CCHS Visual Arts, Autumn 2010

Art I
Students in Art I have been working with the Elements and Principles of Design first semester. Line, color, shape, texture and value have been introduced in various projects. Beautifully executed line and color studies using students names, have been displayed. Watercolored desert landscapes, large geometric perspective drawings and black and white optical cut-outs are currently displayed in the 800 wing. These projects are examples of Art I students’ standard based achievements.
Mr. Cruz and Mr. Chacon have taken sixty Art I students to the Palm Springs Art Museum which was generously funded by the museum. These trips promote a life long learning of art appreciation.

Art II
Ms. Haas’ Art II students are diligently immersed in our first semester “Drawing Boot Camp”. Students spend all semester working in pencil. Intricate value studies are worked on daily to build skills and perfect eye-hand coordination. By the end of 1st semester students’ work is ready for shows. Students practice life drawing all year long on Fridays. The combination of  traditional styles of drawing coupled with free hand life drawing students become competitive artists. We invite staff to come check out our improving work during 3rd, 5th, and 6th period in room 801.



Art III and IV
Art III and IV have been busily developing their portfolios and working toward participating in the competitive shows and scholarship programs. Students will be competing in the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annual Fine Arts Creativity Awards in April. This year’s theme is Fantasy/Reality. Art Center in Palm Springs is having their 2nd Annual Show and Sale. Last year we took the show in drawing, photography, and ceramics. We’re hoping to maintain our status. Drop by room 811 during 3rd period to watch a professional studio environment in process. You will be impressed to see your students in artist mode.

Ceramics
The Ceramics I students are beginning to find a comfort zone with both throwing on the potter’s wheel and hand building. Advanced students, 2nd and 3rd year, are currently creating work for the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annual Fine Arts Creativity Awards which has a theme each year. This year’s theme is Fantasy/Reality. Ceramics students are designing tea pots with ten matching cups encompassing the shows theme. Ceramic II students are designing two matching cups with saucers for the show. The creative problem solving process the students go through when designing their work is quite interesting. Feel free to drop by room 805 during 2nd period if you would like to see advanced students working through their creative process.

Emily Spallina head of Educational Instruction at Palm Springs Art Museum visited all of the art classes presenting information about what the Museum’s Art Education Program has to offer our students. We were given in depth information about the upcoming Annual Fine Arts Creativity show. Winners will have their art work hanging in the museum and scholarships and purchase awards will be given. We are looking forward to a good show this year.

CCHS Marching Band, Autumn 2010

The CCHS Marching Band – In Step Beyond The Music:

Name the activity where over 105 students must spin a flag, play challenging music, march with the proper marching technique, and create formations all at over 170 beats per minute?

Answer: MARCHING BAND!

Some facts about the CCHS Marching Band That You May Not Have Heard:

• We rehearse over 15 hours per week, beginning in June.
• We perform over 20 times in a three month span.
• The music we prepare and rehearse is of a collegiate level.
• We compete annually, and have taken 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place every year, in every competition we have entered since 2002!
• We are performing on television this season in November, this is our third televised performance.
• The values we stress are as follows; teamwork, work-ethic, goal realization, discipline, pride, citizenship, and dedication.
• Our CCHS Marching Band alumni are now marching for (ULCA, Northwestern, Michigan, BYU, CAL, and Arizona State).

Music is rigorous and relevant, here is evidence of how we tie together all of the disciplines taught at CCHS through participation in band:

Students who had played a band instrument for two or more years scored 10 percentile points higher in reading, and 12 percentile points higher in language than did their non-band peers. Students who participated in orchestra for two or more years had reading and
language scores even higher.

Band students score an average of 62 points higher on SAT tests.

It has been shown that high school music students have higher grade point averages than non-music students in the same school.

A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that music-making improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background, music-making students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who had no music involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.
Source: Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997

The world's top academic countries place a high value on music education. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have strong commitment to music education. All three countries have required music training at the elementary and middle school levels, both instrumental and vocal, for several decades. The centrality of music education to learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States' focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology.

Researchers find music is a superior way to teach elementary students the concept of fractions. Second and third grade students were taught fractions in an untraditional manner – by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The group was taught about the relationships between eight, quarter, half, and whole notes. Their peers received traditional fraction instruction. When tested, the students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100% higher on fraction tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. – Neurological Research, March 15, 1999.

The Bands Of Cathedral City High School 

– Excellence, Service, Family, Legacy

CCHS Drama, Autumn 2010

The Cathedral City High School Performing Arts Department's spring 2010 production of "Hello, Dolly!" was recently honored with the award for Outstanding Production - Youth Theater Musical by the Desert Theater League. In addition, Karilyn Dangleis received the award for Best Choreography.  The annual CCHS Spring Musical, now in it's 16th year, is a wonderful opportunity for cross-curricular teaching between the disciplines of Drama, Vocal Music, Dance and Stagecraft. Over 60 students are enrolled each spring in the class Play Production - Musical Theater. For "Hello, Dolly!" stagecraft students also had the opportunity to work with noted professional Hollywood scenic painter Dan Dorfer, whose stipend was underwritten by a grant from the Pinnacle Fund.

Theater III students recently performed with nearly 2000 other drama students from 65 high schools at the 90th annual  Drama Festival sponsored by the Drama Teachers Association of Southern California. CCHS was named a finalist in the Large Group Comedy Category and brought home another trophy. Theater III has been attending this festival since 1995.

The Fall Show this year is being directed by long-time CCHS technical director and Spanish teacher Jani Luber, while drama teacher Michael Thelen builds sets and handles production duties.  "Enter Laughing" is based on a Carl Reiner novel and opens December 2nd. Over thirty student actors and technicians are getting a valuable hands-on learning experience while creating a real life product while working on the show during the class Play Production.

DATA Digital Imaging, Autumn 2010

 "Creativity is contagious, pass it on" -Albert Einstein

The DATA Digital Imaging (Di) program
threads arts, technology, and career based learning with creativity and community collaborations.
Students interact creatively with local, regional, and global communities by

    •    working with professionals on site and in the Di studio
    •    exercising a variety of professional level digital tools
    •    visiting local and regional industry studios and agencies
    •    visiting local and regional galleries and museums
    •    visiting colleges related to student career pursuits
    •    participating in local and national contests and exhibitions
    •    spearheading global challenges with other schools
    •    publishing a variety of online content

Currently underway…

Custom Vans Shoes- a collaboration between Mr. Chacon's advanced art students, Epidemic Skateboard Shop, and DATA Di. The project includes hand painted Vans shoes photographed and marketed online and set to auction in December.

F L O A T !- a global photography challenge based on the creative photography of Philipe Halsmann.

Earth Through a Lens- in commemoration of Earth Day, Di students will have the opportunity to focus their attention on beauty in the natural environment or the degradation of the environment by human activity and hang their work along side regional and/or national professionals.


… and from the DATA Di blog

The Student Creative's first global photography challenge, Paint the World with Light, has gained recent attention as the cover for the December 2010 issue of School Arts magazine. The article is available in both print and digital versions with the cover image by Di student Spencer McQuinn. The Student Creative is a collaboration driven by DATA Di, the Shanghai American School and the The Mac Lab at Valhalla High School.

On September 2nd, the Adobe Education Exchange, a new global community for educators, announced Paint the World with Light as first runner up for digital arts and media projects on the 2400+ member site. A copy of Photoshop CS5 was awarded by Adobe and was donated to the Cahuilla CUE's Mini Tech Fair on Oct. 2nd.

Students recently created two new poster designs for Palm Springs USD schools. The new crest for Cathedral City High School was collaboratively designed by senior Jocael Suarez, 2010 graduate Enrique Silva, and Ms. Haas's advanced art class with Jayke Stump completing the final poster layout. The crest concept was implemented by CCHS principal Guillermo Chavez as a new tradition for the school.

A new Matador poster was created by Victor Gonzalez in collaboration with Ms. Valenzuela and Raymond Cree Middle School in Palm Springs. Victor was faced with the challenge of cleaning up the school's low resolution images and preparing them for high res printing.

Both designs were created using Photoshop CS5 and will be sold to students and staff at each school to act as a fundraiser for the newly established DATA Skills USA chapter. One half of the proceeds from the Matador poster will go towards repainting the multipurpose room at Raymond Cree.

On Sunday, October 12th, twenty-five Di students worked collaboratively with Carol Pipitone, President of the Rotary Club of Cathedral City, to photograph the El Grito! event in celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Di students shot performances throughout the day for the Rotary's website and ran a portrait booth for attendees.

DATA Di senior Jocael Suarez was one of twenty-three Coachella Valley students chosen this year for the Palm Springs Art Museum's Teen Docent program. Out of the 50 students interviewed, twenty-three were selected for a two week long training at the Museum. Teen Docents provide tours to local elementary students at the museum, receive high school credit, and a small stipend for their time.
"It is amazing to have the opportunity to talk to younger students about art and be part of a peer group that shares the same passion." -Jocael Suarez

For the third consecutive year, Di students assisted AC Patel and his Desert Photo Lab crew during portrait sessions at Cathedral City High School. Over seven days, twenty-five students learned the work flow for handling large volumes of images, working with clients for image selection, shooting and posing for school portraits, techniques for lighting, and the enjoyment of a positive working environment.

"AC taught us about how important it is to be quick and efficient in addition to knowing the technical settings for portrait photography"
                                                    -Spencer McQuinn 

"I learned how to stay organized and be productive in a busy environment"
                                             -Caroline Parra 

"I learned the process of shooting, managing, and editing your work"
                                      -Aaron Teel 

 "I enjoyed working with people to help them select the best possible image"
                                             -Elsa Castaneda 

"I really enjoyed focusing on editing images for the CCHS yearbook as well as other schools"
                                                       -Alejandra Covaurrbias

As part of the Digital Arts Education social network on Ning, DATA Di has also launched it's Cafe Press store. This online store will be selling student created shirts and specialty items and is available at

http://www.cafepress.com/DATADi

CCHS Vocal, Autumn 2010

CHAMBER SINGERS AT LA QUINTA CHORAL INVITATIONAL



Every year, the CCHS Lions' Pride Chamber Singers are invited to participate in the La Quinta Choral Invitational held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with its resplendent acoustics! In this year's festival, there were 8 choirs who participated. The two adjudicators were from the university of Redlands, both of whom expressed their congratulatory remarks in their adjudication of our rendition of good choral literature ranging from chant to madrigals. The group's performance was stellar and CCHS is indeed proud to have them as young ambassadors exemplifying hope. Kudos!


New CCHS Alma Mater Unveiled…

"We stand for thee, Cathedral City High. Lions' pride of silver and blue. 

 Young and Old stand to sing your praise; to strong allegiance true. 

 Warm friendships and traditions from the halls of your ideals.

From the desert floor to the clear blue sky___ all lions evermore."

  -F. May Le Roy

Outside the classroom environment, ample learning takes place through events provided by the efforts of PSUSD Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, Louisa Castrodale and special youth advocate a.k.a "The Opera Lady", Barbara Mortensen. 16 students were recognized at the HD simulcast shown at The River from the New York Metropolitan Opera of the Wagner's "Das Rheingold". They sung for Back-to-School Night; home Varsity Volleyball games; special patriotic occasions and other community groups like the Rotary, the Filipino-American Association of the Coachella Valley's inaugural ball, where sophomore John Velasquez sang the Philippine Nation Anthem and members of the Chamber Singers sang the National Anthem. Thanks for your enthusiasm & engery!

90+ Cars

With almost 70 students who showed-up to wash cars, the net income from this first fundraiser was almost $4000 -- most of which has been allocated to students'



Upcoming Events & Performances

SCVA (So. California Vocal Association) HONOR CHOIR CONCERT
Junior Porsia Smith, auditioned for and was selected to sing with the SCVA Women's Choir and the prestigious All-State Honor Choir in Sacramento on March 31-April 2, 2011. Come watch her perform and listen to the fabulous sound of the SCVA Honor Choir. The concert will be held at the Santa Monica High School Auditorium on Saturday, November 20th at 7:00p.m.. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.scvachoral.org  This is an event not to be missed!! A carpool can be organized for those who are interested in attending.

CCHS CHORAL DEPARTMENT CONCERTS

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2010 AT 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010*

THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2010 AT 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2010 AT 7:00 PM

*(2 PERFORMANCES: 6:00P & 8:00P)

CCHS LIONS' PRIDE CHAMBER SINGERS PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Thursday    Nov 11, 2010    Veterans' Day Event - Indian Wells      9:00-11:00am

Friday    Nov 26, 2010    Tree Lighting Ceremony at Mission Hills CC     5:30-6:15pm

Saturday    Nov 27, 2010    Palm Springs Air Museum     12:45-2:15pm

Monday    Dec 6, 2010    CA Retired Teachers Association Luncheon     2:00-1:30pm

Wednesday    Dec 8, 2010    St. Andrew Community Church    7:00-8:00pm

Friday    Dec 10, 2010    Palm Springs Tram Performance     4:00-9:00pm

Saturday    Dec 11, 2010    Mountain View Country Club Holiday Party     6:00-8:00pm

Tuesday    Dec 14, 2010    District Office Performance     9:00-10:30am
  
Saturday     Dec 18, 2010    Magic of Christmas Choral Competition     7:00pm  

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy" 

-Ludwig Von Beethoven

DATA Digital Storytelling, Autumn 2010

The Digital Arts Technology Academy Digital Storytelling Class, under the direction of Matt Hamilton and media mentor David Vogel, will be producing two half hour news shows this spring to be aired on KPSP Local2 television. In addition, senior digital storytelling students will participate in a full day job shadowing experience with KPSP personnel later this year.

Hamilton, Vogel, and PSUSD Instructional Technology Specialist Lee Grafton have been invited to conduct a two-hour digital storytelling seminar at the California Partnership Academy Conference at the Sacramento Convention Center  in March.

In July, with DATA student Spencer McQuinn manning the camera, Richard Byford of Byway Entertainment interviewed Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet in late July about his views about a greener economy. Pougnet is challenging U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack for her seat in Congress.

Also in July, Hamilton and Vogel met with the city of Cathedral City Marketing Committee and this year will be producing eight video pieces about people who make a difference in Cathedral City, which will be posted on the Cathedral City web site and broadcast on Time Warner Cable.

DATA senior students will also be guests of KNews radio host Lee Rayburn to talk about issues affecting teens and schools.

DATA journalism students will also be producing a 30-second television spot for United Cerebral Palsy that will air on KPSP Local 2 in mid-September.

View the DATA Digital Storytelling blog Here!