Visual and Performing Arts Department :: San Diego Unified School District

Overview
The mission of the Visual And Performing Arts Department (VAPA) is to provide equal access to quality standards-based arts instruction in all district schools in dance, music, theatre and visual arts by competent, qualified teachers.

Because the arts contribute to the total development of the individual and serve an important purpose in society, the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Department is dedicated to:

Expanding the role the arts play within our schools and lives.
Creating and maintaining a network of community arts and cultural institutions that support all teachers and students in a standards-based arts curriculum
Addresssing mutiple intelligences, creative thinking, cultural diversity and special needs.

Curriculum
The State defines a balanced, comprehensive arts program as one in which the arts are studied as discrete disciplines related to each other and, when appropriate, to other subject areas in the curriculum. Students in a comprehensive program are expected to master the content of an arts discipline as outlined in the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards or the Visual and Performing Arts Framework . Arts disciplines include dance, music, theater, and visual arts. For each of these disciplines, the standards are broken down by grade level and are further grouped by strands as follows:

Artistic Perception
Processing, analyzing, and responding to sensory information through language and skills unique to the discipline.

Creative Expression
Creation, performance and participation in the discipline.

Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding historical contributions and cultural dimensions of the discipline.

Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, analyzing, and making judgments about works of art.

Connections, Relationships, Applications
Connecting and applying what is learned in the discipline to other art forms and subject areas and to careers.

General

Visual and Performing Arts Framework for California Public Schools (K-12) ,
Provides a "blueprint" for implementing the Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards. Outlines the knowledge and skills students should acquire in the various visual and performing arts disciplines at each grade level. Includes a glossary and list of references and resources. This revised framework was adopted by the California State Board of Education and by the San Diego Unified School District in January 2004.
Core Learnings ():
K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
SDUSD Visual and Performing Arts Course Descriptions (Course of Study)

Disciplines

Grade-Level Arts Experiences Project
VAPA is sponsoring the Grade-Level Arts Experiences Project. The goal is to provide every SDUSD student (K-8) a variety of grade-level-appropriate, meaningful, arts experiences, reflective of the VAPA standards and presented by trained, professional artists. It will enhance the current curriculum and involve the resources of local arts organizations. Schools interested in participating should complete the participation forms found below.

Participation Forms (

): Grade 2 | 4 | 6 Teacher Training | 7

VAPA Lessons

Dance: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Music: K | 1 | 2
Theatre: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Visual Art: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Key Concepts and Criteria

K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Curriculum Maps

K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Magnet Schools
VAPA supports five arts magnet schools. They include:

Magnet Schools >>

Related Resources

VAPA Fact Sheet: English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Lao
VAPA Trainings
Careers in the Visual and Performing Arts
Online Student Art Gallery
Student Photo/Video/Media Release Form: English | Spanish
SDUSD Student Art Gallery
San Diego County Office of Education VAPA Website
California Postsecondary Education Commission
Elementary Lesson Training Professional Development
Music Careers

San Diego Arts Partners

Assembly Related Policies & Procedures

Administrative Procedure 4925: School Assemblies, K-6
Administrative Procedure 9350: Display of Commercial Materials/Advertising; Distribution of Literature and/or Sales by Nonstudents and Community Organizations
- Request for Approval to Display Commercial Materials on School Property
Site Operations Circular 1022: Approved Performances for Elementary School Assemblies
List of Approved Performances for Elementary School Assemblies (12/08)
Request for Approval: Performances for Elementary School Assemblies

For Arts Educators

Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development (Arts Education Partnership) - Compendium of recent research in arts education disciplines.
San Diego Arts Network - Provides resources and support for implementing and sustaining the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework and Standards.
Teachingarts.org - Information and resources for arts educators.
Visual & Performing Arts (San Diego County Office of Education)

Contact Information
San Diego Unified School District
Visual and Performing Arts Department (VAPA)
Mission Beach Center
825 Santa Barbara Place
San Diego, CA 92109

(858) 539-5349 - Phone
(858) 539-5355 - Fax

Get Directions

Key Contacts

Topic Contact

Karen Childress-Evans, Ed.S.
Visual And Performing Arts Director
kchildressevans@sandi.net
(858) 539-5349

Margaret Lathan
Administrative Aide
mlathan@sandi.net
(858) 539-5349

Dance Denise Lynne
Dance Resource Teacher
Teaching Artist Project (TAP) Coordinator
dlynne@sandi.net
(858) 539-5350

General Music and Choral Dawn Andrews
General Music and Choral Support Teacher
vandrews@sandi.net
(858) 539-5352

Instrumental Music Mark Nicholson
Instrumental Music Specialist
mnicholson@sandi.net
(858) 539-5351

Instrumental Music Jeanne Christensen
Instrumental Music Support Teacher
jchristensen1@sandi.net
(858) 539-5354

Theatre Marjorie Treger
Theatre Resource Teacher
mtreger1@sandi.net
(858) 539-5356

Visual Art Marty Stegeman
Visual Art Resource Teacher
mstegeman@sandi.net
(858) 539-5353