By Stephanie Hall
With the announcement of the 2016 grant recipients, HEARTS will be awarding nearly $55,000 in funding for creative arts programming in Port schools. In only three years, HEARTS has awarded nearly $145,000 for arts programming in the Port Washington community. A generous $15,000 grant from the Peter and Jeri Dejana Family Foundation will contribute to the 2016 grant program, as well as to PortFest, the much-loved annual fundraiser for HEARTS.
Damon Gersh, founder of HEARTS, recently had the opportunity to thank Jim Avena, Dejana grant administrator. “HEARTS is extremely grateful for the generous support of the Peter & Jeri Dejana Family Foundation. Their continued support allows our organization to help enrich the arts for the children in Port Washington and further demonstrates their ongoing commitment to our wonderful community,” said Gersh.
After careful scrutiny by the HEARTS Grants committee, the 2016 HEARTS grant winners have officially been notified. For more information on HEARTS, the upcoming “Paint the Town Red” programs and The Red Party, which will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Hempstead House, visit www.facebook.com/heartspw or www.heartspw.org.
HEARTS 2016 Grant Recipients:
Dancing Classrooms. In partnership with the Creative Arts Department, the HSA/PTA and the Ed. Foundation. All 5th-grade students participated in a 10-week ballroom dance residency.
Curtains Up: An Elementary Musical Theatre Experience! Allison Friedman and Stacey Medford. 4th- and 5th-grade students will take part in an after-school musical theater program/club.
District Band Spectacular at Tilles Center for Performing Arts. Kevin Scully. Band students in 5th through 12th grade will experience the thrill of performing in a world-class concert hall.
Schreiber High School
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) in the 21st Century Art Class. Kevin Scully, Terri Hall, Kris Murphy, Miranda Best, Peter Koch. The purchase of extended-range document cameras, a state-of-the-art Wacom Interactive Tablet Stylus and a Hi-Definition television will allow art students to work with the newest of technology.
Main Stage Productions. Lauren Foster-Holzer and Christine Nelson. Funds will be used to offset the costs of Schreiber’s annual musical production.
Shakespeare in Performance. Evelina Zarkh. Students will participate in workshops with classical actor and former English teacher Blythe Coons.
Electronic Composition using 21st Century MIDI Technology. Anthony Pinelli, Jr. The purchase of MIDI keyboards and interfaces.
Solarplate Etching: Exploring Identity. Miranda Best and Kris Murphy. Master printmaker and inventor of solarplate etching, Dan Welden, will work with AP Art students.
Creation and Animation with Light Painting. Nicole Thomas. The purchase of a revolutionary technology called a “Pixelstick” will allow photography students to experiment with light and time-lapse photography.
The Memory Project. Miranda Best. The Art Honor Society will create portraits of children around the world who have been disadvantaged.
Weber Middle School
Pop Choir. Matthew Gawronski. Students will participate in a select choir.
Weber Woodwind & Brass Ensemble. Elizabeth Andrew. A woodwind and brass ensemble group.
Audio/Theatre Tech Club. Allison Friedman & Matthew Gawronski. This new student club will focus on learning basic audio and video editing.
Weber Music Composition Club. Elizabeth Andrew. Instruction in music composition.
Role Playing WWII Literature. Stacey Portmore-Davies. 8th graders will work with professional actress Barbara Tirrell to develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the history and people affected by WWII through the study and performance of characters in biographies and historical fiction novels.
Daly Elementary School
Story Time Dance Program. Giovanna Fitzpatrick. Guest artist Karen Guy will use music and movement to explore pre-K students’ natural environment, space, directionality and body awareness in connection with content areas such as social studies, science and literature.
Daly Writers. Alex Eisen. 5th-grade students will learn to express themselves through writing and acting. They will be introduced to the basic fundamentals of writing a play and have the opportunity to craft and perform their own original plays.
Guggenheim Elementary School
Charlotte’s Web Arts-in-Education Program. Brooke Roberts. 2nd-grade students will be introduced to the magic of live theater with this presentation of the musical version of Charlotte’s Web, performed by Plaza Theatrical Productions.
Manorhaven Elementary School
Broadway Workshop: School of Rock. Stacey Drucker, Lourdes Mergler and Kimberley Singh. Prior to seeing School of Rock on Broadway, 5th-grade students will participate in a workshop taught by actual cast members and musical directors.
Sousa Elementary School
Terpischore from Shore to Shore. Allison Baumann. Guest artists Michael and Rachael Kosch will lead a dance residency/program for K-1st graders that integrates movement, music and the new social studies/ELA curriculum.
Grants Outside the District
HEARTS’ Bach to Rock Teen Jam Nights. In weekly two-hour jam sessions, teens learn to jam with other musicians, write songs, play covers, plan a stage show and perform at local venues.
Port Summer Show. Funds will be used to offset the costs of Port Show’s annual musical production.
