Savannah Arts Academy
Encyclopedia
Savannah Arts Academy is the first dedicated performing and visual arts school in Savannah, Georgia
. It is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
. Savannah Arts Academy was granted charter school status and the former Savannah High School
building in July 1998, and opened in August of the same year. In 1998, SAA started with 397 students.
As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 668 students and 50.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.3.
The school offers classes up to the AP, or college level.
The Communication Arts Department offers intensive courses related to Information Technology and Broadcast/Video Production. As freshmen, students study basic computer applications and gain knowledge of the communication system by participating in a variety of activities, problems, and settings. Students work in information technology, software systems management, operating systems, data communications, the Internet, digital media production, and web design. Broadcast and video production courses provide advanced training in video production techniques, including program production, editing, lighting, and graphics. Students in Communication Arts also have the opportunity to take Journalism I and II, which are the newspaper staff, and Journalism III and IV, which are yearbook staff.
The Music Department provides instruction in winds, strings, percussion, piano and vocal music. Ensembles include String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mixed Choruses, Men’s Choir, and Women’s Choir. There are a total of five choruses at Savannah Arts Academy. These include the SAA Chorale, Men's Choir, Skylarks, Women's Cantabile, and Nova Singers. The program through the years has garnered every award available to it through the Georgia Music Educators Association.
Students who graduate from the program, electing to pursue music in higher education, have been awarded scholarships to the leading institutions in the country including Indiana University
and Oberlin Conservatory of Music
.
and Criticism
, Drawing
, Painting
, Photography
, Sculpture
, Fibers, Ceramics
, Pottery
, and AP Studio Art
.
, in the midst of the Great Depression
, expressed interest in the site for use as the new Savannah High School, which was dedicated on June 15, 1937. After 61 years on Washington Avenue, Savannah High School
classes were moved to a new building on Pennsylvania Avenue, leaving the structure available for the newly formed Savannah Arts Academy for the school year beginning August 1998.
During the 2006-07 school year, Savannah Arts Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
.
Other recognition includes:
Admission to Savannah Arts Academy requires an 80% or greater overall academic average in the previous year of schooling, as well as satisfactory marks in conduct.
Incoming students are also required to audition for their chosen arts major, which can range from an on-the-spot demonstration (music, theatre and dance) to creation of a portfolio (visual and communication arts).
Mrs. Mary Arbee served as the first principal of SAA. Hired in August 1998, she co-wrote the charter of the school and organized the first school council. Mrs. Arbee assisted in hiring the first faculty and staff who auditioned the first students. The following year, Mrs. Arbee resigned and relocated.
Mrs. Beverly Oliver came to SAA to serve as interim principal until the arrival of Mrs. Marcia Clanton from Hubert Middle School in February 2000. In March 2006, Mrs. Clanton was promoted to executive director of all high schools in Savannah and was replaced by SAA administrator Mrs. Odessa Richards.
SAA has had three other assistant principals in its history, Mr. David Marshall, Mr. Travis Cowart, and Mrs. Odessa Richards. For the school year of 2010-2011, Ms. Heather Handy is the current interim principal. Mr. Gifford Lockley has replaced Ms. Handy as the new permanent principal.
The main theatre located at the front of the building was redone with the school-wide renovation, supplying a large stage, cloth theatre chairs, new carpeting, and wing space.
The Black Box Theatre,
A theatre and communications classroom.
The Performance Hall
Used for venues such as Beta Induction and lectures.
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. It is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is a school district based in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. SCCPSS is run by an elected Board of Public Education and operates most public schools in the Chatham County including those in the city of Savannah. The current superintendent is...
. Savannah Arts Academy was granted charter school status and the former Savannah High School
Savannah High School (Georgia)
Savannah High School is located in Savannah, Georgia, USA.-History:Savannah High School building, was originally located on Washington Avenue between East and West Atlantic Avenues. The original building, built by the WPA and designed by William Bordley Clarke, Sr., was once the largest public...
building in July 1998, and opened in August of the same year. In 1998, SAA started with 397 students.
As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 668 students and 50.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.3.
Academics
|
Communication Arts
Dance
The Dance Department students take technical training in ballet and modern, plus additional training in jazz, if interested. Students engage in two academic dance courses -- one year of dance history and one year of dance composition. The department traditionally performs in two large productions annually with dance works created by faculty, students and guest artists. Choreography is produced both in class and in afternoon rehearsals. There are also multiple opportunities for performing in venues from the fall Student Choreography Concerts to the large spring musical production, as well as touring local area schools and events. Each year interested dance students may attend the National High School Dance Festival and have the opportunity to work with local and national guest artists throughout the school year.Music
| The faculty includes professional musicians, active performers, clinicians and adjudicators. |
| The Chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. They were also invited to perform in Australia and England. In addition, they have released several CDs. |
The Music Department provides instruction in winds, strings, percussion, piano and vocal music. Ensembles include String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mixed Choruses, Men’s Choir, and Women’s Choir. There are a total of five choruses at Savannah Arts Academy. These include the SAA Chorale, Men's Choir, Skylarks, Women's Cantabile, and Nova Singers. The program through the years has garnered every award available to it through the Georgia Music Educators Association.
| The SkyeLite Jazz Band has performed in China, London, and Washington D.C. and released two CD recordings. The band was also invited to play at the National School Board Association's National Convention in San Francisco in April 2007. |
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
and Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
.
| The orchestral program is one of few left in the city's public school system. |
Theatre Arts
The Theatre Arts Department offers theatre education. Its mission is to foster talent and develop creativity through professional training and a wide variety of courses including: Drama Fundamentals, Acting I & II, Technical Theatre I & II, Acting III, Theatre History, Musical Theatre I & II, Technical Theatre III, a design course, and Advanced Drama, a performance group. Students have the opportunity to practice the skills learned in the classroom through after school productions, competitions and festivals. It holds two performances per year, a musical in the fall and play in the spring.Visual Arts
The visual arts department offers Art HistoryArt history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and Criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
, Drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
, Painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, Photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, Sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, Fibers, Ceramics
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
, Pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, and AP Studio Art
AP Studio Art
AP Studio Art is a series of Advanced Placement Courses divided into three different categories: AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 2D, and AP Studio Art 3D.-The portfolio:...
.
History
The Savannah Arts Academy building is located on a site that was originally planned as a luxury tourist hotel called the Hotel Georgia. The Works Progress AdministrationWorks Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, in the midst of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, expressed interest in the site for use as the new Savannah High School, which was dedicated on June 15, 1937. After 61 years on Washington Avenue, Savannah High School
Savannah High School (Georgia)
Savannah High School is located in Savannah, Georgia, USA.-History:Savannah High School building, was originally located on Washington Avenue between East and West Atlantic Avenues. The original building, built by the WPA and designed by William Bordley Clarke, Sr., was once the largest public...
classes were moved to a new building on Pennsylvania Avenue, leaving the structure available for the newly formed Savannah Arts Academy for the school year beginning August 1998.
Awards and recognition
| U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program is considered the highest award an American school can receive. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve. |
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
.
Other recognition includes:
- Awarded "Pay for Performance" by the State Board of Education.
- SATSATThe SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
score average exceeds the state and national average. - Member of International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools.
- #1 in the state on the GHSGTGeorgia High School Graduation TestThe Georgia High School Graduation Test, or GHSGT, administered to all students in the eleventh grade, determines whether or not a student will graduate from a high school in the US state of Georgia.The test consists of five subject areas:...
passage rate: 100% in Writing, English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science for the second year in a row. They were the first, and to date only, school in the history of the Savannah School System to achieve 100% passage in every area. - Voted "Best Public School" by the readers of Connect Savannah.
- 90% of graduates are HOPE ScholarshipHOPE ScholarshipThe HOPE Scholarship Program created in 1993 under the supervision of Georgia Governor Zell Miller, is a merit-based higher education scholarship that is funded entirely by revenue from the Georgia Lottery and is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission...
eligible. Of the 2006 graduating class, all received the HOPE ScholarshipHOPE ScholarshipThe HOPE Scholarship Program created in 1993 under the supervision of Georgia Governor Zell Miller, is a merit-based higher education scholarship that is funded entirely by revenue from the Georgia Lottery and is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission...
. - Received a "Superior School" commendation from the State School SuperintendentKathy CoxKathy Cox is a former superintendent of public schools for the U.S. state of Georgia, and is a Republican. A high school teacher by occupation, Cox also served two terms, from 1998 to 2002, in the Georgia General Assembly, representing Peachtree City, Georgia, prior to her election as...
. - Largest number of Governor's Honors Program finalists (twelve) in the district for the 2005-06 school year.
- Thirteen students recognized by the College Board as 2004 AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honors, or AP Scholars with Distinction for their excellent achievements on the AP ExamsAdvanced Placement ExamsAdvanced Placement examinations are taken each May by students at participating American, Canadian, and international educational institutions. The tests are the culmination of year-long Advanced Placement courses. All but one of the AP exams combine multiple-choice questions with a...
. - SAA received Gold and Silver at the All-State Festival of Art & Design. Sixteen SAA student artists were chosen to go to the Georgia All-State Festival of Art and Design at Brenau UniversityBrenau UniversityBrenau University is a private university in Gainesville, Georgia, USA, that was founded in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, though it has never been affiliated with the Baptist Church. The total enrollment of Brenau University tops 2,500 students in its four schools...
. - SAA students and faculty have performed in ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. - Many of SAA's Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
teams have competed at the World Finals level. In 2006, the school's team for the problem "The Jungle Bloke" received first place in their division at the World level. - SAA won the Governor's Cup in 2008 and again in 2009, a trophy awarded for having the highest SAT scores in the state.
Admissions
| Students must perform ten hours of community service each year (twice the district mandate), maintain that 85% average, and have very good discipline. Each child's parents must also do a total of ten hours of service annually, but parent service can include attending performances or parent meetings. |
| The audition requirement for Savannah Arts is waived for students enrolled in the Armstrong Atlantic Youth Orchestra (AAYO) or the Atlantic Chamber Orchestra (ACO) who meet the academic requirements. AAYO and ACO are member Orchestras that are filled by recommendation, including an intensive audition process, and are sponsored by the music department at Armstrong Atlantic State University Armstrong Atlantic State University Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States... . |
Administration
| Heather Handy | Interim Principal |
| Kenneth Traylor | Assistant Principal |
| Michael Corbett | Lead Counselor |
| Amy Perry | Communication Arts Department Chair |
| Christina Powell | Dance Department Chair |
| Dianne Gardner | Music Department Chair |
| Andrea Verdis | Theatre Arts Department Chair |
| Carrie Chapman | Visual Arts Department Chair |
| Terry Finlay | Foreign Language Language education Language education is the teaching and learning of a foreign or second language. Language education is a branch of applied linguistics.- Need for language education :... Department Head |
| Kathy Maher | Science Science Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe... Department Head |
| Nancy West | Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity... Department Head |
| Bradley Wallace | Language Arts Language arts Traditionally, the primary divisions in the language arts are Literature and Language, where language in this case refers to both linguistics, and specific languages.... Department Head |
| Margaret Sheehan | Social Studies Social studies Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies... Department Head |
| Mary Anne King | AP Chairperson |
Mrs. Beverly Oliver came to SAA to serve as interim principal until the arrival of Mrs. Marcia Clanton from Hubert Middle School in February 2000. In March 2006, Mrs. Clanton was promoted to executive director of all high schools in Savannah and was replaced by SAA administrator Mrs. Odessa Richards.
SAA has had three other assistant principals in its history, Mr. David Marshall, Mr. Travis Cowart, and Mrs. Odessa Richards. For the school year of 2010-2011, Ms. Heather Handy is the current interim principal. Mr. Gifford Lockley has replaced Ms. Handy as the new permanent principal.
Performance facilities
John Varnedoe TheatreThe main theatre located at the front of the building was redone with the school-wide renovation, supplying a large stage, cloth theatre chairs, new carpeting, and wing space.
The Black Box Theatre,
A theatre and communications classroom.
The Performance Hall
Used for venues such as Beta Induction and lectures.
Student activities
Savannah Arts holds school-related events, performances, student clubs, and sports teams.Clubs
- Beta ClubNational Beta ClubThe National Beta Club is an organization for 5th-12th graders in the United States, recognizing academic achievement, leadership, character and service....
- Chess Club
- Christian Fellowship Club
- Creative Writing Guild
- Dance Honor Society
- FBLAFBLA-PBLThe Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, or FBLA-PBL, is an American career and technical student organization that has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia...
- FEAFuture Educators AssociationThe Future Educators Association , sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa International , is a professional organization that supports students who are interested in education-related careers...
- French National Honor Society
- International Thespian SocietyInternational Thespian SocietyThe International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
- Students Against Destructive Decisions [S.A.D.D.]
- Math Team
- Mock Trial
- Model UN
- National English Honor Society
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
- National Art Honor SocietyNational Art Honor SocietyThe National Art Honor Society was established in 1978 in the United States by the National Art Education Association for high school students grades 10-12, for "the purpose of inspiring and recognizing those students who have shown an outstanding ability in art" from the National Art Honor Society...
- Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
- Relay For LifeRelay For LifeRelay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
- Science Club
- Spanish National Honor SocietySpanish National Honor SocietySpanish National Honor Society is an academic honor society focused on Spanish language excellence in secondary education and promotes a continuity of interest in Spanish studies. The group, which was established in 1953 in the United States is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of...
- Students In Action
- Tri-M Music Honor Society
Annual competitions
- Armstrong AtlanticArmstrong Atlantic State UniversityArmstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
Computing Quiz Bowl - Math Team
- Mock TrialMock trialA Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
- Model UNModel United NationsModel United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
Annual performances
The theatre shows that occur each year stick mainly to this schedule:- The first show is always "Works in Progress", a reader's theatre production directed by Mrs. Verdis. The plays featured in the show are winners of a contest held in the Spring of the last school year.
- The Fall show is usually a straight play (though this was diverted from in 2005's "Leader of the Pack" starring Aaren Keith and Jack Webber). Until the departure of Mr. Verdis in the 07-08 school year, "The 1940s Radio Show" was performed in the second quarter.
- In the second semester, the first show is always "A Night of One Acts". The way that the one-acts were staged changed drastically from the 2005-2006 school year to the 2006-2007 school year. Previously, students were allowed to pick their play, their cast, and their design, however, after a controversy over content in one of the plays arose, the productions became a class-based assignment, with teacher oversight.
- After the Night of One Acts, in the deep Spring, the musical is performed. A culmination of all of the academy's majors come together to perform the talents they have added onto during the year. Previous musicals include, "Once Upon a Mattress", "Leader of the Pack", "The Music Man", "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown", "Anything Goes", and "Fiddler on the Roof".
Athletics
- Cross-Country/TrackTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- SoccerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Hockey
- WrestlingScholastic wrestlingScholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...