Teaching Arts Creatively (TAC) Program
Through the Teaching Arts Creatively (TAC) Program, AHA! gives Jefferson County children a real AHA! experience: a new, fresh understanding that learning through the arts is fun. We share the expenses of this program with the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and grants from EcoLab and The Nora roberts Foundattion. Over the last 10 years we have contributed over $100,000 to the public schools in Jefferson County for arts and humanities education enrichment. Grant recipients and project information from 2012 is listed below. You can also view listings for the 2011 and 2010 award cycles.
2012 TAC Grant Recipients
Fall:
J. P. Lynch, Eastern WV Regional Jazz Festival
Funding for stipend to defray expenses of three expert judges to critique and rate groups at festival to be held at Jefferson High School.
Jessica Ring, Washington High School
Purchase of nine tablet computers and five Prismacolor Pencils for study of photorealistic drawing. Resulting artwork will be displayed in hallways and on the school website.
Laura Borkholder, Washington High School
Purchase fourteen drawing tablets and software to be used to create art using new technology in Graphic Design class.
Steve Glendenning, Jefferson High School
Funding for guest director and technical director for theatre program working with students in small groups.
Rachel Allen, Charles Town Middle School
Funding for guest musician/band director for 15 visits to help beginner jazz band players develop a good sound, proper jazz technique, and play many different styles of jazz.
Robert Linde, Charles Town Middle School
Funding for multiple visits from guest artist to work with art and language students on papermaking and creating books as art forms.
Bill Lanxner, T.A. Lowery Elementary
Funding for equipment for adding World Drumming program to school music curriculum.
Nancy Guiney, C.W. Shipley Elementary
Purchase tickets and transportation to performance of Imagination Stage production of Roald Dahl book, The Magic Finger.
Constance Balukoff, Blue Ridge Elementary
Funding for art supplies and materials for kindergartners and first graders to explore techniques of using different kinds of paint. Will also purchase art supplies and materials for grades 3-5 for student self-portraits and glazed pinch pots.
Pamela Shearer, South Jefferson Elementary
Purchase of drums for drum circles curriculum addition to music program.
Judith A. Chesley, South Jefferson Elementary
Funding for gallery show at Summit Point Library for 30 art students, including art supplies, framing supplies, and reception.
Angela Holsinger, Driswood Elementary
Funding for school theater production for 5th graders, including supplies for props and costumes.
Sean Cookus and Rachel Mills, North Jefferson Elementary
Funding for the creation of puppets, writing script, set design, music composition, instruments, supplies and performance involving all grade levels.
Amanda Licea, Shepherdstown Elementary
Purchase of scarves and ribbon wands for music performance and dance at all grade levels.
Susan Loeffler, Shepherdstown Elementary
Funding for visiting children’s author, Cheryl Ware, for a two all-day writing workshops.
Amanda Groff, Shepherdstown Elementary
Funding for performing arts project focusing on puppet creation for 4th graders with guest artist Joe Santoro.
Cheryl Crawford, Page Jackson Elementary
Purchase of contrabass resonator bar for musical programs at all grade levels to accompany stories and poems or to represent a story character.
Sherry Fiolek, Page Jackson Elementary
Funding for first graders’ study local of the architecture and history of Harpers Ferry and Charles town, including building sketches and clay facades.
Spring:
Steve Glendenning, Drama Instructor at Jefferson High School
Received funding to hire professional director, Joshua Riese, to direct the spring play, “Much Ado About Nothing.” Mr. Riese will also serve as technical director for “The Music Man.” Also, Jefferson High Drama Program received funding for a professional guest conductor, Kaziah White, and a pianist for the spring musical, “The Music Man.” Performances are scheduled for June 8, 9 and 10.
Rachel Allen, Band Instructor at Charles Town Middle School
Received funding for guest conductor, John Russell to conduct the 7th and 8th grade bands during the first 2 weeks in March, in preparation for the spring regional festival.
Mary Weyant, Librarian at Wildwood Middle School
Received a grant for writer Rosemary Klein to lead a creative writing workshop for students in grades 6-8. This all-day workshop successfully took place on March 2, 2012, with 22 students participating. Ms. Klein led the students in creative writing exercises, and she informed them of the opportunities available to writers in the sciences, as well as creative arts & humanities.
Ann Mountz and Karen Glennon, Homeschoolers of Jefferson County
Applied for a grant to have Emily Vaughn lead 5 art classes and lead 5 art field trips to the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, the Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Gardens. The students will display their artworks in an art show in June.
Patsy Carr, School Counselor Shepherdstown Middle School
Received a grant to have writers Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger lead a presentation exploring teen feelings, experiences, and thoughts about their world using poetry.
Rachel Mills, Art Teacher at North Jefferson Elementary
Received a grant to have pottery artist, Beth Peterson, lead a 2 day pottery workshop on the three types of sculptural process: Additive, subtractive and manipulation/modeling.
