Skills learned at Arts Academy innumerable

Clovis Municipal Schools

A long-standing magical tradition in our school district is the seasonal production of “The Nutcracker” by Tchaikovsky.

The Arts Academy at Bella Vista has been presenting this stunning and elaborate production for a number of years now. Last week's dazzling performances were sold-out affairs with enthusiastic audiences and adorable players.

Principal Shelly Norris shared some of the background of what has come to be the Arts Academy's signature presentation. Beginning in the early 1990s, Norris, 6th grade teacher at Cameo Elementary at the time, along with fellow teachers, began putting on annual performances of “Nutcracker” with the help of students, staff, and parents.

With the inception of the Arts Academy at Lincoln Jackson in 2001 — a new vision of an arts-infused elementary school — Norris, as principal, continued with “The Nutcracker” tradition, which has grown and evolved each year. When the school expanded into the Arts Academy at Bella Vista the annual seasonal production became firmly entrenched.

Dropping by the Arts Academy recently to collect some background information, I arrived first thing in the morning at the school. The school day at AABV begins at 7:30 a.m., when the entire school gathers in their new Bravehearts Performing Arts Center to start the day off with their “family meeting time” as they call it. This consists of singing, announcements, interactive activities and just starting off the day together.

There is nothing like walking into a school and finding yourself in the midst of hundreds of children, amazingly orderly and responsive, who all sing in tune. As Norris asked how everyone was, the students shouted back, “Fantastic, terrific, grrrreat, all day long, wooh, wooh, wooh.”

Then, when she asked, “If you're not here, raise your hand,” only a few did, laughingly.

Not only is this a refreshing way to begin the day, it seemed a practical way to share news and announcements without having to later break into classroom instruction time. Norris explained, “it's a great way to wake up your brain and body; and all of these activities teach kids self-control.”

Around 250 kids performed in “The Nutcracker.” This is more than half of the total enrollment of approximately 400 students. Those not in the Nutcracker will participate in the major spring production; this year, an opera.

It takes enormous effort and finely tuned scheduling on the part of staff, students, and parents to pull it all together in such a way that crucial instruction time is not compromised. Norris described at length the importance of participating in such a production.

The skills students learn are innumerable, many of which cannot be taught sitting at a desk; organization, collaboration, discipline, self-control, exposure to the classics, music, dance, hard work, the benefits of effort, and many more. Continuing, “The arts allow everyone to be successful and so many strengths and talents to be identified; this helps keep kids not only in school, but loving to come to school.”

Every day at AABV is filled with opportunities to showcase talents, skills, and new learning, incorporating the arts in the process.

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools and can be reached at:

[email protected]