Your tax-deductible contributions to the bennett valley education foundation fund the rich array of visual and performing arts programs for 1024 students at yulupa and strawberry schools. Every student in our district learns fine art techniques, art history, music appreciation, and multicultural dance from highly skilled, experienced art educators. Unique to our school district, these programs and the artists who lead them are recognized by students and families as a beloved part of their educational experience.

Education , Educational Services

Visual art at yulupa with nancy ray ricciardi: a noted sonoma county landscape painter, nancy has worked for over 30 years as an artist-in-residence in our local public schools and for decades has championed the cause of keeping art alive in our schools. Nancys unique program consists of four disciplines: history, criticism, aesthetics, and skills. Her process-based approach centers on the studies of individual artists, their philosophies, techniques, and contributions. Nancy leads 10 sessions with every classroom at yulupa school. Visual art at strawberry with cory hakola: cory is a noted artist and bvef board member with art degrees from ssu in studio art and art history, and a teaching credential in art. Cory is well known in our district for his years of tireless volunteer work, leading students in the creation of unique works of art for bvefs annual valley of the arts fundraiser. Cory teaches the importance of art by highlighting relevant art history in his lessons. Through the art-making process his students develop confidence, skills and practice constructive thinking. Corys leads 10 sessions with every classroom at strawberry school. Multicultural music, movement, and dance at yulupa with tina rogers: a sonoma county native, tina, earned experience and acclaim in music, street dance, and athletics at an early age. At uc davis, she honed her passion for the arts and fitness, and is today a master teacher using multicultural music and dance to teach the whole child. In addition to her in-school teaching residencies, tina leads a hip hop culture lifestyle consisting of dance and rap battles, choreography, and performances and teaching in multiple venues. For years, ms. Tina has also donated her time to lead bvefs popular family dance night. Each class at yulupa has 10 dynamic sessions of dance, fitness and fun with ms. Tina. Multicultural music, movement, and dance at strawberry with tina malone:earnestine (tina) malone has been dancing for 30+ years and teaching dance for 19 years. Her childhood dreams of following her uncles footsteps as a broadway dancer and choreographer led her to launch m. Studio dance company in 2010 and after school program kidzgroove in 2011. At strawberry school, tina teaches students to express themselves with dance, enjoy dance as exercise, and appreciate the origins of the dances they perform. Through 9 class sessions, students establish a cultural connection to each grade levels history curriculum. Art docents: bvef trains parent volunteers to lead art lessons, offering a fun, hands-on way to bring classroom studies to life. Each class enjoys 2-3 art docent lessons utilizing various media including clay, paper, acrylic and watercolor paint, and more, all coordinated with grade level studies. First-year & advanced band programs: strawberrys band programs are led by professional musician, jim passarell, who plays virtually every instrument you can think of. These programs teach students to read music and play their instrument independently and with fellow musicians in both concert performances and as a marching band in the rose parade. Band and percussion (see below) programs are open to all students. Practices are held in the mornings before the start of the school day. Percussion: patrick oconnell is a noted percussionist who has performed for three u. S. Presidents! His program is a specialty for our district. Students learn to read music, rhythm, proper technique, and to play with other musicians. Drummers are included in the band for all concerts and events. Strawberry glee-gles (chorus): marla tusa has developed elementary and secondary choirs, bands, and performing arts programs in the us and in canada. Strawberrys very popular choral music program introduces students to choral music, rounds, beginning harmonies and singing both accompanied and a capella. Open to all students, the glee-gles practice monday afternoons immediately following the reduced monday schedule. Introduc