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GST BOCES congratulates Principal, Jennifer Batzing, and staff at the Frank Pierce Early Childhood Center
Please click on the picture of Jennifer to hear a message from her. Thank YOU Jennifer!
Jennifer Batzing is the principal of Frank Pierce Early Childhood Center. The school's developmentally appropriate pre-k curriculum includes: Language and Literacy Development, Math, Science, Approaches to Learning, Physical/Health Development, Social and Emotional Development and Creative Arts. Since starting this position three years ago, Jennifer has had great interest in bringing visiting artists to their pre-k program. She notes, however, that it is often difficult to find additional grant funding to provide enrichment opportunities for the students at Frank Pierce. Currently, they partner with the Corning Library to provide Storytelling once a month with Miss Sue McConnell. Additionally, through C-PP in-kind they provide “Kindermusik” with Sue Larson on a bi-monthly basis. As an active Board member for the Corning Children’s Center and a parent of a child who has been in attendance since 6 months of age, Jennifer has seen the enrichment opportunities provided. She sees the resources available in her community and artists dedicated to early childhood exposure. "It is through generous donations and the active fundraising of the fund development staff and the Board that makes it all happen for the children at that center," says Jennifer. "In our unique grant funded situation here at Frank Pierce, we do not fundraise yet have generous community collaborators that support our program and are always searching for opportunities such as the one presented this year through the GST BOCES Arts in Education funds. This year we were able to add two wonderful visiting artist programs. Michael Czarnecki, Bath NY, visiting artist producing poems written by pre-k children and Mr. Joe Crookston, Ithaca, NY “Turning Poetry into Song.” Michael conducted a series of 6(six) consecutive poetry writing sessions with 135 pre-k level children in February 2010. The poetry writing themes included colors, the five senses, name alliteration and rhyming. The end product is a book of poetry written by all children at Frank Pierce. Each child will receive a book at the “Poetry Share” on April 14, 2010. Joe Crookston will begin his work on March 30, 2010. He is an Ithaca based performer, songwriter, teacher and facilitator. He will meet with each group of students five (5) time over a month long period. Joe will help the students to create original songs from the poems written with Michael. Using their words and poems, the students will discuss melody, rhythm, feeling, rhyme, scheme, song structure, verses, chorus and overall song communication. Each group will hone, and create songs using the essence and meaning of the original poems by crafting them into a singable and memorable group song. On May 5, 2010 each child will receive a CD following students performances of the original songs created. These CDs will be mementos of a most enriching educational experience through the arts - mementos which will, no doubt, be treasured by the children and their parents for many years to come. For the future, Jennifer says she will look for opportunities to continue the already existing visiting artist series. The thing she likes best about being a principal is that she likes watching children who are engaged in their learning and have fun while doing it. Jennifer became interested in the arts through her own experiences as a young child as well as "those I am fortunate enough to provide for my child. All children should have the opportunity." Thanks to enlightened administrators such as Jennifer Batzing, the fortunate students of the GST BOCES region (beginning with pre-school) benefit from a lively and enriching arts education. To learn more about Michael Czarnecki and Joe Crookston, visit their web-pages by clicking on the links below.
Congratulations to The Frank Pierce Policy Committee.
These are the parents and community members behind the scenes who
vote on programming such as that presented by Michael Czarnecki and
Joe Crookston - programming
that enriches the education of Corning and Painted Post children.
Back row from left to right: Dr. Dale Wexell, C-PP Board of Education Liaison; Lori Payne, parent; Christina Cramer, parent; Kim Heffner, parent; Amy Harrington, Head Start Service Area Manager and Family Aide; Alyson Sharmon, Parent and Cheri Flynn, parent. Front row from left to right: Jennifer Batzing; Ashley Mattison, parent; Michael Czarnecki, visiting artist; Barb Sellers, parent; Quay Wells, Community member from Healthy Families
Pictured are three of the teachers who were part of the planning team for the writing and music program featuring Michael Czarnecki and Joe Crookston. From left to right, Linda Hunt, Mary Bacalles, Wendy Smith. Mary conceived the title of the book containing the children's poems, Pierce Panda Paws Poems.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
PRINCIPAL JENNIFER BATZING, Back to Arts in Education in the News Check out our new blog! www.gstbocesartsineducation.blogspot.com
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