Center Stage Youth Theatre

Posts Tagged ‘Dean Of Students’

Or is that DS’s?

Today at the teacher’s meeting we continued our discussion on whether the students should be allowed to bring their hand held video games to school.  My position is that it takes away from brain power and focus that should be geared toward and heading into one direction – learning.  Not to mention that ther are issues of “I jsut ahve to plug it in”  “Just let me save my game” and a myriad of other responses and comments that take away from class time.

Though another teacher pointed out that the kids with Asperger’s who ordinarily would not talk to anybody are now relating to each other concerning the games, and discussing strategies and cheering each other on during time when they are using the games.  I had not thought of that, and while that is valid, it still seems to me not to me a good use of their focus, and heaven knows focus is sometimes very hard to come by at school.

The Dean of Students is going to lead a discussion in the meeting tomorrow and talk with the kids – there is an idea that we could allow the games in school firdays, and only during Friday Fun time.  This seems to me like a great compromise.

I saw the dress rehearsal of the Town Theatre’s Annie Get Your Gun last night with my Son Will. It was a fundraiser for Glenforest School, and one of the highlights -  aside from the show – was visiting with and meeting some new folks from the school.

I will be meeting this week with Chris Winkler, the devoted headmaster of Glenforest, as well as Mr. Barton Calvert, the Dean of Students.  We will be joined in the meeting by a member of the school’s board, a faculty member and a parent. I suppose I should be nervous about  this meeting, as it is a formal interview for me, but I feel only cheerful anticipation when I think about it.   I am really looking forward to talking more with these kind folks about creating a drama program at the  school.

The show was great!  It was the first time I had seen anything at the Town Theatre and it certainly lived up to it’s reputation.  Many of the voices were of professional quality and the acting was stellar – really nice characterizations and there were some lovely connections between some of the actors.  And it was obvious that they were having an awful lot of fun, and that is always great to see.

There were three kids in the show and they did an absolutely wonderful job – very natural, and no pushing for the laughs.  Bravo, young people!

This week I met with Mr. Chris Winkler, headmaster of the Glenforest School,http://www.glenforest.org/,  to discuss beginning a drama program at Glenforest and also to talk with him about working out a situation where I could possibly use the Glenforest facility for Center Stage community programs such as our classes and workshops, and perhaps even having access to their auditorium for our plays.

Glenforest is a school for kids with learning differences.  I have long wished for an opportunity to work with this population of students and feel that the social interaction inherent in theatre arts acitivities, be it onstage or off, is just one of the ways we can reach and help students within this set of qualities.  I am the mom of two sons with ADD and other issues, bright and creative kids who struggled to be successful in the public school system.  A program such as the one Glenforest offers  would have made such a difference in their lives.

I look forward to meeting with Mr. Winkler as well as with Dean of Students Barton Calvert, a  member of the faculty, board and parents organizations in the next week.  I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.