A monthly spotlight on ideas, strategies, and resources to support and advocate for arts education in Sonoma County.
This newsletter includes:
SONOMA COUNTY RESOURCES AND NEWS
Student Arts Spotlight
Student Arts Spotlight shares the good news of the arts making a difference in students’ lives in a monthly feature.
The Sonoma County Arts Education Alliance (AEA) is pleased to share “Hopeful Monsters,” an ongoing series of projects by over 400 visual art students in the Healdsburg Unified School District and beyond. For the past two years, students have designed and built soft sculptures that anthropomorphize character traits, personal issues, or external stressors. The project addresses trauma-informed teaching by asking whether students can learn and practice greater levels of empathy and compassion as part of education.
Art teacher, Linus Lancaster llancaster@husd.com welcomes inquiries or visits to this project through November 2021.
Congratulations, Healdsburg Unified School District!
Learn about the Student Arts Spotlight and share your students’ accomplishments HERE.
For All Advocates:
A Call to Action
- Community advocates are encouraged to speak and work with their school districts, as districts adopt plans for using a record amount of federal funding. Deadline for districts to adopt a plan is October 29, 2021. Learn more HERE.
Arts Ed Advocacy Cycle
- Join an interactive virtual workshop on October 28, 2021 that will help parent, student, and community advocates understand and engage in how to ensure arts education is a part of annual school funding conversations. Learn more HERE.
For Teachers:
iASPIRE
- A new county-wide Arts Integration Professional Learning Network is coming! Learn from experts and lead teachers how to incorporate the arts into your teaching. Starting November 9, 2021! Learn more HERE.
For Parents –
Parent Ambassadors | Los Padres Embajadores
- Join the network of Sonoma County parents who are learning, discussing, and advocating for arts education for their child. Whether you are new to the arts or a seasoned advocate, join the parent dialogue on November 10, 2021 in English with Spanish interpretation/Spanish break out room. Learn more HERE.
GENERAL RESOURCES AND NEWS
Playing During A Pandemic: How Schools Keep Music Education Going
The U.S. Department of Education states that elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds can be used for expanded arts programs, also urging schools to continue arts programs by implementing layers of safety precautions.
- Read the brief from K-12 DIVE HERE.
Arts Education & Social Emotional Learning
There is a growing body of research proving that social and emotional learning is fundamental to academic success and students’ mental well being. Arts education is a strategy that must be used to create more resilient and engaged students and must be involved in all SEL planning sessions.
- Explore the resources from Create CA HERE.
Visit the Creative Sonoma Arts Education page to learn more about arts education projects and opportunities in Sonoma County.