All-County Chorus

On February 12, 2019, students from elementary, middle and high schools all over Winston-Salem/Forsyth County came together at Reynolds Auditorium to perform in this year's All-County Chorus.

Students participated in approximately 8 hours of clinical rehearsals to prepare for a final performance.  Elementary school students learned "I Am" by Melanie Horne, "Tres Canciones de Los  Elementos" by Victor Johnson, "Firefly" by Mark Patterson, and "Turn the World Around" by Mark Hayes.  Their elementary choir director was Laura Sams from Burlington. 

The annual All-County Chorus event invites the top choral performers from each school to join the group for workshops, rehearsals and a final evening performance for parents and the community.  For 2019, orchestra teacher, Mrs. Lisa Morris, prepared 5th graders, Zaree Fulwood, George Green, and Beatrice Sheff to perform in the chorus.  Congratulations to Mrs. Morris and these students for a job well done.

Channel 2 Feature

“We Were Live on TV”

Did you know that Diggs-Latham was mentioned on Cable 2 and recognized at the January School Board Meeting?  

After several Central Office Personnel saw a recent performance, we were asked to create a Video Tribute to the School Board since January was National School Board Recognition Month.  

You can watch the video here:  https://youtu.be/3dlcfIYViFw  
Several classes and students participated in the video.  Students also created cards and posters for each of the 9 School Board Members and Superintendent Dr. Emory.  

Since the viewing of the video, we have received numerous tweets and retweets as well as emails and cards from Dr. Emory, Assistant Superintendent Hall, other Assistant Superintendents, School Board Members and parents.  

It Was a Jungle in There

As an A+ Magnet School, teachers and grade levels look for as many opportunities as possible to uphold the A+ Essentials as well as the Magnet Pillars, which drives our mission and vision and incorporates the theme of our school.  

One such example was a recent 5th grade unit on Ecosystems that created authentic learning environments for students to uphold diversity, innovative curriculum, academic excellence, and high quality instructional systems.

The Fifth Grade Team, (Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Bersch, Mrs. Lizarazo, and Ms. Moroni) turned their classrooms into individual Ecosystems over a period of two weeks.  Classes traveled around the 5th grade hallway into each classroom to experience the Ecosystems.  Students went on safari, hiked, sat, walked and experienced each ecosystem through posters, paintings, props and other artifacts that created the mock set ups of the Ecosystems.  As students entered the rooms, sound effects, music, and lighting helped the experience seem even more authentic.  Classes even had special safari hats for the journey, made possible by a grant received from Donors Choose.  Students and teachers enjoyed the opportunity for a fun time of learning in such an inviting learning environment.

Check out Photos of the Ecosystem Unit:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/zZLaCrU5P84PhAo28 

The Vivaldi Project

We are very pleased that we are continuing our partnership with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  We have ArtistCorp Members in their Arts Engaged Program working in our school daily.  One aspect of this partnership is the Vivaldi Project, which is a strings program that works with our Pre-Kindergarten Students.  The Vivaldi Project combines high-quality pedagogical training for emerging performing artists while bringing music instruction to the preschool classrooms. 

A Demo Performance for Pre-K

https://youtu.be/55nPp5Uhmro

The Vivaldi Project was originally created and implemented by world-renowned violinist Ida Bieler and was very successful in Germany, even being recognized nationally through the Ideen fuer die Bildungsrepublik prize in 2011.

The Goals and Objectives of Vivaldi include:
-Vivaldi Fellows receiving...
o Pedagogical instruction, including basic instrumental teaching methods specialized for their instrument.
o Instruction in early childhood development and proven music pedagogical methods for children.
o Monitored practicums and constant feedback from UNCSA faculty and staff.
-As a group, the Vivaldi Fellows:
o Provide twice-weekly music classes for prekindergarten students.
o Provide twice-weekly basic violin instruction for the for prekindergarten students.

-Students in this project should:
o Exhibit an increased general and specific instrumental knowledge of music.
o Learn to listen critically.
o Learn to understand the process inherent in learning an instrument and translatable to other facets of academic life: that it takes ongoing effort to improve.
o Have the opportunity to develop self-expression, resilience, creativity and confidence through music.
o Be given a new lens with which to see themselves as expressive individuals with developing skills.

Vivaldi in Action:  A Singing Exercise with Steady Beat

https://youtu.be/0ZoC-mt4NTE

Click here for a few additional photos of the Vivaldi Project Students & Instructors.

"Math Mania"

Recently, the first grade team of teachers, Mrs. Cooke, Mrs. Lemmerman, Ms. Brown, and Sra. Martinez, planned a Winter Olympics unit to get their students excited about learning measurement. 

Mrs. Cooke said, "We wanted to find an engaging and memorable way to teach measurement; if children are moving and playing while they learn, the skills seem to be much more ingrained into their memories."  

Students were divided into small teams; they chose names, created flags and cheered on their teams. Mrs. Lemmerman's students started their unit with a parade of flags, after researching countries and last year's Winter Olympics.

The Olympic Math activities included:  "Speed Skating," "Cross Country Long Step," "Free Style Jump," and "Snowball Throw" and allowed students unique opportunities to measure using non-standard units. 

Check out more Math Olympic Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/NhHVw6W5rPZkShd48

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Fifth grade teachers, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Bersch, Sra. Lizarazo, and Ms. Moroni, took their decimal unit to a whole new level by creating a "Decimal Diner." 

Within the diner, the teachers served as chefs, complete with hats and aprons, and they served the students lemonade and brownies, which were on the menu of "Decimal Diner."  Students rotated through three stations working with adding decimals on receipts, figuring out costs of items, ordering from a menu and deciding if they had enough money to purchase the items, and arranging the costs of the orders from least to greatest. 

View more Decimal Diner Photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/HiwkaYzG6ncgwxWJ6

Creating real-world connections and authentic learning activities upholds our Essentials and Pillars as an A+ School of North Carolina and a National Magnet School.  The First Grade Winter Math Olympics and the 5th Grade Decimal Diner created an inviting learning environment that allowed students to experience their learning, fully engage with all senses, and collaborate with other students and their teachers.

Read the full story on the WSFCS Permanent Record Blog at https://wsfcschools.blogspot.com/2019/01/more-learning-adventures-at-diggs.html