Diggs-Latham Magnet News

NC A+ Schools

We are a member of A+ Schools of North Carolina. A+ Schools of North Carolina is a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. Established in North Carolina in 1995, A+ Schools is a signature program of the North Carolina Arts Council. A+ is the longest-running, arts-based whole-school reform model in the nation. As an A+ School, we uphold the 8 Essentials of A+ Schools. Visit the NC A+ Schools website at: https://www.ncarts.org/arts-council-z/aplus-schools-nc

Annually, A+ Leaders and Educators meet in Raleigh for the Fall Leadership Meeting and New Teacher Training. (A+ Schools Leaders also meet in the Spring in other locations.)

This fall, our A+ Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Gordon, traveled to Raleigh to the McKimmon Center for the Leadership Meeting. Second grade teacher, Ms. Foster, and Fourth Grade teacher, Mrs. Stevens, attended the teacher training sessions.

NCAEA Conference

Our Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Gordon, serves on the North Carolina Art Education Association Board as the Social Media Chair on the Communications Committee.

Mrs. Gordon attended the annual conference with NCAEA in downtown Durham, NC and presented on the topic, "Marketing: Social Media and Beyond." Mrs. Gordon also had a piece of her original art exhibited in the Members' Exhibit.

The conference last over 4 days and included keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, presentations, region meetings, and more.

Our Art Teacher, Ms. Sledge, was also in attendance to the conference, along with a few other art teachers and the Arts Administrator from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

ArtistCorps

We are very pleased to continue our partnership with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts ArtistCorp Program.

This program places accomplished artists/musicians in schools to work with high-needs students. Members of ArtistCorp work directly with Pre-Kindergarten to high school students to strengthen community and learning through the use of music, movement, acting and art.
This year, we are fortunate to have ArtistCorp Members working with Specialists in Art, Band, and Orchestra. We also have a team working with PreK in the Vivaldi Project to further expose students to string instruments, particularly the violin.

Visit the UNCSA Website to Read more: https://www.uncsa.edu/community/community-engagement/artistcorps/index.aspx

A Surprise Visit

It was a fall, Friday afternoon at the end of the school day during car duty. An Uber pulled up, and two young gentleman got out of the car. Desmond Stroman, along with his cousin, walked up to Mrs. Gordon, our Magnet Coordinator, and former art teacher, and began filming this surprise visit.

Stroman finished 5^th grade at Diggs-Latham Elementary Visual & Performing Arts A+ Magnet School during the 2014-2015 school year... Since he left Diggs-Latham, Stroman continued to develop his art skills and pursue an art career, and he returned to his elementary school to say thanks and share his current work with his elementary art teacher.

“I suddenly remembered that my 5^th grade art teacher did a lot for me and created a lot of opportunities for me, so I decided to fly to North Carolina to say thank you and surprise her. I wanted to show her that I am still pursuing art and going to make it into a career,” Stroman shared.

Stroman is currently studying Graphic Design at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida; after completing his associate degree in art, he plans to transfer to either the University of South Florida or the University of Tampa to complete his Bachelors’ Degree. During his time in college, he is building a team to complete his first comic book that he will turn into an animation.

Stroman is already successful in the art world. He created his signature/brand which includes his artistic name, “Decirto,” a logo, and his OC, Original Character, which is his own caricature and comic book character.

Read the full story on the WSFCS Headlines at https://bit.ly/3ucqAxQ

Festival Ballet

Winston-Salem Festival Ballet is a professional dance company under the direction of founder and artistic director, Gary Taylor, committed to excellence in the performing arts and providing extraordinary performances that are accessible and enjoyable.

Our 4th graders had the privilege of working with a member of W-S Festival Ballet for a workshop during their dance class with Dance Teacher, Ms. Allison.

This W-S Festival Ballet Workshop was made possible through an Arts-in-Education Grant.