16 Schools from Across Louisiana Learn More about How to Join the A+ Whole School Arts-Integrated Network
WHAT:
100 principals and teachers from 16 schools across the state will attend Louisiana A+ Schools’ (LAA+) first annual Pre-Institute to learn more about how to join the LAA+ network on Friday, January 11. LAA+ is a program of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). Rosalynn Wade, Program Director for Oklahoma A+ Schools, and Bethany France, Director of LAA+, will conduct the Pre-Institute.
The network provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best. A national trend, arts integration involves infusing some type of art (music, visual art, dance, etc.) into the traditional subjects of math, science, history, etc. in order to fully engage students and enhance learning. Arts integration is achieved through continuous practitioner-led professional development, nationwide support networks for teachers and administrators, and partnerships with parents, community resources, media and universities.
“I have two school-age children,” says Bethany France, Director of LAA+, “and when I close my eyes and imagine the type of school I want for them, I see an A+ School. Plus, as a former classroom teacher, I know schools and educators are under tremendous pressure to perform. The A+ program provides schools with a framework that leads to proven success, and I believe that is why Louisiana schools are excited to come and learn more.”
Every school in Louisiana (pre-k through 12, urban, suburban, rural, public, private, parochial or charter) was invited to begin the application process to become an A+ school in 2013. LAA+ plans to add five to ten schools to the network each year. Schools must have 85% commitment from their faculty to apply and agree to a three-year implementation process involving whole school training each summer and customized professional development throughout the school year.
WHEN:
Friday, January 11, 2013, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Sheraton Hotel New Orleans, 500 Canal Street, Rhythms Room
WHY:
A+ Schools started in North Carolina in 1995 as a research-based, whole school professional development program with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. In addition to North Carolina, A + Schools has been successfully implemented in Oklahoma and Arkansas and currently has over 120 schools in the network nationwide. The program’s success in other states has prompted GRFA to partner with Oklahoma A+ Schools to bring A+ methods to Louisiana.
Extensive university research in A+ Schools reveals dramatic improvements including:
oElevated student achievement
oBetter student and teacher attendance
oDecreased discipline problems
oStronger parental and community involvement
oA more creative and enjoyable educational environment
For more information visit www.aplusla.org or contact the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts at 504-324-9614 or bethany@georgerodriguefoundation.org.
GEORGE RODRIGUE FOUNDATION INVITES SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE "LOUISIANA A+ SCHOOLS" ARTS-INTEGRATED, WHOLE SCHOOL REFORM NETWORK
Proven A+ Network Already in Operation in Oklahoma, North Carolina and Arkansas
LOUISIANA - December 3, 2012 - The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) announces the launch of Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+), an initiative to bring the proven success of the A+ Schools program to schools across Louisiana.
"We are very excited to bring LAA+ to Louisiana because it is the first whole school arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind for our state," says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA. "We believe LAA+ has the potential to influence the way that all Louisiana students are taught."
Started in North Carolina in 1995, A + Schools is a research-based whole school network with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. The network provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best. Arts integration is achieved through continuous practitioner-led professional development, statewide support networks for teachers and administrators, and partnerships with parents, community resources, media and universities.
Extensive university research in A+ Schools reveals dramatic improvements including:
Elevated student achievement
Better student and teacher attendance
Decreased discipline problems
Stronger parental and community involvement
A more creative and enjoyable educational environment
In addition to North Carolina, A + Schools has been successfully implemented in Oklahoma and Arkansas and currently has over 120 schools in the network nationwide. The program's success in other states has prompted GRFA to team up with Oklahoma A+ Schools to bring A+ methods to Louisiana.
GRFA hired Bethany France to serve as Director of Louisiana A+ Schools. As a champion for arts integration in Louisiana, Bethany France served under the Lieutenant Governor as the Director of Arts-in-Education for the Louisiana Division of the Arts from 2007 - 2012. In that capacity, she spearheaded arts learning initiatives and administered arts education grants to schools, nonprofits, and social service agencies statewide. Originally from Massachusetts, Bethany served as Assistant Director of Readmissions at The New England Institute of Art and Communications Boston. In 2002, she relocated to Louisiana to take part in Teach For America, where she taught second grade at Progress Elementary School in Baton Rouge.
"I have two school age children," says Bethany France, Director of LAA+ Schools. "When I close my eyes and imagine the type of school that I want them to attend, that school is everything that the A+ method represents. I am excited that thanks to the Rodrigue Foundation, my children and many students in Louisiana will have the opportunity to benefit from the arts-integrated education that LAA+ will provide."
Every school in Louisiana (pre-k through 12, urban, suburban, rural, public, private, parochial or charter) is invited to begin the application process to become an A+ school. LAA+ plans to add five to ten schools to the network each year. Schools must have 85% commitment from their faculty to apply and agree to a three-year implementation process involving whole school training each summer and customized professional development throughout the school year. Additionally, LAA+ is actively seeking corporations and individuals to serve as sponsors and partnerships with local arts organizations across Louisiana.
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization advocating the importance of the arts in the development of our youth through a variety of art educational programs.
To
benefit LSU's School of Music and the arts in education initiatives of
the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), Louisiana artist
George Rodrigue created a unique, iconic piece of art: The Rodrigue
Steinway.
The piano, donated by the Hall Piano Company in New
Orleans, is slated to be sold to the highest bidder, with half of the
proceeds going to the LSU School of Music and the other half to GRFA.
Visit www.RodrigueSteinway.com to learn more!
THE GEORGE RODRIGUE FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS PARTNERS WITH THE LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TO PUBLISH A COOKBOOK ILLUSTRATED BY STUDENTS Louisiana high school students compete in an art contest for individual college scholarships and
awards totaling $45,000
WHAT: The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) announce its Call for Entries and 4th Annual Art Contest in
partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF).
The 2013 art contest theme is “Louisiana’s Culinary Heritage” and winning artwork will be used in a new cookbook
published by GRFA and LRAEF. The annual GRFA scholarship art contest offers one-time college scholarships and
awards totaling over $45,000 to the top ten (10) senior and top five (5) junior winners. The top winner will receive a
$6,000 college scholarship. Since 2009, GRFA received 1,179 entries from 125 cities across Louisiana, awarding 52
students a combined $130,000 in college scholarships.
“Louisiana is an international culinary melting pot,” says George Rodrigue. “For centuries our food reflects a cultural
history of adventurous cuisine. Uniquely, Louisiana yields seafood, wild game and produce, providing home cooks and
chefs with a wide variety of fresh local ingredients. These indigenous resources complement Louisiana’s cultural
‘gumbo’ of French, Spanish, African, Italian and German flavors, influencing the food we ‘live to eat.’ Our beloved
Creole and Cajun culinary traditions encourage a vibrant restaurant industry, impacting our state’s economy with jobs
and tourism. We invite Louisiana’s high school juniors and seniors to create a work of art representing our state’s
unique culinary heritage while honoring its festivals, dishes and local ingredients.“
A blind, two-part judging process focuses on three categories: interpretation of theme, creativity and design. GRFA
requires that submissions be between 11 x 14 and 18 x 24 inches. Acceptable mediums include oil or acrylic paint,
charcoal, pencil or graphite, watercolor, photography, mixed media or digital media. All Louisiana high school juniors
and seniors are eligible, regardless of test scores, grade point averages or declared majors. GRFA regrets that we are
unable to accept framed canvases or three-dimensional work.
WHEN: Taking applications now at www.rodriguefoundation.org/artcontest. Deadline February 20, 2013
WHO: All Louisiana juniors and seniors attending public and private high schools, home schooled students and GED students.
WHY: A Fall 2013 cookbook showcases winning artwork, including 100 recipes from Louisiana’s greatest chefs, with proceeds
benefitting GRFA and LRAEF programs.
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization advocating the importance of the arts in
the development of our youth through a variety of art educational programs. www.georgerodriguefoundation.org
Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting the restaurant
industry as a career choice to a current and future workforce. LRAEF offers scholarships and professional development while
supporting state-approved foodservice programs. www.lra.org
For additional information, contact Emily Reimsnyder at emily@bondpublicrelations.com
Announcing the addition of "A Number One Tiger Fan" to our "Print Donation Program!"
Fundraise for your non-profit organization with a signed Blue Dog print by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue!
These prints are no longer for sale to the general public and can only be bought at charity auctions or raffles.
These
prints are specifically designed as a fundraising vehicle for
non-profits to raffle or auction directly to their supporters. They are
not for sale in any Rodrigue Gallery, and are only accessible to the
general public through a donation to a non-profit organization.
Originally
produced to commemorate George Rodrigue's exhibit at the LSU Museum of
Art in 2011, these prints raised over $1 million for the LSU Tiger
Atheletic Foundation's education programs and GRFA.
Congratulations to all the junior and senior finalists!
On February 4, 2012, GRFA will award over $45,000 in college scholarships and art supplies to ten high school seniors and five juniors at an awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.
From a great Huffington Post article by Inderpal Grewal entitled "A Lesson From Steve Jobs: Arts and Technology Education Are Related" about Steve Jobs and how his expertise in calligraphy taught him about innovation and the benefits of arts in education:
Calligraphy is both aesthetic and technical and these two facets cannot be separated. It is also a lesson in history, where Chinese scrolls, Islamic arts and the Illuminated manuscripts of the European Middle Ages can all be examined together. It provides a history of power of religion, monarchies and of communication and technologies at different periods of time. It also suggests that laborious and meticulous writing has its pleasures and can also be used as innovation. For Jobs, it was in his recollection of the Calligraphy course in his commencement address that made the difference that marked the Mac from other computers, and this difference was what millions of people and consumers‹appreciated. . . .
Humanities and arts cannot be pigeonholed as unnecessary or extra, as luxuries that we cannot afford now, as simply being about pleasure rather than about productivity. They are central to innovation, and to separate these is to the detriment of all of us.
Two high-need school districts in Jersey City, NJ and Long Beach, CA shared their findings regarding integrating the arts into the core curriculum at an April 6th Education Policy Briefingat the U.S. Department of Education.Read their stories and successes here:
The article is a brief look at the research, resources, programs and initiatives in arts integration that have evolved in the 34 years since a national panel convened by David Rockefeller Jr. issued its 1977 report Coming to Our Senses: The Significance of the Arts for American Education.
The article compares and contrasts the findings from the 1977 report with those presented in the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities’ 2011 report Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools.
One lucky Louisiana high school junior or senior will get to work with George Rodrigue to design Louisiana's Official Bicentennial Poster! Plus, 15 winners will share in over $45,000 in scholarships and awards. For more information visit www.rodriguefoundation.org/artcontest
The report does a great job of presenting the current state of the arts in schools and then looks at specific examples of school systems that have improved when they made the arts a priority.
Be the first to see Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River opening at the LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center in Baton Rouge!
All area educators are invited to attend a FREE workshop and exhibition preview presented by George and Wendy Rodrigue on Thursday, July 21, 2011 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The workshop will include a lecture, walk-through and presentation of education resources for the k-12 classroom.
This event is free, but pre-registration is required.
To commemorate the exhibition "Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River: George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and other collections" from July 23 to September 18, at the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, LA, artist George Rodrigue now starts a campaign to benefit arts and education in Louisiana.
Presenting
A Number One Tiger Fan A signed silkscreen print by George Rodrigue Open Edition $500 + Tax and Shipping
"Arts 4 Education" is a new art campaign created by Louisiana's Artist Laureate and creator of the Blue Dog series, George Rodrigue, in order to help art and education in Louisiana. After learning of his exhibit at the LSU Museum of Art, Rodrigue decided that he wanted to create a special silkscreen print in order to raise funds to help his home state.
Since 2001, Rodrigue has embarked on similar campaigns to help after the attacks of September 11 and after Hurricane Katrina. Through these efforts, Rodrigue raised millions of dollars for charity through his "Blue Dog Relief" print sales campaign.
Additionally, in 2003, together with the Tiger Athletic Foundation, Rodrigue raised more than $1 million to help build LSU mascot Mike the Tiger a new habitat. Following that success, Rodrigue and his foundation, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), and TAF now join efforts with the LSU Museum of Art to promote and assist arts and education in Louisiana.
In 2009, Rodrigue founded the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts in order to bring attention to an issue important to him. Through GRFA, Rodrigue advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth. Programs include an annual arts scholarship contest, art supplies for Louisiana schools through “George’s Art Closet,” free access to nationally accredited lesson plans, school visits and art therapy and more.
"Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River: George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and Other Collections," is an exhibition highlighting the progression of George Rodrigue's forty-year career. The exhibition features Rodrigue's Blue Dog paintings from a state-wide traveling exhibition organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as additional works from the artist's personal archives and local private collections.
The Tiger Athletic Program (TAF) is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting LSU and its Athletic Program. Proceeds from this campaign will help to improve educational programs for student athletes on LSU's campus. The LSU Museum of Art collects, conserves, exhibits, and interprets the fine and decorative arts entrusted to its care and stewardship, providing opportunities for research, education, and enjoyment to students, scholars, and visitors. For more information about the museum and the "Cajuns and Blue Dogs on the River" exhibit visit, www.lsumoa.com
Announcing the opening of our NEW Foundation Offices in New Orleans, LA at 747 Magazine Street! We are officially in our new space and operating from our new location in the heart of the New Orleans Arts Districts (NOAD).
With over 3,000 sq. ft. we will be able to host student field trips, summer camps, teacher workforce development workshops, fundraisers, and many other events! Our space features some of George Rodrigue's most famous original paintings and we will have a Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Ceremony in July.
Until then, please enjoy some preview photos of our space.
In honor of George Rodrigue receiving the "Distinguished Eagle Scout" award from the Boy Scouts of America, he created this limited edition silkscreen print called "Eagle Scout"
On May 12, 2011, George received his award at a special dinner. Pictured are Honorary Chairman of the event Billy Nungesseer with Wendy Rodrigue and George's original Scout Master, Donald LaBauve, with his son and fellow scout, Ronald.
Entry taken in its entirety from Wendy Rodrigue's "Musing's of an Artist's Wife" original blog post. Learn all about our GRFA museum event, sidewalk chalk event, and George's Art Closet high school visit.
For a complete photo album of our Monroe trip visit here.
Until recently I thought I understood Louisiana, its ins and outs, its people, its terrain, and its history.
Yet we spent much of this past week in northeast Louisiana, and I found town after town unfamiliar, including our destination, Monroe, a city of cypress groves, 60,000 people, and tremendous state pride, located 270 miles north of New Orleans.
Monroe’s claim to fame is the birth of Delta Airlines, a small company started in 1924. They delivered mail to the rural South and, beginning in 1929, carried passengers, continuing until 1941 when Delta moved to Atlanta.
The locals place the accent on ‘Mun’ rather than ‘roe,’ a distinction I should have adopted easily, since I had a great uncle named with the same inflection. Yet I messed it up time and again, briefly reprieved when my stepson Jacques Rodrigue innocently flubbed the name Rayville when he introduced our 2011 scholarship winner who lives in the nearby town.
“It’s pronounced ‘Rayvul,’" chuckled the woman behind me.
(pictured above, George Rodrigue with GRFA 2011 First Place scholarship winner, Savannah Bridges, this week at the Masur Museum, Monroe)
We visited this part of the state for a tour organized by John Bullard, Director Emeritus of the New Orleans Museum of Art, in celebration of the museum’s centennial. Exhibition highlights include Blue Dog and Hurricane paintings from NOMA’s permanent collection, as well as Oak Tree and Cajun paintings from George’s private collection, and best of all (certainly for me), rarely-seen original paintings from local collectors.
The show, titled “Blue Dogs and Cajuns," also includes thewinning artwork by GRFA's sixteen scholarship winners. The exhibition premiered in January at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum in Lake Charles, Louisiana and travels in various forms during the rest of this year to Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. (schedule posted here)
“I’m very thankful to John Bullard and the New Orleans Museum of Art for scheduling this statewide tour and arranging my visit once again to the Masur Museum. Although my Cajun paintings appeared as well, this time the Blue Dog was the hit of the show.” – G.R.
(pictured above, George Rodrigue with members of the Advisory Council from the New Orleans Museum of Art, representing the museum during the Monroe events)
George Rodrigue visited Monroe often over the years. In fact, some thirty years ago the Masur Museum hosted an exhibition of his Cajun paintings.
“At the show I met Dr. Armstrong and his wife Gabriella, a purebred Italian, born in Italy. They liked my work and immediately bought a painting. We’ve been friends ever since.” – G.R.
“At some point they commissioned me to paint their family portrait. Yet each time I drove to Monroe to photograph the group, Gabriella was pregnant again. It took twelve years for them to settle down, and so I finally painted the family.” – GR
And indeed, that friendship remains stronger than ever. Ralph recently nominated George for the Distinguished Eagle Award, making him one of only six recipients to be honored in this way in the history of Louisiana Scouting (related post here). In addition, it was Ralph and Gabriella that sponsored this year’s Monroe exhibition and hosted the patron party in their home.
(pictured below, George and Wendy Rodrigue with members of the staff and museum board of the Masur Museum, including Ralph and Gabriella Armstrong, far right)
While in Monroe we also hosted “Sidewalk Chalk with George” at the Emily P. Robinson Community Center. In this case, the pictures say it all…
Generous with their attention, print space, and airtime, the press also flooded George on this visit. We are especially grateful to the News-Star daily paper, KNOE-TV, servicing Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and KEDM Public Radio, a personal favorite since George recently agreed to support public radio with a month’s design for the 2012 NPR calendar.
(pictured below, George Rodrigue with Hope Young, Features Editor for the Monroe News-Star. Read Hope's story here)
One evening we enjoyed an excellent dinner at Sage with Chef Cory Barr, a John Besh protégé. Chef Barr makes Chef Besh, the still-young New Orleans ‘Restaurant August’ legend, proud with his complementary yet unique culinary arts in the northern part of the state.
Finally, we visited Ouachita High School in West Monroe and launched the high school portion of “George’s Art Closet,” a program organized by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. Along with the students, George unpacked art supplies for Ms. Jones’s talented class, a gift possible through recent and generous donations to GRFA.
Afterwards we joined the students in the school’s auditorium, where they studied art with a special guest lecturer.
Leaving Monroe, George and I detoured, spending several hours at Poverty Point, a recently discovered Indian settlement in a remote area of Louisiana. I would tell you all about it, except that I just posted a story for Gambit on this ancient architectural and cultural wonder here.
We next bee-lined to Auburn, Alabama, where we present tonight our husband-and-wife painting demonstration/lecture for a special event at the Jule Collins Smith Art Museum at Auburn University. I’m not sure if I’ll blog about it or not, but if you’re so inclined, I hope you’ll follow along as I stumble through yet another cyberspace phenomenon, twitter.
Wendy
George and I dedicate this post, with special thanks, to MUN-roe residents Dr. Ralph and Gabriella Armstrong for their devoted friendship, generous sponsorship, and outstanding photographs (sprinkled throughout this story)-
How does George Rodrigue pronounce his name? Find out here-
The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) advocates the importance of the visual arts in the development of our youth.GRFA encourages the use of art within all curriculums and supports a variety of art educational programs.
