Alston Middle Awarded Arts Curricular Innovation Grant for 'Many Lenses'

Press Release, Dorchester County School District Two

Alston Middle School has earned an $18,000 grant for its "Many Lenses" program.

The goal of “Many Lenses” is to significantly increase student achievement in the arts through curricula that provide in-depth experiences in production, criticism, and increased awareness of its social, cultural, and historical relevance. AMS is an art- infused school, serving approximately 900 students.  All students are enrolled in an arts class for their three years at Alston.

Through this grant, works of performance and visual arts will be created around a specific period of history.  Academic teachers will provide input reflecting advances in science, math, and literature, as well as the influences of society and the time’s current events.  Students will become immersed in the subject matter of that time period as all their teachers – both academic and fine arts – present multiple perspectives.  Following the performances, students will participate in “Artist Forums,” where artist and audience can discuss the ideas, concepts, and themes.  

This in-depth learning experience will challenge our students to take their artistic endeavors to the next level.  Materials and services included in the $18,000.00 budget are necessary to meet objectives of “Many Lenses.e” Teachers will expand their knowledge through the Professional Development Arts Institutes; art teachers will incorporate academic standards into their lesson plans; students will incorporate academic subjects into their art forms; productions will be developed from student-created pieces; and product and process will be continually evaluated to further enrich the process.

The time period for this school year is 1800 through 1850.  Alston students have created a County Fair from 1830 which will feature wandering singers, medical doctors selling their medicines, scientists describing the newest scientific discoveries, and a political debate focusing on secession from the Union.  From the County Fair, audience members move to the school gym for a performance from the dance program featuring music from Symphonie Fantastique.  The audience then travels to the stage to see adapted stories from Edgar Allen Poe.  All aspects of the performance have been created by the students.

The grant was written by Adam Weiner and Genie Shaughnessy.