students in grades pre-K through 12, now through June 4. We work with the teacher(s) directly to understand their students' needs and to build a 30-, 45, or 60-minute tour that works best for them.  
"Thank A Teacher Campaign"
DC Collaborative Staff and Board members have all been positively affected by the teachers who shaped their education. Each day we will be spotlighting testimonies from our Staff and Board members on our Instagram page @DCCollaborative and on our Facebook page. Take a look below to read their sentiments.
Thank you, Mr. Phillips!!! My High School Band Director, West Milford, NJ.

Mr. Phillips recognized potential in me and supported me to pursue the oboe. The band room became my safe space at school. I would eat lunch there and I participated in all of the music groups that I could, (wind ensemble, marching band, choir, indoor percussion, jazz band) and learned many different instruments. It was more than just learning music; it was social and the first place where I felt that I was truly meant to be there. His confidence in my musical abilities, changed my entire life. It impacted where I went to school, the relationships that I made and the career path that I chose to pursue. All students should have the opportunity to find their passion and sense of belonging.

~Tracey Wyton
Deputy Director at DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative and Musician
Window Gallery Project
#TeachingIsAWorkofArt
Turn your Windows into Beautiful Works of Art!

The DC Collaborative is continuing our campaign from 2020 with the #TeachingIsaWorkofArt Window Gallery Project to show teachers our appreciation for their dedication during these trying times. 

How to Participate:
  • Using what you have at home, create Window Art to celebrate teachers!
 We would love to see this go viral, (in a good way)! Be 
  • Post on Social media (tag @DCCollaborative) and use at least one of the following hashtags:
  • #TeachingIsAWorkOfArt 
  • #KeepMakingArt 
  • #TYTeachers 
  • #TeacherAppreciationWeek
  • Note: Email Tracey@DCCollaborative.org a picture of your window art if you prefer the Collaborative to share on its social media instead of posting throughout your channels
  • The DC Collaborative will promote your posts on social media and feature your posts in a virtual gallery!
  • Are you a poet and/or performing artist? The window is your stage! Design window art including poetry and/or record yourself performing!
 
Get Creative! Share! Share! Share! Your Window is Your Stage!
Be sure to use the #Hashtags or send us a photo of your window and we will post it.
Ways to Give
Donate to the DC Collaborative online or remit payment by check to:

DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

The DC Collaborative is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

  • Are you a government employee? Give through the CFC Catalogue of Caring. We're CFC#66894
  • Does your company have a matching gift program? Would you like to make a gift of stock or a planned gift? Let us know
The DC Collaborative is a recipient of an FY21 General Operating Support Service Grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The DC Collaborative is proud to receive a grant for its Collective Impact work supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The DC Collaborative is the backbone support organization that leads members of the Any Given Child DC program, part of The John F. Kennedy  Center for the Performing Arts.