Residencies
As we continue developing the theme of our Academy we are incorporating Arts opportunities, Arts in Education training, and Arts Residencies. An Arts Residency brings in a professional known as a teaching artist. This individual is an expert in their arts field and has a background/training in education. They will collaborate with the classroom teachers to develop a unit that incorporates their art medium and the teacher’s curriculum.
MediaWorks
MediaWorks is a full arts integration in Discovery Academy ELA 9 classes and one section of Global I and Global II. This is part of a partnership between AHS and Proctors. Students in Ms. Austin's ELA 9 classes will explore their state required curriculum through the lens of film and digital media, this is led by a collaboration between Ms. Austin and professional film maker: Gaetano Vacarro. Digital media, like film, presents a point of engagement for students that allows for the integration of art, literacy and curricular goals. When students are engaged in the film making process, they are engaged in activities that lend themselves to all classrooms. Students must engage in research on a topic, and they must translate that research and the goals of the project into a script which also involves elements of organization and narration. Students must consider how to present this material orally and visually. Films are not made in isolation. The group work here allows for students to explore various roles such as: writer, editor (script and visual), director, actor, camera crew, sound editing & mixing. This also works towards the 21st Century Skills of collaboration and communication. Film-making allows for teachers to collaborate along thematic lines and support each other through common practice and vocabulary. Common vocabulary and practice also supports cohesive formative and summative assessment practices.
Bhawin Suchak & YouthFX
Bhawin Suchak is a local film maker who is the project director of YouthFx. We soon plan to add an afterschool element to the work that Bhawin is doing with our students and staff.
“Bhawin Suchak is an educator, filmmaker and multimedia producer who works with emerging digital technologies as tools to further expression, communication and connection. In his work with youth he aims to not only build skills in new media technology but also to amplify voices of young people and challenge them to think critically about their communities and the world around them. Bhawin has been a teacher at the Albany Free School for 12 years and is the founder and project director of Youth FX, a summer filmmaking programs for teens based out of Grand Street Community Arts, a non-profit arts center in the South End of Albany, NY. He has worked with adults and youth in digital film production and multimedia at several locations including: The Albany Free School, 1skate Media Arts in Albany, the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy and the Museum Club after-school program at the New York State Museum. Bhawin has also served as a digital technology consultant for The Ark Charter School in Troy, NY and The New York State Museum, training staff in video editing software and advising administrators on ways to upgrade their media and technology capacities.”
Check out the Youth FX website: http://www.youthfx.org. Samples of work can be found at: http://vimeo.com/youthfx
“Bhawin Suchak is an educator, filmmaker and multimedia producer who works with emerging digital technologies as tools to further expression, communication and connection. In his work with youth he aims to not only build skills in new media technology but also to amplify voices of young people and challenge them to think critically about their communities and the world around them. Bhawin has been a teacher at the Albany Free School for 12 years and is the founder and project director of Youth FX, a summer filmmaking programs for teens based out of Grand Street Community Arts, a non-profit arts center in the South End of Albany, NY. He has worked with adults and youth in digital film production and multimedia at several locations including: The Albany Free School, 1skate Media Arts in Albany, the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy and the Museum Club after-school program at the New York State Museum. Bhawin has also served as a digital technology consultant for The Ark Charter School in Troy, NY and The New York State Museum, training staff in video editing software and advising administrators on ways to upgrade their media and technology capacities.”
Check out the Youth FX website: http://www.youthfx.org. Samples of work can be found at: http://vimeo.com/youthfx
Noelle Gentile
Noelle Gentile’s career in theater education began with the New York State Theatre Institute as a performer and outreach teacher. She has built a career in which her passions for social justice, education and the arts were melded through charging students with the task of finding their unique voice and artistry and to ultimately bring about change in their communities through performance. Noelle spent 6 years in the New York City Public Schools as the drama teacher encouraging students to explore and respond to issues in their world through student devised theater pieces.Noelle has worked as a teaching artist with the Brooklyn Arts Exchange and ISTA.She also worked as a facilitator for the NYC DOE’s Special Arts Programs city-wide professional development for theater teachers. Training with the Royal Shakespeare Company led here to appear on WNYC’s Greenspace, speaking to the importance of young people being exposed to and immersed in the works of Shakespeare. Her work with Shakespeare exploring social issues became the centerpiece of a documentary that was featured at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival for Kids and NYC DOCS in McB (www.mcbfilm.com) in November 2012.Noelle’s own work as an artist, as the creator of a documentary experimental short “Push”, received an award at the Pen & Brush Gallery in NYC. Currently she is directing a project funded by WDI based on the lives of veteran women. The culiminating performance is on May 11, 2013 at Steamer 10 theater. Noelle has found great joy in coming home and working at Albany High School (where she graduated from in 1996) with such dynamic students and staff.