November 2022
On November 28th, Findorff will begin to prep for Phase 4, which will start during Winter Break. Phase 4 consists of the middle section of the 3rd floor (science classrooms). Findorff will cut a hole in the side of the building on the corner of 5th Street and E. Washington Ave. to bring in materials. Construction vehicles will access the site from 5th Street. There will not be construction traffic during student drop-off and pick up (7:30-8:30am and 2:45-4:10pm). View the Street view.

As always, please let me know how we can support you and if you have any questions.

Thank you, and have a great month.

Mikki Smith
Principal
Staff Shoutouts
April van Buren, NSPA Pioneer Award Winner
The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) announced Madison East High School Business and Media Teacher, April van Buren as one of only three teachers in the United States to receive its prestigious Pioneer award, the highest honor bestowed upon journalism educators with recipients recognized as being among the best in the world.  

The Pioneer award recognizes educators who at the highest levels, have shared their passion for scholastic journalism and press freedom with students nationwide. Pioneers are educators who make substantial contributions to high school journalism programs and scholastic journalism education outside their primary employment.

Ever since her first journalism class at age 15, she has been working to share her love of scholastic journalism with students and staff, said van Buren. She uplifted how she has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and support from the scholastic journalism community and has found ways along her career to serve the field and to help newer advisers on their teaching paths.

Van Buren’s own teaching journey has taken her from Missouri to New Mexico and now Wisconsin, where she teaches East High School’s TV show, Tower TV (the advanced broadcast class), as well as advises the school yearbook. She started East’s Newspaper and Photography Club before the pandemic and is working to create a journalism program and sequence of study within Madison Metropolitan School District.  

Van Buren also sponsors the Digital Art Club; is a member of the Information Communication and Technology Pathway team; serves as a board member for the Wisconsin Journalism Education Association and continues her work as a board member for the Kettle Moraine Press Association, which serves scholastic journalism in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Ms. van Buren was recently featured in the Wisconsin State Journal, Cap Times and on NBC15.
Staff-Curated Art Show Spotlights Educators’ Artistic Expressions
One of the primary responsibilities of an educator is to encourage their scholars’ creativity—be it through music, poetry, photography, or any number of other pursuits, artistic or otherwise. And what better way is there for them to do that than to lead by their own example? For the past month, that’s just what East High staff have done, taking over the first-floor Ray Edwards Gallery space with an entirely teacher-generated/curated art show of their original works.

Organized by East High art teacher Yong Kim, the show comprised pieces spanning a wide variety of media—including ceramics, jewelry, photography, pen drawings, coal sketches, and watercolor paintings—and styles, providing its artists the unique opportunity to grant their classes and colleagues a peek into their personal artistic processes and output.

“I think, for students to see the work that we do in our free time outside the classroom, it humanizes us and helps us connect with them on a different level. I love overhearing student conversations about the pieces, or seeing them approach teachers like me, and say, ‘Oh my gosh, when did you make this, how did you make this?’ - Yong Kim, East High art teacher.

In addition to the feel-good aspect of the show, there were equally important educational components to it. For example, as part of their curriculum, art scholars were required to write gallery reports, where they chose a piece to focus on, made a sketch of it, and then described, analyzed, and interpreted it. Doing so not only served to connect them with the art more fully, but also helped build a shared vocabulary through which art literacy can flourish.

According to Kim, the school aims to put on a staff art show at least every five years, though this year’s iteration came together in a hurry. Another local artist was originally slated to have their work showcased in the Edwards Gallery for the month, but due to unforeseen circumstances, had to back out with little advance notice. That left a roughly two-and-a-half week window for teachers to submit their pieces, and for Kim, as well as teachers April Sopkin, Sara Rosewicz, and John May to arrange the displays.

“I know we were asking a lot of the artists, with such a short turnaround period,” said Kim. “Everyone who provided work for the show certainly had other, more pressing demands on their time and attention, so for them to make participating a priority speaks volumes about the importance of this project, and the value that staff place on artistic expression.”

In total, nine instructors contributed more than 45 works—a testament to the talent walking the halls of the building every day. The show culminated in a closing reception on Thursday, October 27. Participating teacher-artists included Marc Appell (ESL), Cynthia Chin (math), Yong Kim (art), John May (social studies), Karen Paschke (math), Sara Rosewicz (art), April Sopkin (art), Jennafer Winesett (physics), and Helena White (speech).

East High graduate Leo White will next be showing work in the Gallery (November 7 through December 9), followed by the First Semester Review, an exhibition of items made by art students throughout the first half of the year.
Featured Program/Event
Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos — also known as Day of the Dead — is back at East High after a three-year hiatus. East High School’s Raza United and Ballet Folklorico de Maria Diaz will present the 6th annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, November 5th, at East High School. The day will be full of mesmerizing and beautiful dances, amazing vocal music by local singers, a food and craft sale, and most importantly, remembrance, in honor of passed loved ones. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for 12th grade and under. All ticket, food and craft sale proceeds will go to the Ballet and Raza United to help pay for costumes and outfits, field trips, scholarships and graduation stoles.
East High School Spanish Bilingual Resource Specialist, Silvia Gomez, who is helping plan the event recently spoke with Madison 365 News, "It’s open to the public and it is open to all ages. We want everyone to come in and learn.”

New this year, there will be two performances in the Theater. The 1:00pm show will be shorter and more educational in nature with interactive performances geared toward younger audiences, and the 5:30pm show will be the traditional entertaining show with guest appearances.
Event attendees can also view East's altar of offerendas. A common tradition for Día de los Muertos is families creating ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. Altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of those being honored. “Here at East High School, we have our altar that students created and it’s looking great. People are starting to put pictures around it. We’ve opened it up for people to put pictures of their past loved ones on our altar,” Gomez explained. “It makes me happy that I’ve been a part of this thing that is helping other people recognize and celebrate their culture and makes them feel more comfortable celebrating here in the U.S.,” she adds.

Student Spotlight
Senior, Adan Martinez
We are super excited to see that East High School's own Adan Martinez has been doing great work this year through the Youth Apprenticeship Program. He is completing his youth apprenticeship at the City of Madison Fleet Service division. His supervisors have been impressed with his positive attitude and willingness to learn all about auto mechanics. You can read more about Adan's contributions in City of Madison Fleet Service Blog.
Apprenticeships and internships are a great tool for students to use to explore a particular industry or career path they are interested in pursuing after high school.

Since 2014, the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program has been providing roughly teens the opportunity to work paid internships with various City of Madison Departments. Initiated by Mayor Paul Soglin, this program aims to diversify the City of Madison staff to more accurately represent the residents they work for and represent. The program’s namesake, Wanda Fullmore, grew up in Madison and spent her career as an employee in the Mayor’s Office. Interns work in City of Madison departments such as the Parks Division, Engineering Division, Information Technology, Finance and Purchasing, City Attorney’s Office, Building Inspection, Madison Police Department CORE Unit, Madison Public Library Central branch, Warner Park Recreation Center, Public Health and with Common Wealth Development. Students can also simultaneously earn school elective credits through the Madison Metropolitan School District Experiential Learning Program.

Applications for the 2023 program will open in January! Questions can be directed to Ashley Hoeft, ashley.h@cwd.org or (608) 620-7862.