DS Arts Newsletter - Fall Edition

DS Arts Newsletter Edition The Arts at DS are off to a roaring start this year! Between increased numbers in our ensembles and after school programs across the district as well as our new HS Intersections course and our established course offerings, the arts at DS are on the rise! To quote one of our leading senior students: "I feel like the arts at DS are growing, and it is an exciting time to be a part of it". Enjoy browsing through just some of the many things happening K-12 for the fine and performing arts at DS. Upcoming Events FoPA Jazz Brunch - Nov. 2nd, 11:00am-1:00pm in Lindquist Commons. Tickets available at ds-fopa.squarespace.com/ DSHS Fall Play - Love/Sick - Nov. 6, 7, & 8, 7:00pm in Mudge Auditorium Tickets available at dsdrama.ludus.com DSMS Musical - Willy Wonka - Dec 11. 12, 13 in Mudge Auditorium. Tickets coming soon at dsdrama.ludus.com Chickering Winter Concert - Dec 12th, 9:05am. Open to family members/relatives only DS Regional Winter Band Concert - Dec 18th, 6:30pm in Mudge Auditorium. Free admission and open to the public. Elementary 2nd grade students get ready for Fall with leaf paintings In Mrs. Uminski's class, this early drawing from life exercise taught students to draw the details in their unique leaf styles, covering fundamentals that will spiral up to high school and allowing them to bring out their own creative connection to the season. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Reinforcing Artistry 2nd grade also joined Mr. Davis in a high-energy version of the "Los Machetes" dance, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month while also joyfully reinforcing key beat and rhythm concepts as well as artistic expression and musical form. Creating Musical Autonomy and Leadership Early Meanwhile, 5th grade showed their growth in understanding rhythm and form as they self led a drum circle in Mrs. Law-Linck's class. It is wonderful to see how the foundations in the earlier grades built up to this moment where students collaborated to independently read. lead, and execute their parts, creating their own musical moment. Exploring Color and Storytelling at Pine Hill Artists on the hill are rolling into the new year with dots, dots, and more dots with Mr. Barry! Inspired by Peter Reynolds classic story, The Dot, Pine Hill students engaged in a collaborative project to bring our own dots to life. They have since moved into various art lessons based around color, line, and value. We are looking forward to a creative year on the hill. Chorus Starts Off Strong Also on the hill, Mrs. Hodge kicks off the year with the 5th grade chorus, using creative an fun warm up games to teach the students the fundamentals of singing technique and ear training. These basics will set them up for success as they prepare for their winter performance and explore deeper topics as the year continues, giving every student the chance to have an ensemble, collaborative experience. Band Continues to blossom And across the way Mr. Davis met with one of the 5th grade homerooms for small group band lessons, where he was able to focus on individualized instrument techniques for each student, giving them the support they need to be able to play as a full band. He is also implementing the BIG IDEA method for how to practice and approach a problem to help these students have agency in their own musical journey. Mr. Davis has continued to grow the band program positively at both elementary schools, and in some of these homerooms every student is signed up for band! Middle School Middle School Life in Living Color 7th grade art students completed their "working color" project with Mrs. Sunday and Mrs. Simino, creating a gradient with color. This introduction to color gradients builds off the foundation established in elementary, and sets the students up for success when they tackle future projects, such as their 7th grade realistic animal drawings, their mixed media project, and eventually working with acrylic and spray paint for their 8th grade graffiti diorama project. All About That Bass 6th grade students in general music were introduced to the bass guitar with Mr. Duprey, practicing technique on the bass itself as well as on their own guitars. This class set the foundations for using the bass as a tool for musical expression in their group's final song project, and is a skill that will spiral up until their final 8th grade band performance. The MS Band and Chorus Kicks off the Year in High Gear Boasting some of the highest numbers we've had in 6 years, these groups are hungry for community and music making. The 6th & 7th Grade Band spent the first few weeks understanding the DS Band Basics and what is expected of a band member with Mrs. Barry. They are warming up with rhythm exercises, chorales, and sightreading and starting to learn their concert repertoire. Meanwhile the 6th & 7th Grade Chorus has spent the past few weeks learning how to collaborate on songs, starting to discover what makes a song "arrangeable", and explore more complex 3 part harmonies. Willy Wonka Has All Hands on Deck With a cast of over 60 and a sizeable crew to match, this production is shaping up to be one of the most inclusive and varied in the past 6 years. These skilled students on and off stage can't wait to perform for you all on December 11th, 12th, and 13th. Be sure to save the dates! DS String Ensemble Starts the Year Strong After a transition year with the retirement of longstanding director Any Costello, we are thrilled to have Nicole Casinghino continuing for her 2nd year, leading a solid chamber group that you will get to hear at our seasonal concerts. It is also still not too late to join! Any string students Elementary through High School who study privately and would like a chamber ensemble experience, contact Mrs. Casinghino at ncasinghino@gmail.com High School Join us Sunday, November 2nd from 11 AM – 1 PM For the Jazz Brunch! Enjoy favorites like eggs and bacon, waffles, cider, and coffee while listening to your favorite performers, including: Jazz 101, Sharp 9 Jazz Band, High School Jazz Band, and the Regional Chorus. Tickets are available on the FoPA Website. They will also be available at the door, but purchasing them online ahead of time really helps us to plan more accurately for food, seating, and setup — plus, it saves you time at check-in! Adult $35; Student $15; Family $75 (up to 2 adults and 3 children) All performers and children under 6 FREE!  All funds go to support Dover-Sherborn Performing Arts programs and its young performers!  AP Art students Dive Straight Into Their Portfolios This culminating course taught by Mrs. Wright and Mr. Buck requires students to synthesize all the skills they've learned since kindergarten into their own artistic voice, submitting a thematic series of works showing their expertise and vision. Students in AP art have already begun finding influences and generating works to build towards this final portfolio, and showing a true mastery of their craft. We look forward to sharing their final works with you! Photography Students Go Back to Their Roots Students in Dark room photography are currently exploring the beginnings of capturing photos with Mrs. Blais by studying and creating their own cyanotype prints. Cyanotypes were an early discovery in the history of photography dating back to 1842, and are cyan-blue prints made with light sensitive iron salts. Students in the course are discovering how to capture and develop their own prints, learning from the past and making their own mark in this timeless medium. Our new Intersections Course is Off to the Races from Day One Currently looking at the concept of identity through a sociological lens with Mrs. Blais and Mrs. Menice, students in Intersections created a series of photographs or a short video to represent their understanding of the many ways a person's identity can be influenced by outside forces. Drawing inspiration from Charles Cooley's Looking-Glass Self, each project needed to incorporate a reflective surface in some way. Students also wrote artist statements that reinforced the themes in their work. The Regional Band Boasts it's Highest Enrollment Yet! Over 80 students 8-12 jumped right into playing the first week of school with Mrs. Barry and already performed at Football game in September for the dedication of the new turf field. Also, with the help of Section Leaders, students have had two sectional rehearsals and opportunities to ask questions and get support from their peers. All students are also using MakeMusic Cloud this year - an online practice tool - to assist with practice at home and to make the most of our rehearsal time.  Regional Chorus is Also Boasting its Highest Numbers in the History of DS With over 80 students from grades 8 through 12, regional chorus has dived straight into learning pieces that are on the same level as the MMEA Eastern District Festival Choirs, and learning advanced levels of sightreading, expression, harmony, and vocal technique. They also kicked off the year saying farewell to our beloved accompanist, Sue Fitzpatrick, who finally decided to retire after over 30 years of making music with DS students. We wish Sue well on her next chapter in life! The DSHS Drama Program Proudly Presents the Dark Comedy Vignette, Love/Sick After presenting full-length story plays over the last three years (Radium Girls, Sherlock Holmes, and Macbeth), the drama seniors were looking for a different and challenging theatrical experience and found it in Love/Sick. The playwright, John Cariani, describes the play as a nine-play cycle about love and loss. Each mini-play is performed by two new DSHS actors who portray a variety of complex moments in a relationship. Shows are November 6, 7 and 8 at 7:00 pm in Mudge Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at dsdrama.ludus.com or at the door. Don’t miss it!  Alumni Highlight - Where are they now? This edition's Alumni highlight is Julesy Flavelle. A graduate of the class of 2016, Julesy went on to graduate from Tisch School of Music in New York, and is currently making waves in the music world with her band "Julesy", which also includes her twin brother and fellow DS alum Cal Mirowitz. Her latest album, Flip the Bed, debuts tomorrow October 17th. Wanna Get Involved? Join FoPA! The Dover Sherborn Friends of the Performing Arts (FoPA) is our wonderful parent support group. Offering scholarships, fundraising for special projects, hosting receptions, and helping where needed is just a sample of what they do! If you’d like to get involved in an amazing arts community, email our FoPA President, Mrs. Diane Green at President@DoverSherbornFoPA.org, and join the FoPA parentsquare group by clicking here @bandroom

Thursday, Oct 16 2025

DS Arts Newsletter: January - March Edition

​ ​ DS Arts Newsletter Winter Edition: January-March ​ ​ ​ ​ It's been a busy three months in the Arts for DS. I appreciate your patience in waiting for an update through the long months of winter, and I am happy to share all of the exciting things being done for and by our Fine and Performing Arts students K-12. From new Convocation, Interdisciplinary, Mash Up, and WIN pilot courses, to General Music, Ensemble, and Drama performances going above and beyond , it have been an event season for the arts at DS Before you start reading, click below to see all main fine and performing arts events happening at the DS Regional School Campus (some this very week!), and be sure to mark your calendars! ​ ​ ​ ​ Regional Campus FPA Calendar ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Arts are a WIN at the Middle School! ​ This term of 8th grade students did an exceptional job of their cover song project. All were not only varied and interesting, but truly showcased that ALL students at DS can create, perform, connect, and respond to music. You can listen to a sample by clicking on the link below! ​ ​ ​ ​ Yellow by Coldplay Cover ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Additionally, The Arts and Band have been piloting WIN initiatives with great success! Janice Barry piloted a WIN band lesson program that provides key interventions for instrument specific techniques that would continue our successful group lessons the elementary schools and mirrors some of the supports offered in surrounding school band programs. Cathy Simino has also piloted and Art WIN program that provides support for students wishing to pursue art in high school as well as provide a means to increase student relationships and belonging. We thank Cathy and Janice for going above and beyond, volunteering their time to test these new pilots as options for the future. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Into the Woods Stuns Audiences on Opening Night! ​ Our Drama students have been working non-stop since January on this year's production of Into the Woods, a Tony - nominated musical by Stephen Sondheim that takes familiar fairy tales and brings them into the real world of complex problems. Both the Cast and Crew have risen to the complexity of this show, and brought it to a near-professional level that wowed audiences for their opening performance last night. If you didn't catch the first show, there are three more performances TONIGHT March 14th 7:00pm, and on Saturday March 15th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are available at https://dsdrama.ludus.com/index.php We hope to see you there! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ DS K-12 Art Show this weekend as well! ​ As part of the Into the Woods Musical Experience, there will also be an impressive artworks display in the cafeteria for the remaining shows! This display features all student work from all grades, both 2D and 3D, including art from our AP art students and our WIN block Art Intervention Pilot. Plus, many of the students who painted and decorated the set will have featured work in the exhibit as well. Get your tickets today and come see this marvelous display! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Music in the Air at Chickering ​ Chickering General Music Classes are singing in the Spring season! First graders recently shared Tiny Classroom Concerts with families, showcasing folk dancing, composition, rhythm ensembles and more. We also had student Ian Glancy join to complete is teaching practicum and learn from our expert elementary staff. Looking ahead, Grades 2 and 3 are preparing a musical May Day festival, Grade 4 is rehearsing their Convocation performance based the book Change Sings by Amanda Gorman, and Kindergarten is looking forward to their concert in May! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Student teacher Mr. Glancy coaches a small group of recorder students from Ms. Kreutler's third grade class at Chickering, in a composition exercise.   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5th Grade Students demonstrating their rhythms skills on the tubanos. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Music Mash Up Comes to Pine Hill! ​ Fourth graders are busy working on the new MUSIC MASH UP at Pine Hill! This is a new initiative adopted from the interdisciplinary Convocation curriculum already performed at Chickering and created by Julie Law-Linck. Mrs. Hodge was inspired when she saw the Chickering 4th graders rehearse last year and knew that she wanted to create an equitably awesome experience for Pine Hill students. Pine Hill is basing their musical, theatrical piece on a text by Kwame Alexander: How To Read a Book. It is a fabulous poem with even more fabulous illustrations (Melissa Sweet). Similar to Convocation, this book is jumping off point to learn about acting, stage presence, singing, and playing instruments, All of their hard work will culminate with a performance on Thursday, May 29th on the hill. Be sure free to check it out! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ FoPA blows us away with the Chocolate Cafe! ​ FoPA hosted the Chocolate Cafe the first week of February, and it was a wonderful success. Not only did the many groups perform well and good community building was had, but thanks to your support FoPA was able to raise enough funds to support the transportation costs for the Regional Band and Chorus's upcoming trip to the Great East Festival in May. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Field Trips and Festivals - students shine! ​ This month we had students travel outside of our DS community at the middle and high school to both learn from outside sources and represent DS. We had several students from the High school and Middle School perform in the MMEA Senior and Junior District Festival honors ensembles, where they were able to play and sing under collegiate level conductors and made DS Proud. Congrats to Yasmine Nee, Isaac Lee, Jameson Smith, Eric Liang, Ian Godfrey, and Aaron Zhao for being a part of these festival groups! The High School Jazz Band also went off campus to attend the Berklee Composition Concert, exposing them to a high level musicianship and a perspective on how music can be presented in a concert setting. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Alumni Highlight - Where are they now? ​ This edition we are highlighting DS arts Alum Aidan Levinson! A graduate of 2019, Aidan is has been pursuing a career in theater and just finished a run as in the musical "Pippin" as the title role musical. Aidan also performed as Pippin in our 2017 production, and it is exciting to see him reprise this role as he grows as an artist. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Wanna Get Involved? Join FoPA! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The Dover Sherborn Friends of the Performing Arts (FoPA) is our wonderful parent support group. Offering scholarships, fundraising for special projects, hosting receptions, and helping where needed is just a sample of what they do! If you’d like to get involved in an amazing arts community, email our FoPA President, Mrs. Diane Green at President@DoverSherbornFoPA.org ​ ​ ​

Friday, Mar 14 2025

Welcome Back & ParentSquare

A Message from the Superintendent Dear Families, Happy Friday! It has been an incredible few days of learning and community building - the energy and joy in each of the schools is tangible! Many of our administrators and educators have begun to reach out using ParentSquare. This message is being sent through ParentSquare as well.  On Monday, you should have received an invitation to join ParentSquare from our new Director of Educational Technology, Brandon Hall. If you haven't already downloaded the app, please do so as it is the best way to stay connected with our school community. Parentsquare allows you to:  Posts  - follow news and happenings in the class, grade, school, and district Events  - see the school calendar and save events on your phone Photos  - view and download class and school photos Participate  - volunteer for events, sign-up to bring an item, or fill out a form Communicate - message with staff or your classroom teacher Download the App! If you are viewing this message on your phone, click on a link below to download the app. If you are viewing on your computer, use your phone camera to hover over the QR image to download the app. iPhone - Apple Store  Android -  Google Play Store   Best wishes for a wonderful long weekend and I look forward to seeing your child(ren) again next week!  Beth McCoy  

Friday, Aug 30 2024