November 2010

Peter Rawitsch
1st Grade Teacher, Glenmont Elementary
Bethlehem Central School District, Glenmont, NY

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Peter Rawitsch to discuss his successes and struggles with the arts in education program he spearheaded entitled, ‘Building Community Through Dance.’ Over the past four years through Peter’s commitment and enthusiasm, the artist residency program in dance has grown and flourished.

NYSAAE: To start tell us about yourself, how long have you been teaching?
Peter Rawitsch (PR): I have been in the Glenmont School for 29 years, and taught in New Hampshire for four years before that. I earned my degree at Wheelock College, where I was a member of the first co-ed class – and met my first wife there… My undergraduate degree is in early childhood education with a minor in music. For my masters I attended Lesley University and earned my degree in integrated arts in education. (omit - arts therapy)

NYSAAE: How did the ‘Building Community Through Dance’ program come into being?
PR: I imagine it goes all the way back to my childhood. My father was a big swing music fan, Glenn Milller, Tommy Dorsey.. I was not a fan, at the time preferring rock music, but growing up in a house where music was an important part life certainly left its mark.
As a teacher of young children you observe some things. Young kids move. All the time. Not all learning takes place sitting at a desk listening with pencil and paper in hand. Different kids learn in different ways and it is important to incorporate ways for all kids to learn into the classroom. From the time I started teaching I used music in my lessons, visual models, and later wrote plays, put on shows and even some did some student film-making.
But movement and dance was an area that I was not strong on. Dance was taken on as something of a challenge. I attended an event called the Adirondack Dance Weekend, and learned a simple called dance named the Big Apple. It’s not a complicated dance, but incorporates an activity called a shine, where each dancer has the opportunity to invent their own move and show off. The Big Apple dance seemed like the perfect starting point. I contacted the dance instructor from that event and the first year of the project took shape.

NYSAAE: What was the format for the program in the first year and how has it changed / developed? Where has the funding come from?
PR: The first year the program was a three day artist residency with one class from each of the first through fifth grades. The PTA provided some seed money funding, as did Bethlehem Opportunities Unlimited. In year two the program expanded to five days and included more classrooms, again with funding from the PTA. During the third year we received a NYSCA Local Capacity Building grant that allowed the program to expand even further. Last year (our fourth year) we received a $25K Pepsi Refresh grant that allowed the program to grow to nearly school-wide, and to incorporate live music.
As other teachers saw the positive
partnering with the Vanaver Caravan the school was awarded a grant to continue the program for this year, but we are struggling to raise the required cash match for the funding.

NYSAAE: What do you see as the greatest impact of the program?
PR: The transformation in the kids. Kids that are identified as being on the autism spectrum have had tremendous success in participating in the program. They have shown an increase in eye contact and in developing their ‘shine’ moves - they are quite literally shinning. But the positive social effects of participation can be seen in all students.

NYSAAE: How did you make the argument to the building administrator to get support for the program?
PR: Arts in education programming has a long history of support at Glenmont. There have been projects with the Capital Region Center for Arts in Education, and many other residencies over the years. Each principal has their own priorities. I was given permission for the program and charged with gathering the ‘opt-in’ support of my colleagues. As other teachers observed the impact of the program on the students each year it has not been a tough sell to get them on board. Currently twelve of the nineteen teachers in the school are committed to participating in the program this year.

NYSAAE salutes Peter Rawitsch for his efforts and dedication to provide rich dance experiences to the students of Glenmont Elementary.

http://bcsd.k12.ny.us/Glenmont/Glenmonthome.html

To read more about Peter’s use of music in the classroom:

http://web.me.com/rawitschp/Mr._Rawitschs_1st_Grade_Leaders/Songs/Songs.html

Past Weathervane Interviews

Co-Chairs of the BOCES Arts in Education Coordinators Network, Diane Aaronson & Carol Brown - September 2010
NYS Assemblymember Steve Englebright - June 2010
Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education of the NYS Education Department, Jeffrey Cannell - February 2010
YAWNY Executive Director, Cynnie Gaasch - January 2010
NYC DOE, Office of the Arts and Special Projects, Executive Director Paul King - December 2010
Partners for Arts Education - November 2009
NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano - September 2009