"For all who believe in the importance of the arts in education, and particularly for the classroom teachers"
January 2004
Happy New Year!
2003 was memorable to say the least for the Moss Foundation.
Reflecting back to 2003 brings views of special times involving activities with the Moss Foundation. How fortunate I have been to witness such wonderful events like the Summer Workshops, Foundation Conference, and fund-raising dinners.
The response to the first ART CART email was certainly positive. Although I have been encouraged to continue THE ART CART, I need lesson plans and/or ideas from you to share in order for this to be successful. So, please, submit your publications in electronic form, preferably in a MS Word document, to foundation@mossfoundation.org.
Before reviewing the Creative Mind Conference and the Roanoke Dinner Gala, I want to share a "grandma moment" with you. Are you familiar with Art Teacher Barbie®? I just had to get her for my granddaughter, Kelsey, for Christmas. After all, colors, paints, rubbing plates, and an I Can Be an Artist Career Booklet were included. I was especially pleased with the Supporting Children in the Arts information on the package. What fun we had and how proud I was to tell Kelsey about the many wonderful teachers of the arts that I have met this year. (She is barely 5, so I’m not certain she got all my ramblings about the Foundation!)
Kelsey and Art Teacher Barbie®
Since my last email to you, two major Foundation events have taken place: The Creative Mind Conference and the Roanoke Foundation Dinner Gala. If you were able to attend either or both, I’m sure you found them to be very exciting and worthwhile. If you could not attend either event, you really missed out on exciting times.
The Creative Mind: Rainbows in Learning
Great Ideas Filled the “Pot of Gold”
On November 1 – 3, 2003, the 6th annual Creative Minds Conference: Rainbows in Learning, was held at the Elston Conference Center at Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia. This conference brought together art teachers and special education teachers and was designed for open participant dialog and hands-on activities which promote the arts in programs for children with learning disabilities and other special needs. The opening keynote speaker was Harley Tomey, III, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services for Richmond City Schools, and President of the Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexic Association. Other keynote speakers were Nina Anastasia, East Sussex, England and Dr. Joy Faini Saab, University of West Virginia.
2003 Creative Minds Conference in Sweet Briar, Virginia
Active participation in presentations.
The Creative Mind: Rainbows in Learning Conference was superb! Hands on activities, lectures, and discussions were truly colorful. Conference attendees and presenters alike were blessed with the “pot of gold” in using the arts as an aid to teaching students, especially those who learn differently. Williamette University in Salem, Oregon, through Dr. Robin Fromherz, professor of education and a conference presenter, graciously offered the teachers who attended the conference up to 3 graduate credit hours at a low cost of $40 per credit hour. This was very well received by the teachers.
Presentation by Joanne Frimel (left) and Dollie O’Day Joanne was one of the 2003 Foundation Teachers’ Award Winners
One exciting aspect of the conference was the presence of college students who are studying to become teachers. Several attended the 2003 conference, and much learning took place with the sharing of ideas among the college students and experienced teachers. From the cooperation that has developed between the Foundation and several colleges and universities, some would like to get more students involved with the conference and are planning to apply for grants in order to send more students to the 2004 conference. Please share this information with prospective teachers as they may be able to attend through grants from their colleges.
The Elston Conference Center was a superb setting with all the accommodations needed by the attendees. The beautiful fall colors provided all with a very relaxing atmosphere, while the food and accommodations were outstanding. Thanks to all at the Elston Conference Center who helped make this conference an enjoyable experience.
Mark Your Calendars – Join Us in October
The 7th Annual National Education Conference, The Creative Mind: Diversity Through the Arts, will again be held at the Elston Conference Center, Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar Virginia. The conference will be October 30 – November 1, 2004. If you haven’t been able to attend a conference in the past, you have missed out on a great opportunity to attend a conference that leaves you wishing that it would last longer.
The Foundation is presently accepting presentation proposals for the 2004 conference. For details, go here.
Roanoke Dinner Gala Huge Success
On November 7, 2003, the P. Buckley Moss Foundation Board of Directors and friends sponsored a Moss Dinner Gala at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia. The purpose of the dinner was to raise funds for the Moss Foundation. Approximately 320 people attended the dinner gala held in the beautiful Crystal Ballroom. The evening started off with a total surprise when Bob Almond read a Certificate of Recommendation from Virginia Governor Mark Warner, naming November 7, 2003, P. Buckley Moss Day throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The citation praised the achievements of the Society in fundraising for charities and the work of the Foundation on behalf of Education and The Arts.
With an atmosphere filled with friendship and excitement, both a silent and live auction of framed Moss prints, an original watercolor, a silkscreen, and Society pins was held. With the money generated from the auctions and the dinner, the fund-raising total for the evening was just over $17,000! Thanks to all of you who attended and especially to those who won auction items during the evening. Special thanks to Bob Almond, Foundation Board Member, for organizing the event, to Dell Philpott, Foundation Program Coordinator, for her work in making this a successful event, to the Hotel Roanoke for partnering with the Foundation for the gala, and to those Moss Society members and Moss dealers who helped organize and worked at the dinner and who donated pieces for the auctions. Also, a BIG thanks to Pat for the inspiration she gives to all of us, and to Malcolm for his dedication to and vision for the Foundation.
Pat visiting with friends at the Dinner Gala
On May 8, 2004, the P. Buckley Moss Society will sponsor a fund-raising dinner for the Moss Foundation. The event will be "A Soc Hop with P. Buckley Moss," and will be held in conjunction with the P. Buckley Moss Collectors’ Convention in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Adrienne and Ann Rhudy with Pat and their winning auction print, ”Pigtails and Cattails.”
The next Foundation sponsored Dinner Gala will be held in conjunction with the P. Buckley Moss Collectors’ Convention in Roanoke, Virginia, in Spring, 2005.
Foundation Awards & Grants
The P. Buckley Moss Foundation and Moss Society give awards to recognize outstanding teachers who consistently integrate the arts into their teaching of children with learning disabilities and other special needs. The awards also encourage and reward instructional collaboration among teachers whenever arts are included in the classroom learning experience as an essential ingredient in the education of all children. Information for the 2004 National Teachers Award is posted here or you can call the Foundation office at 540-932-1728.
The P. Buckley Moss Foundation and the Moss Society have made available five $1,000 grants to be awarded to educators who need money to further their program goals. Information for the grants is also posted here.
Call for Publications
Once again I am making a call for publications to be used in the ART CART. A need exists to share teacher publications and lesson plans that incorporate the arts into the curriculum. I am hoping the ART CART will become a means to publicize articles and lessons developed by teachers across the nation. For this to happen, I need to hear from all you teachers. Currently there are several lesson plans on the Moss Foundation website. You can click on the links below to go to these lesson plans.
If you have developed lessons or written articles which relate to using the arts to especially help those students who have learning difficulties, please submit your publications in electronic form, preferably in a MS Word document, to foundation@mossfoundation.org
Email Addresses
This publication goes out in email form to anyone who is interested in receiving it. Please pass this email along to others who you think would like to receive it, especially teachers who can benefit from the information and lesson plans that will be publicized. Those wishing to subscribe or unsubscribe to the THE ART CART may do so by going to the Foundation website, http://www.mossfoundation.org/
Calendar of Events
March 1, 2004 – P. Buckley Moss Foundation Education Grants Applications Due
March 15, 2004 – Creative Mind Conference Presentation Proposals Due
May 1, 2004 – P. Buckley Moss Teachers’ Awards Applications Due
May 8, 2004 – Moss Society Dinner "A Soc Hop with P. Buckley Moss!" in Kingsport, Tennessee
October 30, 31, November 1 – Creative Mind Conference: Diversity Through the Arts, Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia
Until the next time, have a happy new year and a very rewarding time in your teaching.
Sincerely,
Ginny Myers
Editor, THE ART CART
