CULTURAL ARTS
2011-2012
Programs planned for the 2011-2012 school year:
(Unless othewise noted, all programs are for both Kindergarten and 1st Grade.)
October 4th and 5th, 2011 The Greenburgh Nature Center. The Kindergarten class will be attending the nearby Greenburgh Nature Center and learn traditional methods of cidering apples. www.greenburghnaturecenter.org
October 12th and 14th , 2011 Eastchester Fire Department – Fire Safety and Prevention Visit – Lt. Tom Pintavalle of the Eastchester Fire Department will visit Waverly along with one of the engines. Lt. Pintavalle will share fire safety topics with the children including the danger of matches, what to do when you hear a smoke alarm, the use of 911 and the importance of not hiding from a firefighter during a fire or an emergency. During their visit, the firefighters will wear their entire “turnout gear” including the hood and the air pack, so that in the event of an actual emergency, the children will not be frightened to see a firefighter wearing his or her rescue attire. Each child will also have an opportunity to spray water from the fire hose. After all of the fun and learning about fire safety, each child will receive his or her very own Eastchester Fire Department hat and a fire safety practice coloring book. This program will be offered to both kindergarten and first grade students at Waverly. October 17th, 19th, and 20th, 2011 The American Red Cross Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program – A presentation from the American Red Cross focusing on good hygiene, proper hand washing techniques and disease prevention- all in time for the flu season. Students will view a video featuring the Scrubby Bear character prior to the visit and then they will be given presentations by volunteers from the Greenwich, Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross. Upon completion of the program students will be given Scrubby Bear stickers. For more information about the Scrubby Bear program, parents can contact the American Red Cross at: www.redcross.org.
November 7th, 9th, and 11th 2011 2 Hands 2 Learn Native American Workshops – 1st Grade Workshops that teach students about Native Americans’ contributions to America’s history. The students will have an opportunity to shell and pop their own “Indian corn”, taste a Native American butternut squash dish and play traditional Native American games. The students will also have their faces painted with berries, fashion feathered headbands and corn husk dolls and explore other materials used for food, tools and clothing. The program is very informative and age-appropriate with hands-on activities that are a strong contributor to the learning process. The children are motivated and the material is relevant to the curriculum. For more information about this program you can visit the web-site: www.2Hands2Learn.com.
November 10, 2011 Kenneth Littlehawk, native american storyteller descended from the Micmac and Mohawk tribes, and musician, will perform for the kindergarten class. In his program he shares aspects of his native american culture, as well as teaches the audience how to respect one another, and the environment. He has performed at the White House, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C., and the American Museum of Natural History, as well as countless schools. His books about the art of storytelling, and his audio recordings are available on amazon.com. More on Kenneth Littlehawk's fascinating life and career can be found at www.kennethlittlehawk.com
December 1, 2011 Beth and Scott Bierko – The Golden Rule Show – Singer-songwriters and performers Beth and Scott Bierko will perform their much acclaimed “The Golden Rule Show” at Waverly. Beth and Scott Bierko, the owners and principal performers of Beth & Scott and Friends, are a husband and wife team of award-winning, singer-songwriters and arts-in-education specialists. Since 1993, Beth & Scott have performed thousands of school assemblies and workshops for children. In this show, Beth and Scott use music, humor and stories to engage young students in the topics of sharing, non-bullying, respect, responsibility, and self-esteem. This show reinforces Waverly’s desire to promote a peaceful and cooperative environment. Elementary school teachers have praised Golden Rule as the best program they've ever seen for this age group. For more information about Beth and Scott, you can visit their web-site at: www.bethandscott.net.
January 12, 2012 Wellness Day – Beth and Scott Bierko – Nutrition Mission – As part of Waverly’s school-wide focus on health and safety, Beth and Scott will once again be performing for our students as part of Wellness Day at Waverly on Thursday, January 12, 2012. For this show entitled, “Nutrition Mission” Beth and Scott will present a balanced portion of healthy nutritional information plus a generous amount of music, humor and audience participation. Beth and Scott will present musical messages that will encourage a lifetime of healthy choices. Selections include: Be Banana, The Carrot Seed, Five Fruits and Vegetables and their hit song, Waiter Water. And for some exercise and activity during the show, there will be an all-school snowball fight that the students will be sure to enjoy! For more information about Beth and Scott, you can visit their web-site at: www.bethandscott.net.
February 2, 2012 Lou Del Bianco, a returning Waverly school favorite, will be performing Lou Del Bianco as Abe Lincoln for the kindergarten at Waverly. He will tell stories and sing songs celebrating the virtues of Abraham Lincoln, such as being kind to animals, loving your family, being honest, and the importance of education. To learn more about Lou and his many programs visit www.findlou.com.
February 16, 2012 Jonathan Sprout – Heroes Show – 1st Grade. A concert from Jonathan Sprout entitled “Heroes.” Jonathan Sprout’s programs inspire children with music, visuals and stories about some of America's greatest citizens whose lives embraced heroic character traits including honesty, compassion, perseverance, self-discipline, responsibility, and charity. In this educational, interactive and fun concert, Mr. Sprout performs songs from his American Heroes album. Spellbinding stories and captivating songs about Martin Luther King, Jr., Sacajawea, George Washington, Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln make up this concert. The concert concludes with Jonathan’s inspiring “Heroes” song. For more information about Jonathan Sprout, you can visit his web-site at: www.jonsprout.com.
March 16, 2012 Author’s Visit – Alyssa Satin Capucilli – Author of the Biscuit Series – Students will have the honor of meeting acclaimed childrens’ book author, Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Perhaps she is most famous for writing the Biscuit series of books for young readers. Alyssa is both an author and a dancer and she has incorporated dance into her latest series of books about a dancing duck called, Katy Duck When Alyssa visits Waverly she will answer questions during her performance such as: What is it like being an author? How do images, experience and ideas weave their way into books? How is a book published? These questions and more are discussed through a highly visual and interactive program that incorporates an informal slide presentation, puppetry, and storytelling. With oversized prototypes of books, Alyssa is able to offer much opportunity for the children to interact with her, and to experience the joy of brainstorming! A lively question and answer period is also encouraged and appreciated. Prior to Alyssa Satin Capucilli’s visit, the students at Waverly will also have an opportunity to order select, autographed copies of her books. More information about the ordering process will follow. If you would like more information about Alyssa Satin Capucilli you can visit her web-site at: www.alyssacapucilli.com.
April 5, 2012 Lou Del Bianco – Making Good Choices – 1st Grade Through original songs, stories and audience interaction, this Parents Choice Award winner takes his audience on an exciting journey back through his childhood sharing the daily joys, dreams and blunders that today’s kids can relate to, laugh at, and understand. Children will get the chance to decide what kinds of choices they would make if they were in Lou’s shoes and how those choices reflect on their own lives. The entire assembly is strung together with a rap tune that tells students to “Make a Good Choice!” For more information about Lou Del Bianco, you can visit his web-site at: www.findlou.com.
Late April - Late May 2012 (series of visits) Riitta Pollock – Artist in Residency – The Great Masters – 1st Grade Riitta Pollock holds a BA from Purchase College where she studied visual arts and art history. She was a ceramics teacher and art instructor for children at the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts from 2000-2005. For over ten years she has created art history programs and hands-on projects for public schools. Throughout a series of visits from late April 2012-late May 2012, Riitta will conduct an artist-in-residency program for the first grade classes at Waverly. Riitta will spend time in each class discussing the works of the great masters. This program will enhance students' comprehension of art history and artists and their style. There will be a brief lecture of the artist's background, showing of his/her art work in the art history books, explanation of various art movements and styles, and then students will make piece based upon the artist's style. For more information about Riitta Pollock you can visit her web-site at: www.riittasartstudio.com.
May 22, 2012 ArtsPower will be performing "The Rainbow Fish", based on the popular children's book by Marcus Pfister, for the kindergarten class at Waverly. One of the central themes of "The Rainbow Fish" focuses on "the value of sharing true friendship with others. " ArtsPower "twofold mission is to provide young people, many for the very first time, with the unforgettable opportunity to experience the transporting power of outstanding theatre that entertains, stimulates, and educates; and to enhance 'character education'..." artspower.org
June 1, 2012 Lou Del Bianco performs for the kindergarten at Waverly, in his Around The World show, a program focusing on multiculturalism. In Around The World, the children in the audience are invited to help act out stories that reflect the African, South & North American, Asian & European cultures. To learn more about Lou and his many programs visit www.findlou.com.
* all events are subject to change and are contingent on PTA member donations*