Arts Education Iniative Update

  On Monday, April 30th, Project Focus led the Arts Education Initiative at JFK Magnet School in Portchester, NY. Myself and a group of twelve interns went to the school with our supervisor. Unfortunately upon arriving, we had come to realize that the school did not remember that we were scheduled to come in and do a program with the kids.
  Although Cara and I planned to have 4 groups, we were instead split into two groups. Cara's group and a combined group worked with the 2nd and 3rd graders while myself and a group worked with the 4th and 5th graders (See description in post below). This initially threw me off because I was more prepared to explain the Wild/Calm Side activity to the younger kids. However, there are many parallels between both projects and with help of the rest of interns, we were able to adapt to the situation.
  The class was primarily made up of children of Latino decent. All of the kids participated in the program but unfortunately I was unable to take pictures of the event. What I can share with you, is a demo drawing that was created.

  After working with the 4th and 5th graders, we moved classrooms to work with a group of 2nd and 3rd graders. Being that the children just got out of a gym activity, they were extremely rambunctious and difficult to work with when they entered at first. However, once the activity got under way, the kids began to work on their Wild and Calm sides and responded well to the mentors around them. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these kids and I believe that the Arts Initiative was a success. I look forward to adapting the process while working with the 52nd Street Project.

-Frank