March 13, 2013

 

Displays, events, and school activities throughout the county celebrate the March observances of Music in Our Schools, Theatre in Our Schools, and Youth Art Month. This year, Prince William County Public Schools is represented nationally by Penn Elementary School’s choir, under the direction of music specialist Jane Cole.

The choir is featured singing "Cripple Creek" on the National Music Educators Web site during March. Penn Elementary School was selected because of a proposal that Cole submitted.

 

“Thanks to our wonderful choir parents and especially Paul and Melanie Novy, we were able to record our song in the barn of Criswood Tack Shop in Manassas. Connie Christopher graciously let our group sing in her location and the setting included two wonderful horses in the background,” said Cole.

 

Prince William County Public School students thrive, and some schools achieve renown, in theatre arts, instrumental and vocal music, visual arts, and poetry. High school bands bring home honors from state-level contests. Gainesville Middle School’s drama department has been consistently in the winners’ circle in state competitions where their students are often challenging high schools. Music assessments are ongoing at this time of year in choral and instrumental music. For the first time, PWCS had fifth-grade strings students perform at assessments, all earning superior ratings.

 

Woodbridge High School has a Center for Fine and Performing Arts with a class that annually releases a CD featuring student musicians. The best work of student visual artists and poets is exhibited at the annual Caton Merchant Arts Center in Manassas. Other works are showcased at the headquarters of the Virginia School Boards Association in Charlottesville each year. PWCS students also submit entries in annual Congressional Art Districts 10 and 11 and the Prince William County Service Authority competitions.

Visitors and employees in the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center enjoy rotating works of student art in the building's atrium. The pictures below represent the current winter exhibit. Stop by and enjoy the talents of our students.