Savannah Arts Academy
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| Savannah Arts Academy | |
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| School type | Charter Public High School |
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| Established | 1998 |
| Principal | Odessa Richards |
| Faculty | ~50 |
| Students | ~700 |
| Mascot | Black Panther |
| Dean of Fine Arts | Sebastian Verdis |
| Location | 500 Washington Avenue, Savannah, GA 31405 |
| Information | (912) 201-5000 |
| Website | Official Homepage |
Savannah Arts Academy is the first dedicated performing and visual arts school in Savannah, Georgia. It is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School District. Savannah Arts Academy was granted charter school status and the former Savannah High School building in July, 1998, and opened its doors for the first time in August of the same year. The initial enrollment was 397.
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[edit] The School
The school is designed to provide high level training in the arts to 600 students within the context of a comprehensive college preparatory and technical preparatory high school education. The curriculum is integrated, encouraging students to explore common themes in different subject areas. Students concentrate in one of one of six arts majors: communications technology, dance, instrumental and/or vocal music, theatre arts, and visual arts. All elective courses offered are either in core academic areas or the arts. SAA is continually growing and is leaving a good mark on the community. It is considered by many to be the top high school in the county, or perhaps even... the galaxy?
[edit] History
The Savannah Arts Academy building is located on a site that was originally planned as a luxury tourist hotel called the Hotel Georgia. The developers envisioned the Hotel Georgia to "be a palace outside and inside. The grounds will be a dream of beauty."[citation needed] The hotel was to be located at the apex of the Chatham Crescent, a long, sweeping crescent-shaped drive.
Work began on the hotel on August 15, 1912, but due to litigation, steel shortages, funding problems and architectural changes, the foundation sat unfinished for about 20 years.
The Works Progress Administration, in the midst of the Great Depression, expressed interest in the site for use as the new Savannah High School. Permits were granted, construction began, and Savannah High School was dedicated on June 15, 1937.
After 61 years on Washington Avenue, Savannah High School classes were moved to a new building on Pennsylvania Avenue, leaving the structure available for the newly formed Savannah Arts Academy for the school year beginning August, 1998.
[edit] Admission
Admission to Savannah Arts Academy requires an 80% or greater overall academic average in the previous year of schooling, as well as satisfactory marks in conduct.
Incoming students are also required to audition for their chosen arts major, which can range from an on-the-spot demonstration (Music and Dance) to creation of a portfolio (Visual and Communication Arts).
Additionally, students must perform ten hours of community service each year (twice the district mandate), maintain that 85% average, and have very good discipline. Each child's parents must also do a total of ten hours of service annually, but parent service can include attending performances or parent meetings.
[edit] Arts Majors
Upon admission, students must choose and audition to join an arts major. A student's arts major can be changed, but this is looked down upon.
[edit] Communication Arts
- Amy Perry, Department Chair
The Communication Arts department offers intensive courses related to Information Technology and Broadcast/Video Production. As freshmen, students become proficient in basic computer applications and gain knowledge of the communication system through applying and transferring their academic knowledge and skills to a variety of interesting activities, problems, and settings. Next, students develop skills in information technology, software systems management, operating systems, data communications, and the Internet. Students explore their creativity when taking classes geared towards digital media production and web design. Broadcast and video production courses provide advanced training in video production techniques, including program production, editing, lighting, and graphics. Students in Communication Arts also have the opportunity to take Journalism I and II, which are the newspaper staff, and Journalism III and IV, which are yearbook staff.
Communication Arts majors are required to participate in Future Business Leaders of America. FBLA is an education association of students preparing for careers in business and business related fields. The mission of FBLA is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.
[edit] Dance
- Andrea Martinez, Department Chair
The Savannah Arts Academy dance department consists of approximately 60 students who are required to take technical training in ballet and modern, plus additional training in the jazz, if interested. Students round out their total dance experience by engaging in two academic dance courses-- one year of dance history and one year of dance composition. The dance department traditionally performs in two large productions annually with dance works created by faculty, students and guest artists. Choreography is produced both in class and in afternoon rehearsals. There are also multiple opportunities for performing in venues from the fall Student Choreography Concerts to the large spring musical production, as well as touring local area schools and events. Each year interested dance students may attend the National High School Dance Festival and have the opportunity to work with local and national guest artists throughout the school year. Given the relatively small size of our department, students work closely with each other and faculty which allows for a great deal of personal interaction and growth.
[edit] Music
- Dianne Gardner, Department Chair
The Music program at Savannah Arts Academy is a comprehensive program featuring instruction in winds, strings, percussion, piano and vocal music. Ensembles include String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mixed Choruses, Men’s Choir, and Women’s Choir. There are a total of seven choruses at Savannah Arts Academy conducted by Diane Stallings. These include the SAA Chorale, Men's Choir, Skylarks, Women's Cantabile, Nova Singers, Women's Chamber/Honor Choir, and Mixed Chamber/Honor Choir. Our most achieved choirs are Skylarks and SAA Chorale. The faculty is a highly trained group of professional musicians still active as performers, clinicians and adjudicators. The program through the years has garnered every award available to it through the Georgia Music Educators Association. Students who graduate from the program, electing to pursue music in higher education, have been awarded scholarships to the leading institutions in the country including Indiana University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. The jazz band is also a point of pride. The Skyelite Jazz Band has performed in China, London, and Washington D.C., and it freaking rocks. The Jazz Band has also been invited to play in San Fransisco in April of 2007. Australia and China are also on the "to do list" for 2008. get crunk.
Students enrolling who are members of the Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra or the Atlantic Chamber Orchestra and meet the academic requirements, the audition requirement for Savannah Arts is waived in recognition of the partnership for musical excellence in Chatham County GA. AAYO and ACO are member Orchestra's that are filled by recommendation including an intensive audition process and is sponsored by the music department at Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Over the years, there has been one particular issue with the music department at Savannah Arts Academy. Maestro Fred Devyatkin was the former conductor of the orchestra. Unfortunately, the administration fired him simply because his degree was in the violin, not conducting. The Maestro had already conducted for several years, and this degree flaw was taken as an excuse to go against his frequent performances of Beethoven. Because of this, even the Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra has intentionally resisted the performances of Beethoven. The current orchestra conductor is Carl Polk, who is a big change compared to the original Maestro. During Polk's first year, the orchestra concerts failed to reach the success that those of Devyatkin reached.
[edit] Theatre Arts
- Andrea Verdis, Department Chair
The Theatre Arts Department at the Savannah Arts Academy offers a comprehensive theatre education. Its mission is to foster talent and develop creativity through professional training and a wide variety of courses including: Fundamentals of Drama, Acting I & II, Technical Theatre I & II, Acting II, Theatre History, Musical Theatre I & II, Technical Theatre III, a design course, and Advanced Drama, a performance group. Students have the opportunity to practice the skills learned in the classroom through after school productions, competitions and festivals. Besides Mrs. Verdis, the department faculty consists of Sebastian Verdis (teaching Theatre History, and is reported to be considering teaching a Theatre Makeup class), Terresa Kizer (teaching Technical Theatre I, II, and III as well as Theatre Fundamentals), and Quincey Herring (the Theatre workman).
Savannah Arts Academy boasts three performance areas. The main theatre, The John Varnadoe Theatre at the front of the building was redone with the schoolwide renovation, supplying a large stage, nice cloth theatre chairs, new carpeting, and wing space. The Black Box Theatre, which was once used to house "Works in Progress" as well as other school plays, has been retired from use due to a power line cut during the renovation, limiting the lighting grid of that room. It is now used as a classroom. The last space is mainly used for venues such as Beta Induction and lectures. It goes by the name the Performance Hall.
The theatre shows that occur each year stick mainly to this schedule: The first show is always "Works in Progress", a reader's theatre production directed by Mr. Verdis. The plays featured in the show are winners of a contest held in the Spring of the last school year. The big Fall show is usually a straight play (though this was diverted from in 2005's "Leader of the Pack" starring Aaron Keith and Jack Webber). Then in the second quarter, Mr. Verdis directs "The 1940's Radio Show" (or "The 1940's Holiday Radio Show"), a variety show filled with comedy, music, and so much more from the time. In the second semester, the first show is always "A Night of One Acts". The way that the one-acts were staged changed drastically from the 2005-2006 school year to the 2006-2007 school year. Previously, students were allowed to pick their play, their cast, and their design. After the Night of One Acts, in the deep Spring, the musical is performed. A culmination of all of the academy's majors come together to perform the talents they have added onto during the year. Previous musicals include, "Once Upon a Matress", "Leader of the Pack", "The Music Man", and "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown".
In 2006, a children's theatre company was formed by the Dean of Fine Arts, Sebastian Verdis. The company held tryouts and formed two troupes called "Horsefeathers" and "Applesauce". The contents of their plays include stories told to us all when was we are young. They perform locally for children at schools and at community venues.
[edit] Visual Arts
- Napoleon Wilkerson, Department Chair
The visual arts department offers Art History and Criticism, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Fibers, Ceramics, Pottery, and AP Studio Art.
The visual arts department is also known for the nigh impossible assignments given to the young visual arts students. These unlucky students are expected to suck certain body parts of their happy art teachers.
[edit] Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation is being housed at Savannah Arts Academy the 2006-2007 school year.
[edit] Academics
The school is also strong academically, offering classes from the normal level up to the AP, or college level.
[edit] Academic Department Heads
- Foreign Language - Terry Finlay
- Science - Kathy Maher
- Mathematics - Nancy West
- Language Arts - Bradley Wallace
- Social Studies - Margaret Sheehan
[edit] AP Courses
- AP Chairperson - Terry Finlay
AP Studio Art, AP European History, AP Art History, AP Music Theory, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Spanish, AP English (11th, 12th grade), AP Chemistry, and AP U. S. History,
[edit] Recognition
The Arts Academy has achieved much recognition, including, but not limited to:
- Awarded "Pay for Performance" by the State Board of Education.
- SAT score average, not each individual, exceeds the state and national average, but not best individual.
- Member of International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools.
- #1 in the state on the GHSGT passage rate: 100% in Writing, English, Mathematics, and Social Studies and 98% in Science (04-05 school year).
- Voted "Best Public School" by the readers of Connect Savannah.
- 90% of graduates are HOPE Scholarship eligible. Of the 2006 graduating class, all received the HOPE Scholarship.
- Named "School of Excellence" by the Atlanta College of Art.
- Received a "Superior School" commendation from the State School Superintendent.
- Largest number of Governor's Honors Program finalists in the district (twelve in 2005-06).
- Thirteen students recognized by the College Board as 2004 AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honors, or AP Scholars with Distinction for their excellent achievements on the AP Exams.
- SAA received Gold and Silver at the All-State Festival of Art & Design. Sixteen SAA student artists were chosen to go to the Georgia All-State Festival of Art and Design at Brenau University.
- SAA students and faculty have performed most recently in China and London.
- SAA's 2006 Odyssey of the Mind team of six students (John Gale, Wesley Harrington, Conor Little, Phillip Moore, Andrew Terrett and Austin Quattlebaum with their coach, Karen Nelson), working on the problem "The Jungle Bloke," received first place at World Finals in Ames, Iowa, beating 50 other teams from around the world. SAA also brought its two other teams to World Finals, but neither placed.
- Recipient of national “Blue Ribbon School” award from U.S. Department of Education.
[edit] Extracurricular Activities
Savannah Arts holds an abundant number of school-related events, numerous performances, increasing numbers of student clubs, and the many sports teams.
[edit] Clubs
Beta Club, Chess Club, Christian Fellowship Club, Satanic Fellowship Club, Creative Writing Guild, Dance Honor Society, FBLA, French National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Japanese Language and Culture Club, Math Team, Mock Trial, Model UN, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Odyssey of the Mind, Relay For Life, Science Club, SOLID (Shining Our Light In Darkness), Spanish National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society
[edit] Competitions
Armstrong Atlantic Computing Quiz Bowl, Math Team, Mock Trial, Model UN, Odyssey of the Mind
[edit] Sports
Cross-Country/Track, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
