Cultural Arts

District Arts Honors Assembly
Tuesday, May 21
10am  High School Auditorium

Spring Concert Schedule

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NB Festival of the Arts

   

The exhibit is open during business hours at Town Hall (9am - 4pm) and features approximately 500 pieces from students in Grades K-12.  We congratulate all of the students and art teachers who have prepared pieces for this show.

Congratulations to Amanda T. for winning the Supervisor's Award and to Angad S. for winning the Superintendent's Award for their artistic achievements.  Congratulations also to Amaya F. for winning the Director's Award.  

Babylon Town Hall is located at 200 Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst.  We thank Supervisor Schaeffer for his gracious hospitality in hosting our show and Awards Ceremony.

Award Winning Art

Congratulations to NBHS art student Amanda, whose pastel art work called "HOPE" received an honorable mention at the "Journeys" art exhibition at Nassau Community College.  We are very proud of Amanda, as well as Kevin, Angad and Anthony who also have work included in the Show.  Congratulations to the students, their families and their teacher, Ms. Tobi Shinnick on this wonderful accomplishment.

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"Let's go Moses Band"

On Wednesday April 9, 2013,  the Robert Moses Middle School Marching Band and Color Guard performed at Nassau Coliseum for a New York Islanders game.  The students all did a fie performance and were able to stay and enjoy the game afterwards.  We are very proud of the Color Guard and Marching Band and wish them continued success in the remainder of their performances this year.

Artwork by third grade students from Marion G. Vedder Elementary School is currently on exhibit at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City, NY.  The children were recently welcomed by the Museum staff to an artists reception, where they were invited to spend a day enjoying their exhibit and the museum free of charge.  We congratulate the students and their teacher, Mrs. Lisa Gregorek.  

   

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North Babylon Student-Musicians Are Tops



The District is proud to congratulate the talented students who were selected to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association Division I, II and III All-County Festival concert events during the weekend of March 9 and 10, 2013. 

“We had so many gifted musicians selected to participate this year,” stated Director of Fine Arts Dr. Kim Lowenborg-Coyne. “This is a great accomplishment for our students and schools.” The district congratulates the students and staff members who were involved in the preparation for these concerts, and the families who support our musicians throughout the year.

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St. Patrick's Day Parade  - Garden City
RMMS Marching Unit - You did a great job!

RMMS Choir Sings the Praises of Dr. King

The Robert Moses Select Chorus performed on February 7, 2013 for the Long Island DDSO at the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center.  They held their annual  Affirmative Action/Human Relations Committee Annual Tribute to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  
The students sang 2 selections, "Already Home" and "Seeds to Sow".  After an uplifting speech by the keynote speaker Ret. Colonel Carl Williamson, the students returned to the stage for the Finale with the Sensational Signers from UCP Suffolk.   Congratulations to these students and their teacher, Mrs. Buehler.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/generations-unite-on-valentine-s-day-1.4650877

Parliament Artists in Suffolk County Exhibit

The Suffolk County Art Leaders’ Association is currently sponsoring a Children’s Art Show for students in Grades K-8.  The exhibit is open to the public at Old Town Hall, located at 47 West Main Street in Babylon, NY.  The artists reception is Saturday, March 2, 2013 from noon to 2pm, at which time the exhibit will close.

The artwork of five North Babylon Parliament Place Elementary school students is included in the exhibit.  We congratulate them and their teacher, Ms. Blank.

      

Hairspray -- A Hit!

Congratulations to cast, crew, directors and all advisors on a wonderful production of "Hairspray".  Postponed due to the blizzard of 2013, the students danced and sang their way into the hearts of all who packed the NBHS Auditorium on February 10th at 2 and 7pm.  Thanks also to PASA for their assistance at the production and for their terrific support of the musical.

PASA of NB

7pm in the Blue Cafeteria, High School

All are welcome to attend.

RMMS artists are GEMS

These pictures show students in the art club working on making beads and bracelets to sell as a fundraiser for The Little Blue Shed, a cooperative in Uganda that provides employment opportunities for women.  We thank them for their work and for that of their teacher, Mrs. Joyce Orrigo.

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You Can't Stop the Beat....at NBHS!

Music to soothe you....

 

Click on the play icon on the bar above to hear NBHS music student Brian play Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude".  On the basis of this recording, Brian was chosen as an alternate to the NYSSMA All  State Piano Showcase. 
In addition to his fantastic accomplishments as a classical pianist, Brian plays baritone horn, trombone, euphonium, french horn and organ.  Brian also plays in the Gemini Youth Orchestra, has 8 consecutive years as an All County Musician and currently serves as Drum Major for the NBHS Marching Band.  Thank you for this wonderful music for our site, Brian!

Letter: Arts are important for sciences

Published: January 23, 2013 5:43 PM  Newsday

Photo credit: Daniel Brennan, 2011 | An empty classroom at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach.

Congratulations to the 53 students from Nassau and Suffolk counties who were recently named national Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists ["Intel contest," News, Jan. 10]. What is so impressive is the number of them who are involved in their school arts programs -- 26 in total.

Among the winners this year are student musicians -- several of whom were selected for countywide and statewide ensembles -- as well as visual artists, and those studying computer graphics and architectural design.

This should come as no surprise. Research shows that students involved in the arts score higher on standardized tests and show greater achievement in science and math. Students of the arts go on to careers not only in the arts, but into science, medicine, law and education.

While Long Island school arts programs are strongly supported by our communities, it is alarming that the arts are being pushed out of school curricula all over the state. The inordinate amount of test-taking is taking more time away from the ability to cultivate students' creativity. Because of funding pressures, districts have been forced to make the difficult decision to reduce unmandated classes, including the arts.

The arts provide students with self-confidence, creative problem-solving, the ability to critique work, and teamwork and time management skills. According to business leaders, these skills are all needed for 21st century employment.

John J. Gallagher, Middle Island

Editor's note: The writer is the Longwood school district's director of fine and applied arts.

 Do Pull Out Music Lessons Harm Students Academically?

 
Those of you who worry about the effects of pull-out band lessons on the academic achievement of students can breathe a sigh of relief today!  A new study (Hash 2011) has confirmed previous findings that students who are pulled from traditional classes to participate in band lessons perform just as well--if not better--than non-band students in state testing.  Similar findings have been found for orchestra students. (Kinney, 2008).

Elmo Supports STEAM

For its 43rd season, Sesame Street is again focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. However, the show has also added the arts to the curriculum, creating STEAM. "Incorporating the arts into our STEM curriculum was an exciting and natural addition, as Sesame Street has always used music, visual and performing arts as tools to educate and entertain children," stresses Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, SVP of Education and Research at Sesame Workshop. To read more about this topic, click on the link below: 

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season43/news/ press-release/  

Meanwhile, John Maeda President, Rhode Island School of Design, echoes the importance of STEAM in a blog post, "STEM to STEAM: Art in K-12 is Key to Building a Strong Economy," on Edutopia. Read the post here

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/stem-to-steam-strengthens-economy-john-maeda

Will my child's grades suffer when he's "pulled out for lessons? NO!

In this study, data indicate that “students did not suffer negative academic effects when compared to students of similar academic capability who remained in the classroom. We can also conclude that the overall Ohio Proficiency Test performance of the students who participated in string pull-out lessons was better than the performance of the students of similar ability who did not participate in the string program.

When string students are excused from their classrooms for string class, they are not leaving instruction. They are moving to another classroom in a different area of the building.  The concepts taught in string [lessons] go far beyond pitch and rhythm.
(1995 results of the Ohio Proficiency Test (OPT) given to fourth-grade students in Hamilton, Ohio)

“'Pull-Outs', the label attached to these elementary instrumental classes, have been the object of criticism from non-music school personnel for years. In a recent study, interpretation of the data shows that the elementary instrumental program is not harmful to students' academic growth, even if these students are "pull out" of classes considered basic.

This conclusion from the statement from our statistician was: "Students in the instrumental music program appear to have as good or better academic growth (development) in Reading and Math as the District as a whole. A strong case can be made that it is, in fact, superior growth!” (David Circle, Shawnee Mission, Kansas)

N. Babylon Schools Honored For

Music Education

School district receives national honor for
fifth consecutive year.

   

If the music emanating from schools across North Babylon sounds a bit better than surrounding communities, there is a good reason.

For the fifth year in a row, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation has named North Babylon School District a “Best Community for Music Education.” The honor, given to 166 school districts and 10 schools across the country, acknowledges schools for their commitment to and support of music education as part of the core curriculum.

This year’s award is the seventh over the past nine years for North Babylon.

According to NAMM, the Best Community designation is a distinction worthy of praise, but is also a call to action for local music education advocates to help preserve and potentially expand access to their current music education programs.

“We know that communities are struggling to maintain funding for many education programs and we applaud these communities that remain committed to a complete and quality education that must include music and the arts,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of NAMM. “We urge communities to celebrate the designation as a national recognition for their commitment to children and most of all, keep the music playing in their schools for years to come.”

Dr. Kim Lowenborg-Coyne, director of art and music programs for North Babylon schools, noted that the school district’s administration and board of education consistently focus on maintaining its arts education programs for all students.

“Our principals and administrators work together to observe mandates and always make time for music and art, regardless of time constraints,” she said.

Lowenborg-Coyne continued, “In North Babylon, we realize that study in the arts is indeed study, and that students who are able to successfully participate in band, orchestra, chorus, and musical theater are applying every basic skill they’ve learned in school…just at higher levels of complexity.”

(as seen in the PATCH)

Does engagement work to increase student achievement?

This report

from the National Endowment for the Arts looks at correlations between arts activity among at-risk youth and subsequent levels of academic performance and civic engagement. Data was pulled from four large-scale, longitudinal studies that tracked a nationally representative sample of children and/or teenagers over time. The following key findings emerged:

Socially and economically disadvantaged children and teenagers who have high levels of arts engagement or arts learning show more positive outcomes in a variety of areas than their low-arts-engaged peers;

At-risk teenagers or young adults with a history of intensive arts experiences show achievement levels closer to, and in some cases exceeding, the levels shown by the general population studied; and

Most of the positive relationships between arts involvement and academic outcomes apply only to at-risk populations (low-SES). But positive relationships between arts and civic engagement are noted in high-SES groups as well.

PASA of North Babylon Schools

(Performing Arts Support Association of NB)

The purpose of PASA is to encourage interest in an attendance at the many varied activities of the performing arts groups of the North Babylon Schools.  PASA supports North Babylon students by advocating, promoting and lobbying, community wide, the virtues of the performing arts.  Performing Arts includes music and dramatic performance, as well as art, dance, visual arts and technical theatre. (By Laws, 2007)
 
 
For just $5, you can be a member of PASA and show your support for the fantastic program here in North Babylon.  Just click here, fill out your form and send it in to your child’s music or art teacher, or to one of our the PASA mailbox, located in the North Office of the High School.
 
For additional information, email President Joan Zangerle at pasanb@optimum.net

Membership forms are available in the Music and Art Office in Room 105 at the High School (just inside the West Entrance).

 Organized music lessons appear to benefit children's IQ and academic performance--and the longer the instruction continues, the larger the effect, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology (Vol. 98, No. 2).

 
books for orchestra and
band students

Method book information:

Elementary Orchestra:  Mr. Lazarek or Mr. Schultheis
String Explorer, Book 1 or 2

Middle School Orchestra:  Ms. Verderosa
Essential Elements for Strings, Book 2
OR Essential Technique for Strings, Book 3
Elementary Band:  Mr. Orig, Mrs. Gembinski or Mr. Lazarek
Accent on Achievement

Middle School Band:  Mrs. Pino
Standard of Excellence, Book 2

 "Study in the arts can help students to pay better attention in school due to structural brain changes created when the students were engaged in practicing their art form.  When students pick up an instrument and practice a tricky passage, they are not merely improving their solo. They are also developing a high level of concentration that will aid them when they are working on their next algebra problem."

M. Posner, University of Oregon, 2008.

North Babylon is one of NAMM's Best Communities for Music Education in 2003, 2006, 2008 , 2009, 2010 and 2011!

North Babylon High School's  Music Program is a  five-time finalist in the Grammy Foundation's Signature High Schools Competition.  
Only 100 schools in the nation are selected as a finalist each year.