Category: Announcements

Levitate, ChiArts’ Literary & Art Magazine is Featured in Local Book Stores

by ChiArts Communications

Creative Writing has been incredibly busy this past semester! ChiArts Literary and Art Magazine, Levitate Issue No. 3 is now available in five Chicago bookstores: Women & Children First, The Book Cellar, Roscoe Books, Volumes Bookcafé and Quimby’s. We hope you have a chance to visit and pick up a copy! As the scholar-artist editors share on their website, “The purpose of Levitate is to give voice to artists of various backgrounds, especially those who are aspiring, or new to the world of art and writing. We want to share experiences that will bring people together, celebrate the underrated, the overlooked, and artists who are excited and passionate about their work.”

Congrats ChiArts Class of 2019! What’s next?!

by ChiArts Communications
The Chicago High School for the Arts’ 7th class of graduates are off on their next adventure. We’re honored to have been a stepping stone for these future leaders of our world. Did you know that the ChiArts class of 2019 spans universities in 20 states, three countries, and 66 of our scholar-artists are attending local universities in-state?! Get to know more about our recent graduates below:
 

ChiArts Theatre Presents BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL

by ChiArts Communications

This March, ChiArts presents Tony Award nominated, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL. With music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel and Amanda Green, BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL will be a vocally explosive experience. In addition to a “Best Musical” Tony nomination, the show received a nod for “Best Choreography” which is showcased through incredible cheerleading routines and high energy musical numbers. BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL will run March 2, 3, and 7-10, with performances beginning at 7:00 PM and Sunday matinees at 3:00 PM. All performances are in the ChiArts Auditorium.

ChiArts aims to create content that pushes boundaries and we cannot wait to show audiences the versatility of our scholar-artists in this spectacular production. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! We’d HIGHLY recommended purchasing in advance as we are expecting to sell out.

Greer A. Reed Announced as ChiArts’ New Dance Department Head

by ChiArts Communications

The Chicago High School for the Arts is thrilled to announce Greer A. Reed as the new Dance Department Head. As Dance Department Head, Ms. Reed will work with the Executive Director and Principal to continue on the path of establishing a nationally recognized dance department that serves pre-professional advanced and motivated novice dancers. Ms. Reed joins ChiArts from her hometown of Pittsburgh, PA where she was instructing grades 6-12th at the Pittsburgh Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA) High School. Ms. Reed brings decades of experience with professional dance companies, as well as a successful track record in implementing culturally responsive education programming. Ms. Reed is regarded as a trailblazer in her professional career as a dancer, company founder, and well-renowned youth mentor. She has been recognized with awards such as the Urban Heroes Award for her contributions to the Pittsburgh community, the History Makers Award for her dedication to young people, and the Pittsburgh Creativity Project Award for creating the Reed Dance Intensive.

As a young professional dancer, Ms. Reed trained with the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble, attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and worked in New York City with the Dance Theater of Harlem. Ms. Reed became a company member of the universally renowned Ailey II, as well as the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio, where she rose to principal status. After retiring as a professional dancer in 2001, Ms. Reed continues to receive recognition as an arts leader, for her commitment to education and mentorship of young dancers.
Prior to serving as a faculty member at CAPA, Ms. Reed was the Artistic & Education Director for Dance Alloy Theater (now Kelly Strayhorn Theater), which was one of Pittsburgh’s premier modern dance companies. Additionally, she founded and led the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, the center’s resident dance company, after receiving an August Wilson Center Fellowship. The ensemble was named one of the “Top 25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine and eventually transitioned into Reed Dance. Ms. Reed has greatly impacted dance and youth arts communities nationwide, and we are honored to welcome her into the ChiArts community.

In the classroom, Ms. Reed focuses dance curricula on academic quality, technique, and cultural experiences that reveal a transparency of thoughtfulness, refinement, and holistic teaching. As the 2018-2019 academic year begins, we are excited to welcome Ms. Reed’s transformational teaching into our dance studios and classrooms here at ChiArts– taking our Dance Conservatory scholar-artists to new heights.

2018-19 Back to School Guide

by ChiArts Communications

-REGISTRATION-

Registration is required of all students. If you have not yet made it into the office to register for the 2018-19 school year, you will have to do so no later than Wednesday, August 8th.

Returning students may stop in on Wednesday, August 8th between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM to complete registration. You should come prepared with two items of proof of residency (i.e. utility bills, drivers license, vehicle registration.) If you are unable to come in during those times, contact Mr. Baxter at (773) 534-9710 ext. 12195 or dbaxter@chiarts.org to schedule an appointment.

Freshmen students and transfers who have not completed the registration process must contact Ms. Marsh at (773) 534-9718 or lmarsh@chiarts.org to schedule an appointment.

Seniors must have their new vaccination records in no later than September! 

-FRESHMEN SUMMER INSTITUTE- 

New students will be attending our three-day Summer Institute from Wednesday, August 8th to Friday, August 10th. This is the perfect time for incoming scholar-artists to become familiar with their teachers, academic classes, and the ChiArts conservatory schedule. Activities include ChiArts themed ice-breakers, meet and greets with faculty, and attending conservatory classes to get ready for the fun-filled year.

Students are welcome to enter the building through Door 7 along Augusta Boulevard starting at 8:45 AM. Once each student has checked in, they will meet their advisor who will show them to their rooms and help each student understand their schedule. It is during this morning shift of 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM that students will be receiving their school planners, locker assignments, locks, and student email logins.

The students will be shown to the lunchroom at noon and provided school lunches. Students are welcome to pack a lunch if they would prefer.

From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM students will head to conservatory — dancers should bring dance clothes/uniforms with them to school on these days. All students are encouraged to bring water bottles from home to remain hydrated throughout the school day as well! Students will be dismissed at 4:00.

-UNDERSTANDING THE BLOCK SCHEDULE-

New students and families who may be unfamiliar with a block schedule may want to review how our school days work.

An ordinary school day begins at 8:00 AM and consists of a student attending 3 academic courses and Study Hall or Advisory before going to lunch. After lunch, students attend conservatory classes until being dismissed for the day at 5:00 PM. Each school week consists of Odd Days and Even Days: on Odd Days, students will attend Class 1, 3, and 5; on Even Days, students will attend Class 2, 4, and 6.

In addition to their academic courses each morning, students will attend Study Hall or Advisory. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, students attend Study Hall; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they would instead report to their Advisory. A visualization of a typical block schedule is included below.

 

-FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AUGUST 13-

Now that you understand the block schedule, toss it aside for a moment — the first day of school will be running on a slightly different schedule! Because returning students will still need to receive their schedules, everyone will first report to their Advisory. The entire schedule for the first day of school will run as follows:

8:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Advisory
9:15 AM – 10:25 AM: Block 1
10:30 AM – 11:40 AM: Block 3
11:45 AM – 12:55 PM: Block 5
1:00 PM – 1:55 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Conservatory

Lunches will continue to be provided for each student, and shuttles will be running for students who have signed up to take them. Ventra cards will be available for students in the main office for five dollars for any student interested in taking public transit; once activated, the cards are charged a discounted student fare.

-PURCHASING SCHOOL SUPPLIES- 

We’re encouraging families to hold off on purchasing all of their supplies until the second day of school so that they have a complete syllabus from each class. Each teacher will be providing a syllabus with the materials they’d like students to have on the first day of class, so keep your eyes peeled for these!

-ASK QUESTIONS-

If you have questions in the coming weeks, ask! Our school staff is here to help!

Principal Michael Wang
(773) 534-9710 ext. 12222
mwang@chiarts.org

Assistant Principal Abbey Cullen
(773) 534-9710 ext. 12198
acullen@chiarts.org

Main Office Staff
(773) 534-9710 and press 0
dbaxter@chiarts.org; acollier@chiarts.org

ChiArts Announces Abbey Cullen in New Assistant Principal Role

by ChiArts Communications

We are proud to announce expansion of our academic leadership team! Abbey Cullen, current Dean of Operations, will be leading academic responsibilities, curriculum development, and supporting Principal Michael Wang in a newly formed Assistant Principal role. In 2012, Ms. Cullen joined the ChiArts community as a World History teacher where she she fell in love with the mission of the school; diversifying the arts in Chicago while broadening the horizons of scholar-artists. In 2016, Ms. Cullen transferred to the ChiArts administration team as the Dean of Operations, where she’s played an active role in ensuring that the day-to-day needs of the ChiArts community are met. Throughout the past six years, ChiArts has grown because of Ms. Cullen’s leadership, passion, and commitment to accessibility in academic and arts education.

Ms. Cullen has developed a creative and flexible approach to finding solutions given ChiArts’ unique focus on educating the scholar-artist while also operating as a successful nonprofit. Now as the Assistant Principal, Ms. Cullen is thrilled to expand her work at ChiArts into curriculum development and working to advance the school’s vision. 

Prior to starting at ChiArts in 2012, Ms. Cullen was the World History teacher at Gordon Tech HS (now DePaul College Prep) while continuing post grad research at Loyola University. She later earned her Secondary Education Teaching License, and a Masters of Education, with a Principal License from DePaul University.

ChiArts Presents Les Misérables

by ChiArts Communications

We’re incredibly proud to present our largest production yet, Les Misérables. With over 50 cast and crew members, join us for this unforgettable story of redemption, duty, and love.

Production Run- January 18, 19, and 20 at 7:00 PM
Final matinee on Sunday, January 21 at 3:00 PM

Click here for tickets!

Have you seen the ChiArts Les Mis flash mob? Check out our amazing cast! 

Share Les Misérables with your friends and family on Facebook- #JoinOurRevolution #WeAreChiArts

We’re hosting a food drive-
The cast of Les Mis invites audience members to bring a non-perishable food item to drop in the lobby with NHS volunteers before they see the show! This is not required but highly encouraged. The themes of the show, which center around the working class, have inspired this food drive donation.