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Dance
Professional dance teachers instruct all GCS students
daily in
classes ranging from ballet, jazz, modern, hip- hop, tap and
Latin dance. Additionally, classroom and dance teachers
collaborate to reinforce and broaden the academic curriculum
through the integration of creative movement.
In keeping with our mission to integrate academics and
the
arts, GCS dance teachers reinforce letter recognition and
phonemic awareness through creative movement and music.
Twice a week, in Reading
In Motion classes, our
kindergarteners and first graders twist their bodies into letters
while singing corresponding sounds. Dance instructors and
classroom teachers collaborate to deliver challenging,
standards−based language arts instruction.
At GCS, we are
creating a reading culture. Research by this Chicago−based
Reading In Motion program has proven that adding a
kinesthetic component to teaching reading boosts the
achievement scores of inner city children. In fact,
independent test results have shown that RIM students make
nearly two months of reading progress for every month they
participate in the program, effectively doubling students'
learning rates.
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The Art People
Volunteers Meg Kasden and Zen Annino provide visual
arts enrichment to second and third graders through
weekly art projects. Mentored by art teachers at the
Center For Early Education, they came to GCS after
several years' experience teaching in the Compton
Unified District. They introduce students to the
styles of noted artists and collaborate with classroom
teachers to design art activities that integrate with
social studies and science curricula.
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“Our efforts evolved from a desire to do hands−on work in inner city schools and the realization
that these students are missing the opportunity to create their own artwork, using materials
that are not part of the academic curriculum,” explains Meg Kasden. “Zen and I both feel that
kids deserve certain creative childhood experiences that have been cut from many public
school programs. Therefore, we bring watercolors, tempera paints, oil pastels, fingerpaints,
sculpting, sketching techniques, and various crafts into the classrooms; teach children how to
use these materials and give them an opportunity to 'get messy' and have artistic, tactile
experiences.”
During their weekly visits to the school, Meg and Zen get
to know the teachers and the
students and have offered to help organize other types of enrichment including field trips and
assemblies. With the help of more volunteers, they hope to expand the program to all grades in
the near future.
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After−School
Program
Three after−school
teachers and a number of high school
volunteers staff the GCS After−School program that provides
homework support and supervision until 6:00 p.m. Students
receive individualized help with assignments and personalized
tutoring. They also participate in outdoor and indoor games
and art activities. There is a nominal cost to families who
enroll their children.
High School Volunteers Tutors
GCS teachers supervise high school students from
Camino
Nuevo Charter Academy, Belmont High School and Bishop
Conety High School who tutor students during the day and
after school. Students receive community service credit for
their service.
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Community Volunteers
Classroom teachers welcome the weekly participation of
a number of community volunteers.
Their involvement in the academic program enables teachers to further differentiate instruction
for small groups and individual students.
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About Us
