LI Arts Alliance Winner

[lilly]

Just read about this on the district website:

Congratulations to Kate Sneddon who won a merit award from the LI Arts Alliance.
wantaghschools.org/wantagh/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=300709

This is a very prestigious award amongst formidable competition (even at the merit level!). I think this is the second year in a row that Wantagh had a winner in this. Possibly last year was Wantagh's first entry too?

The strength of the visual arts department should also be recognized here. Ms. Beary, Mrs. Librett, Mr. P, the uber-dedicated Ms. Mac and Mr. Hunter as well as the strong MS art staff. Ms. Beary and team remain actively involved in any/all visual arts organizations making sure Wantagh kids are well represented in events outside of Wantagh such as exhibits and competitions. They do a great job despite the district's very obvious lack of financial commitment (cramped classrooms, ever decreasing budget, art has taken dramatically more hits than any other budget).

The picture of Ms. Sneddon in front of musical instruments, when she was recognized for visual arts, is telling. And lets hope that she is represented at the spring awards ceremony by a Wantagh super, like the other winners were accompanied by theirs (but not Wantagh's), last year. Also, I wonder when Wantagh will have representation in this competition from drama, music and dance kids, or am I dreaming way too much? Oh wait, wouldn't that mean we would actually have to prove our feigned commitment to the arts by funding facilities and programs?

Snide comments aside, congrats to Ms. Sneddon and the visual arts staff. This is very good news and a 'big thing'.

[Chris_Wendt]

Yes, hearty congratulations are in order for Kate Sneddon as well as those professional staff members who taught. trained and assisted her in this endeavor. Well done!

I would not categorize any of Lilly's remarks as being "snide".
Two comments that resonate with me, if that is the correct word when the resonance is actually dissonance, are:

...your hope that Wantagh's Super will represent the district at the awards ceremony, and

...the photo, on the District Website, of the artist with musical instruments instead of the art work, which was not shown at all.

Point being, where's the 'Excellence' or the "rigor" in that kind of reporting and communicating?

[lilly]

Best. News. Ever.

OK, maybe not best news ever but certainly, fantastic news. Truly great news.

Wantagh had another LI Arts Alliance winner, in music. Congratulations to senior Glenn Chiarello, an accomplished drummer.

And, an appreciative recognition to teachers Mindy Dragovich and Dan Aviles (the two you always see at parades with the marching band) for whatever their role in Mr. Chiarello's win was, they are another pocket of strength in Wantagh's arts programs.

wantaghschools.org/wantagh/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=300814

And it was in good taste that the district spaced out the news of these wins a few days apart to allow for recognition for each winning kid.

There had better be a Wantagh supe at the spring awards ceremony with these kids, lol.

Since I said I wished we had Wantagh winners in this competition from music, drama and dance too and the music came true... Does that mean we will hear about drama and dance kids in the next few days and that all arts funding has been restored? One can only dream...

Congratulations to both of these students. Thanks for bringing it home for Wantagh.

[Chris_Wendt]

Congratulations and well done!

Chris Wendt