Eye on our Schools: Downey Unified celebrates performing arts
Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed my first two articles this year. This month, I will focus on the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) in Downey Unified in honor of the late Lorine Parks, her great love for the arts, and her enduring legacy in the Downey community.
I’m proud to say that our District has always worked to include funding for various arts programs at our schools. Since the 2022 passing of Prop 28, however, we are now able to provide even more funding for VAPA programs—plays, band, dance, choir—at all levels.
Let’s start with music and the visual arts in our elementary schools! A couple of years ago, Downey Unified hired six music teachers to go into our TK to fifth-grade classrooms to provide high-quality instruction. Every other week, our students grow their rhythmic sense, music literacy, and musical expression.
On a recent visit to Unsworth, I saw our fifth-grade students in action as they used their new music reading skills while practicing how to position their fingers on a recorder (an instrument like the flute) while playing. As they worked individually, the anticipation built until they finally all played their first notes in unison. They were so excited, bouncing in their seats and congratulating each other on their success. Thank you, Principal Naval for letting me witness that firsthand.
In addition to music, our elementary “Meet the Masters” program introduces students to visual arts masters such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, Da Vinci, and many more. As students dive deep into how each painted, drew, or sculpted, they also learn about them as people. I love walking into the rooms after these sessions to enjoy the artwork our students create as they become the masters themselves. Elementary music and visual arts learning are so important for creating a strong art appreciation in our young learners. I am so proud of the quality of instruction we’ve been able to offer to our elementary students in this area.
As our students continue to middle school, they can pick from a multitude of classes and clubs in the visual and performing arts such as drama, choir, visual arts, film, photography, and a variety of award-winning band classes. If a student wants to learn more about any of these mediums, they might sign up for the beginning class or club with very little to no prior experience needed.
During their mid-year and year-end performances at the Downey City Theater, I have been impressed by the quality of our band and chorus student performances. Students in these groups may also participate in parades and festivals, as well as travel to other cities for reviews or competitions.
Doty, Griffiths, Stauffer, and Sussman middle schools each produce up to two plays each year. As a frequent audience member, it’s clear that all students are having a good time as they gain confidence in public speaking and learn the various jobs behind the curtain and on the stage.
Sussman’s drama teacher, Mrs. Knox, put on her first play just last week, “Alice in Wonderland,” with a bright and colorful stage that transported us. I was in awe of the amount of dialogue these students could remember, especially “Alice,” since she is in every scene!
This spring, Doty is presenting “The Epic Quest of the Damsels in Distress.” Get your tickets now because who doesn’t love a play about dragons, magic, and distressed damsels? You’ll get a kick out of the pre-taped skits that Mrs. Moren runs during the break that feature students and staff.
At Griffiths, Ms. McNeil is the teacher, and she ensures that all students have a great time in her drama class, whether they are outgoing, shy, silly, or serious. The Thunderbird’s performance of “We’ll Be Right Back After This Murder” will be in April.
Stauffer Middle School’s Mrs. Pyle runs two drama programs, including the District’s Musical Theatre Conservatory (MTC), now in its second year! The MTC is a free, after-school program, open to all DUSD middle school students, with an open call at the beginning of the school year. Recently, the MTC students took on performances such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Legally Blonde Jr.,” and “Annie Jr.”. All have been amazing!
Our high schools’ VAPA offerings for students include award-winning programs that foster a sense of teamwork while their teachers guide them to become outstanding performers and artists. One of the many recent examples of this has been the formation of the District Mariachi group, catering to our middle and high school students. The Mariachi was recently invited to perform for the Fine Arts Club of Pasadena, in the beautiful Athenaeum Club on the Caltech campus. On the Arts Club website, the Mariachi was praised for their enthusiastic performance of several traditional and contemporary numbers and their youthful energy. Having seen them perform on several occasions, I could not agree more!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the big wins that our Viking and Bear dance programs have had this year. The Downey High Dance Team became National Champions at this year’s Contest of Champions in Orlando for their hip-hop and jazz performances. The Warren High Dance Team traveled to Hawaii and took 1st Place in several categories, including show production, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop dance.
Outside of class, high school students have additional on-campus opportunities. At Warren High, students host performances during lunch at “Cafe Desha,” spirited by the choir program’s director, Bob Petersen. At Downey High, Lars Hansen’s Improv Club offers students time for humorous and out-of-the-box expression, while the Writing Center recently hosted their Poetry Slam.
On a visit to Columbus High, I met with the talented students tasked with producing the 2024 yearbook and their newspaper, The Lion Times! They are an outstanding group of energic students, employing their writing and photography skills on projects they care very deeply about.
I could go on endlessly talking about all the great VAPA opportunities available in DUSD’s high schools, but I will close with an invitation for you to attend one—or more—of the many upcoming student performances this spring. From “In the Heights” and “Father of the Bride” to “Mean Girls High School Version,” you’ll find that the students are captivating and never disappoint! These performances are a wonderful reminder that these numerous VAPA programs are only successful because of the dedication and enthusiasm of our students, teachers, staff, and families.
To learn more about VAPA offerings for our high school students, you can visit web.dusd.net/downey/arts and web.dusd.net/warren/arts.
More to come next month and remember to Take the Time to be KIND.
Upcoming VAPA Performances
Mar 18-20: “The Epic Quest of the Damsels in Distress,” Doty Middle School
Mar 23: Sussman MS Band, San Juan Capistrano Parade
Mar 26: WHS Showcase ft. Univ. of Pacific, Downey Theater
Apr 16: Concert on the Lawn, Sussman Middle School
Apr 24-25: We’ll be Right Back After This Murder, Griffiths Middle School
Apr 26 - May 4: “In the Heights,” Warren High School
May 14-15, 17-18: “Father of the Bride,” Warren High School
May 1-4: “Peter Pan,” Stauffer Middle School
May 10-11: “Mean Girls High School Version,” Downey High School
May 13: Spring Concert, Doty Middle School at Downey Theatre
May 15: Spring Concert, Warren High School
May 17: Downey Jazz Gala, Downey High School
May 22-25: “Matilda, Jr.,” MTC at Stauffer Middle School
May 23: All Bands Spring Concert, Stauffer Middle School
May 29: Spring Concert, Griffiths Middle School