Welcome to our community! I am looking forward to having your child in my class this semester and hope that it is a fun-filled experience for them - rich in learning opportunities! Please accept this letter as an introduction to the Salish Dance program. The following sections will take you through some important information regarding your child’s involvement in our dance community and to ensure their success this term!
Teacher:
Ms. J. Jensen
Email: [email protected]
Social Media (Instagram): @salishdance
Salish Dance Program Website: Coming soon!
Course Outline (click link to open file): Salish Dance Outline Presentation
Class Contract (click link to open file): Salish Dance Class Contract
Ms. J. Jensen
Email: [email protected]
Social Media (Instagram): @salishdance
Salish Dance Program Website: Coming soon!
Course Outline (click link to open file): Salish Dance Outline Presentation
Class Contract (click link to open file): Salish Dance Class Contract
FreshGrade:
I believe that learning is done best when there is communication between students, teachers and parents. As part of this philosophy, I would like to introduce you to FreshGrade. FreshGrade is the home of your child’s digital portfolio and will be a critical component of all dance courses. This web application is an assessment and communication tool that allows you to:
FreshGrade can be accessed via websitewww.freshgrade.com or through the FreshGrade parent app, available for android and iOS. FreshGrade is a website hosted in Canada, and partnered with the school district. This is a private website with password control. Only the parent/guardian(s) and student can see their portfolio. You will be receiving personal invitations via email in the near future with instructions to log in and connect with your child’s portfolio.
I believe that learning is done best when there is communication between students, teachers and parents. As part of this philosophy, I would like to introduce you to FreshGrade. FreshGrade is the home of your child’s digital portfolio and will be a critical component of all dance courses. This web application is an assessment and communication tool that allows you to:
- Witness your child’s learning throughout the school year by viewing their progress.
- View photos, videos, audio, documents, notes, assessments, and comments from your child and their teacher.
- Give feedback, comment and dialogue about your child’s learning with them and the teacher
FreshGrade can be accessed via websitewww.freshgrade.com or through the FreshGrade parent app, available for android and iOS. FreshGrade is a website hosted in Canada, and partnered with the school district. This is a private website with password control. Only the parent/guardian(s) and student can see their portfolio. You will be receiving personal invitations via email in the near future with instructions to log in and connect with your child’s portfolio.
Assessment & Grading:
In dance, I also strongly believe that students should grow from their successes and failures. Each of these two experiences should be viewed as opportunities for learning, as development within the arts is an ongoing process that is a culmination of effort, a positive attitude and focused practice. Consistent with the Surrey School District priority on Assessment for Learning and Personalized Learning, assessment in dance will involve a variety of qualitative, formative and anecdotal strategies to develop student learning portfolios. These include techniques like teacher-interviews, student reflection, goal-setting, peer-assessment, self-assessment and technical tracking using performance rubrics and post-performance conversations. These techniques are all aimed at broadening and deepening student understanding and technique in as well as encourage students to take a greater ownership of their own dance education.
To honor the developmental focus and affective nature of the arts and way to increase physical/mental well-being, we believe that it is important to employ equally human and sensitive assessment practices. Matters like body and technical awareness, artistic growth, social responsibility within a cooperative environment and motivation are complex and personal. Rather than traditional grading practices, we strive to encourage learning and creation as something that does not end with the course or a letter/number grade but as something that carries over into the community and world at large. To grow as an artist, musician, dancer, actor and learner will mean different things to different people and that growth and learning will manifest itself differently within the studio. Therefore, we strive to ensure that our programs serve all learners at all stages of their arts education.
In lieu of traditional grading, we are interested in further developing ongoing, formative assessment strategies that will foster intrinsically motivated student engagement and learning. The subject of grades will only be formally discussed during student and teacher interviews before each reporting period. During the interview process, students are invited and encouraged to bring their dance notebooks, evaluative assessments and Fresh Grade digital student portfolio submissions from which they can reference artifacts to help demonstrate and articulate their learning. Dance Learning Maps will be used to guide the assessment conversation and digital portfolio construction. These learning maps are based on the learning standards outlined in the new BC Curriculum. Together, student and teacher will reflect and discuss and agree to a grade level that attempts to represent their learning. Parents are invited to become partners in these conversations at parent/teacher interviews and at any point throughout the year. Similarly, we invite you to attend any of our multiple performing arts shows which celebrate and showcase student learning and artistry.
Dance Assessment Rubric (Click link to open file)
In dance, I also strongly believe that students should grow from their successes and failures. Each of these two experiences should be viewed as opportunities for learning, as development within the arts is an ongoing process that is a culmination of effort, a positive attitude and focused practice. Consistent with the Surrey School District priority on Assessment for Learning and Personalized Learning, assessment in dance will involve a variety of qualitative, formative and anecdotal strategies to develop student learning portfolios. These include techniques like teacher-interviews, student reflection, goal-setting, peer-assessment, self-assessment and technical tracking using performance rubrics and post-performance conversations. These techniques are all aimed at broadening and deepening student understanding and technique in as well as encourage students to take a greater ownership of their own dance education.
To honor the developmental focus and affective nature of the arts and way to increase physical/mental well-being, we believe that it is important to employ equally human and sensitive assessment practices. Matters like body and technical awareness, artistic growth, social responsibility within a cooperative environment and motivation are complex and personal. Rather than traditional grading practices, we strive to encourage learning and creation as something that does not end with the course or a letter/number grade but as something that carries over into the community and world at large. To grow as an artist, musician, dancer, actor and learner will mean different things to different people and that growth and learning will manifest itself differently within the studio. Therefore, we strive to ensure that our programs serve all learners at all stages of their arts education.
In lieu of traditional grading, we are interested in further developing ongoing, formative assessment strategies that will foster intrinsically motivated student engagement and learning. The subject of grades will only be formally discussed during student and teacher interviews before each reporting period. During the interview process, students are invited and encouraged to bring their dance notebooks, evaluative assessments and Fresh Grade digital student portfolio submissions from which they can reference artifacts to help demonstrate and articulate their learning. Dance Learning Maps will be used to guide the assessment conversation and digital portfolio construction. These learning maps are based on the learning standards outlined in the new BC Curriculum. Together, student and teacher will reflect and discuss and agree to a grade level that attempts to represent their learning. Parents are invited to become partners in these conversations at parent/teacher interviews and at any point throughout the year. Similarly, we invite you to attend any of our multiple performing arts shows which celebrate and showcase student learning and artistry.
Dance Assessment Rubric (Click link to open file)
The Year End Production, District Dance Festival and District Dance Competitions:
Among other public performance opportunities, our dance program participates in three major dance shows per semester. These shows are platforms where students perform all of the dances they have learned, created and mastered throughout the semester/year! The semester-end productions, the Surrey District Dance Festival and the Outbreak Dance Competition are all mandatorycomponents of this course. All dance students are expected to participate. The production, festival and competition are all considered dance “exams.” They are also moments of celebration and acknowledgement for their hard work! Parents, family, and friends are absolutely invited and highly encouraged to attend. Please join us in honouring our students! Below are the dates for this semester’s dance shows. Students and parents are responsible for making all the necessary arrangements in order to ensure attendance.
Among other public performance opportunities, our dance program participates in three major dance shows per semester. These shows are platforms where students perform all of the dances they have learned, created and mastered throughout the semester/year! The semester-end productions, the Surrey District Dance Festival and the Outbreak Dance Competition are all mandatorycomponents of this course. All dance students are expected to participate. The production, festival and competition are all considered dance “exams.” They are also moments of celebration and acknowledgement for their hard work! Parents, family, and friends are absolutely invited and highly encouraged to attend. Please join us in honouring our students! Below are the dates for this semester’s dance shows. Students and parents are responsible for making all the necessary arrangements in order to ensure attendance.
