CUSA is expected to appear on Channel 10 Good News segment with Dawn Timmeney on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 5:30 pm. I’ll be tuning in like everyone else. I can see why they will be appearing on the Good News segment. I stopped by the school the other day, located at 9th and Parker Streets in Chester. This building was the old Chester High School. The building has a rich history. I was greeted by the colorful well kept play ground out front. It took awhile for me to get in, security is tight. Once inside the entrance, I was greeted by warmth. The temperature was comfortable after being out in the cold. Inside was immaculately clean from what I saw in the entrance area. I did not tour the building but I remember the layout from when I worked there in a previous program years ago. It had been remodeled. The walls were covered with smiling pictures of the staff, Scholars Hall of Fame with perfect attendance and academic excellence from students, and Code of Conduct Awards of many students for the previous months. The wall colors were bright like sunshine and covered with student’s art work.
CUSA is a Pre-K to 4 grade level school with 240 students. CUSA was created as a result of a partnership between the Chester Upland School District and the Chester Fund for Education and the Arts, a charitable non-profit organization that was founded by Dr. John Alston, Swarthmore College professor and director of the 100 Voice Chester Children’s Chorus. He remains actively involved in CUSA through his “Afternoon Sing,” a unique choral-music experience under his direction. He recently directed students in a holiday concert.
CUSA’s Principal is Anna Hadgis and Assistant Principal is Akosua Watts. The mission statement is to improve the community through high academic achievement and artistic excellence. The vision is to “integrate the arts into rigorous inquiry-based academic curriculum in order to empower students to become high achieving life-long learners…CUSA was founded on the principle that arts education is vital to each child’s learning process and development.” In addition to the standard curriculum of math, reading, writing, science, and humanities, students benefit in weekly classes with specialists in music, dance, visual arts, and instructional technology. Students also receive enrichment in the arts through field trips and visits from professional musicians and dance companies intended to enhance the student’s artistic development and growth. Students are expected to showcase their talents through performances in school assembles, seasonal concerts, and art and media projects which are displayed in the school and globally on the World Wide Web. Students also have the opportunity to participate in an Extended Day Program after the regular school day ends. The Extended Day Program was designed to include the additional learning hours in order to enrich the educational experience of all students.
CUSA has AYP status, meaning it made Annual Yearly Progress. So be sure to tune in to Channel 10 Good News today at 5:30 pm. Assistant Principal Watts said they will be "talking about the unique aspects of the school." Congratulations CUSA and thank you for allowing me to highlight your excellent academic and artistic program for my Good News blog on Chester Schools.
I think its great that CUSA got noticed by channel 10. You don't see a lot of schools in Chester getting noticed for something positive.
ReplyDeleteI think they are doing a good job with the students.
ReplyDeletei think they are doing a fantastic job with the students in Chester Upland School of the Arts.
ReplyDeleteI think that they are starting off in a good way for the young students.
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