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CREATIVITY AT WORK! The 2011 Whole Schools Initiative Summer Institute
Posted Aug 29, 08:25 PM
The 2011 Whole Schools Initiative Summer Institute was held July 17-21 at the Mississippi State University Riley Center in Meridian. This annual professional development opportunity gathered 300 teachers (pre-k through 12 & pre-service), artists, administrators and community arts supporters to learn strategies in arts integration. These workshops and arts experiences allowed attendees to engage with presenters from across Mississippi and throughout the nation. Highlights include: Keynote Address and performance by Grammy Award Winner, Victor Wooten; workshops by Kennedy Center Teaching Artists, Lenore Blank Kellner and Marcia Daft; on-site training for Moving Towards the Art of Good Health and the special events hosted by the Meridian Community. These interactive arts-based lessons will be used in Mississippi classrooms starting immediately this fall to deepen critical thinking skills, support innovative and creative ideas, and nurture communication skills in preparation for a successful college and career experience. The role of the arts in the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) was introduced and will continue to be the focus of WSI professional development workshops in the future. Special thanks to the numerous schools, artists and administrators who attended the WSI Summer Institute.
