According to Americans for the Arts, students who participate in arts programs are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements. 30 years ago, a group of Bogota, New Jersey teachers and other Bogota school system education administrators recognized the potential benefits of introducing an arts appreciation program within their elementary schools. 30 years later, the Bogota Week of the Arts program continues to thrive as a popular annual event for children in grades Pre-K through 6th.
30 Years of Inspiring and Motivating Students
The concept and planning for the inaugural Week of the Arts started with a group of Bogota educators led by Patricia Burns. Now approaching age 92, Burns is as enthusiastic about the event as ever. “I’m so happy to see how this has kept going for so many years. As a teacher for more than 40 years, I’ve seen how art and creative outlets help to inspire and motivate children to excel in school and at home too. That Week of the Arts has introduced so many children to so many different forms of art and culture is really wonderful.”
Over the years, Week of the Arts has exposed Bogota public school students to live and often interactive programs featuring artists and performers ranging from local talent to Broadway entertainers.
COVID-19 Pandemic Leads to All-Digital Event
As with so many extra-curricular programs and special events during the COVID-19 pandemic, Week of the Arts may have been in jeopardy in 2020 had it not been for teachers from Bogota’s two elementary schools (E. Roy Bixby School and Lillian M. Steen School) who decided to go digital and produce a “virtual” Week of the Arts. This virtual event is being held from June 1-June 5.
“It’s been a very positive experience putting this together during these rather stressful past few months,” explained Steen School teacher Cornelia Geraghty (who, by the way, happens to be the daughter of Patricia Burns). As always, we’ve had great support from the Bogota administration and Board of Education. 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Week of the Arts, so this year is especially important.”
“I would like to congratulate Mrs. Geraghty, the staff, the principals, and the administration for getting the Week of the Arts moving as we do every year,” said Bogota Mayor Christopher M. Kelemen. “It’s always a joy for me to open up the Week of the Arts for all the students in our grammar schools.”
Google Classroom to the Rescue
Google Classroom is the platform the Bogota district has been using to teach remotely during the COVID-19 lockdown. On Google Classroom, teachers post links to assignments for their students each day. Part of the day, teachers “meet” with their students using the “Google Meet” platform. The rest of the day students complete assignments and message teachers if they (or their parents) have any questions, tech issues, etc.
Week of the Arts is being presented as links posted on one central Google Classroom titled “Week of the Arts.” Classroom teachers then go to this page and copy posted links to their own Google Classroom pages and create the arts experiences that would best suit their students.
The majority of Week of the Arts “assignments” are pre-recorded, with a few teachers offering live dance workshops that can be joined through Google Meet.
Dance, Rap, Theatrical Performances, Storytelling, Crafts, More
This year’s Bogota Week of the Arts program features videos of full-length musical plays, dramatic performances, Indian dance, hip hop, theatrical performances, DIY crafts for kids, storytelling and more. A number of artists from the community have provided informational, instructional and interactive videos about their art forms. Rapper Lil Dee has also sent a message specifically for Bogota students and will premier a new rap he’s written about Covid-19.
Various assembly videos (and other videos) have been posted to the Google Classroom page, along with links to read aloud books and animated biographical videos about famous artists and musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Georgia O’Keefe. Instructional videos teaching children how to draw or create various art pieces from home are also included in the posted links.
Teachers and Students Add Creative Energy and Sense of Community
During these unprecedented times, there’s a greater need than ever before for positivity and a sense of community. Bogota’s Week of the Arts provides both in spades. In addition to community and professional performers and presenters, Week of the Arts is chock full of fun and creative contributions from both members of the Bogota teaching staff and artistic students. Here are just a few examples of the creative fun being provided by Bogota teachers and students:
- Bogota art teachers have created a gallery of student works of art that have been crafted and submitted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Steen School’s annual Talent Show has been posted with students recorded at home sharing their talents.
- Bogota High School Choir students made individual videos, singing songs and wishing students a good Week of the Arts.
- Bogota music teachers have posted instructional/performance recordings of themselves.
- Several teachers have created arts games such as “Name That Tune” and “Arts Kahoot” (a game show-like trivia game).
Finally, a number of Bogota teachers have organized a “Masked Singer, Teacher Edition” where recordings have been made of teachers (with their faces hidden behind an alias identity), recording themselves singing a song. Each day during the week, the songs will be played for the students and they need to guess which teacher is singing. The answers will be revealed at the end of the week at the closing ceremonies where Bogota Schools Superintendent Damian Kennedy will deliver a speech, followed by a slideshow featuring highlights from the week and the entire school year. Encore!
Bogota Week of the Arts 2020
Reflecting on how it all started, Patricia Burns recalls, “30 years ago, we wouldn’t have even considered computers as a way of sharing Week of the Arts with students. I’m just happy that they’re able to do it! It’s been such a difficult year and it would have been a shame if this special event became just another thing that had to be cancelled. The students learn so much and they really do have fun.”
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