Blast! 10.26.26

I hope you all are enjoying the cooler weather; I know we are.  We have had a wonderful week here at Palm Lake and are looking forward to another exciting week culminating in our Character Parade Friday.  Remember, no masks or “weapons” should be included with costumes.  If your student needs a costume for the parade Friday, please email lauren.akesson@ocps.net. Also, don’t forget that permission slips are required for your student to participate in the parade.

We are officially a Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Academy and have begun accepting registrations from students outside our school zone.  The good news for you, dear friends, is that if you are a student at Palm Lake, you are automatically a part of the Academy.   It is our belief that the Arts belong to and are essential for everybody… so we want to ensure that every student has the experience.  So, what does it mean to be a Scholastic Academy?A Scholastic Academy means there is a focus on a specific subject or quality in the curriculum.  You will see Gifted Academies, Leadership Academies, and STEM Academies, to name a few.  In our case, the Visual and Performing Arts Academy was a natural fit because of the attention we already pay to the arts through our grade-level performances, Arts Day, and arts- related experiences.  We will enhance what we already do by bringing guest artists and programs to our campus and our students, enriching their understanding of the Arts and of their large role in our lives.

The focus of our VPA Academy is to provide exposure, access, and opportunity to the Arts through curriculum and experiences provided here at Palm Lake.  We are the first step in an Arts continuum that moves on to the Chain of Lakes M.S. Performing Arts and Technology Academy for those who want to learn more about a specific art form or discipline, such as band, chorus, dance, and art; then the next progression is the Dr. Phillips HS Arts Magnet, where students will hone their skills as they prepare for college and professions in the arts if they so desire.  Our goal at Palm Lake is not to create artists.  Rather, it is to foster appreciation so that students may choose to become performers, artists, patrons and/or supporters of the arts throughout their lives.  Will present opportunities for growth in Art, Music, Drama, and Dance/Movement.  While things may not look like a big change to our current students, it is only because of the rich arts environment we have enjoyed for many years at Palm Lake.  This is not the norm for schools outside of Palm Lake, and this gives us the opportunity to bring in more performances and experiences for our students, such as the Orlando Opera Company, which is coming to us in February.I hope this explains a little about the upcoming changes, and please stay tuned as we share more about our plans for the future.

I wish you well,

Jim

James Weis

Principal, Palm Lake E.S.

Thank you for all you have done through your contributions and donations of your time and talents for our students and teachers at Palm Lake E.S.  The fundraiser will continue for one more week and culminate Friday along with our Character Parade.