STACY GALE
Special Education Teacher
Fern Bacon Middle School
Artist: Sunny Eselekhomhen – African Music & Dance
My students met all their goals with 100% improvement. This was evidenced by their increased independence by their participation in “Very Special Arts”, taking Beginning Band, Leadership Class, and Regular ED. P.E. They could put their P.E. shirts on independently and some with assistance and this included their very artistic VSA shirts. They made many new friends and sang and drummed with them. The regular ed. students became a part of my class by their participation in the VSA program with Mr. Sunny. My students improved their social skills, they all made several new friends, Alex (OHI/Autistic) learned approximately 20 more students names so he now knows almost 100 students and staff at Fern Bacon. The most touching event occurred at the Promotion Ceremony when almost all the students clapped and cheered for Alex when he received his certificate from Mrs. Purcell. I have only participated in the VSA program for the last two years when I became the OI/OHI teacher at Fern Bacon. I have seen all the students who participated in the VSA program this year at our Pizza Party ask can they all do this next year and how much fun it was to participate at the Festival and County Fair!!! I cannot thank you all enough for this incredible experience on behalf of the students at Fern Bacon.
SUSAN SMART
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JEANNETTE GUERRA
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What an unforgettable and enriching experience this year’s VSA journey turned out to be. To watch a tough 2nd grader reach out to a shy student with a disability encouraging him to join our hip-hop dance is just a small example of what we saw this year at John Sloat’s Thursday Hip-hop dance rehearsals. Our hip-hop instructor, Alice Twilla was professional, fun, and held our kids to a high standard. She molded some shy and unruly students into confident dancers and performers. For Susan Smart, it was an incredible addition to her first year as a classroom teacher. Attached you will find student comments regarding their experience. Please, please consider us again to be part of your program next year. It really was fun and our students and we looked forward to every VSA Thursday.
OWEN JACKMAN
Special Education Teacher
Leonardo da Vinci School
Artist: Ned Hammad – Blues Band
“Rhyena” was an 8th grader who joined the Very Special Arts/Leonardo da Vinci Blues Band in January of this year. She refused to be in the band previously because she had "stage fright". “Rhyena” comes from a challenging home situation and had been retained for one year. “Rhyena” finally agreed to try being part of the Blues Band. She took to the Band like a duck to water. The VSA/LDVBB is a lot like a college sports team: you are only as good as the players you have and you have constantly changing personnel. “Rhyena” stepped up to the plate and became our lead vocalist and one of the leaders of the band. What was also amazing is that she had more stage presence than some of our "legacy'" students whose brothers or sisters had been in the band previously. ”Rhyena” developed her own singing style and look that was all her own. In all my years of doing this she has been the only student to do a song "solo" for both special and general education students. The VSA/LDVBB was a wonderful experience for her. My hope is that she continues playing music and performing long after being part of this program.
Kyle was a student of mine who has type 1 diabetes. He was in the band last year and really struggled with playing guitar. At the beginning of his 8th grade year he decided to switch vocals. What a difference one year and a new position made. Kyle was able to overcome his medical challenges and be one of the few good male singers I have had in the many years I have been doing this. Kyle was a student who always loved music but never had the chance to play. The VSA/LDVBB gave him that opportunity to play in a band with other students. Up until that point his experience playing music had been confined to a video game. Kyle also hopes to continue either performing or doing sound for other bands. Both Kyle and “Rhyena” performed at our 8th grade graduation. Along with another one of my students they were the core of the vocals for the 8th grade splinter band at graduation!