December 19, 2017

Several key words popped up quite a bit during a recent conversation with East Millbrook Magnet Middle School students and staff.

Words like, “opportunities,” “growth,” “fun” and “happier."

What’s going on over there at East Millbrook?

“You get a lot of opportunities. It’s getting to do what you love,” said eighth-grader Jarien Martinez. “Since (the school has) had the new magnet theme, we’ve gotten better.”

'I'm so much happier'

The new magnet theme is East Millbrook’s Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts, which was put in place last year. And it’s pretty amazing. Just ask the students.

“I feel like I’ve grown so much more in dance because I get to dance every day,” says eighth-grader Lily Salyer (pictured in the top photo, center). “I’m so much happier (than at her former school).”

Jarien, who sings in the chorus, and Lily, an aspiring dancer, say they both get to do a lot of what they love through this Academy program. The Visual and Performing Arts theme includes the opportunity to be part of a “Guild,” through which students may spend two periods focused on visual arts, band, orchestra, dance, chorus or drama.

The students are quick to point out that they are well supported in their core academics classes, too. Both are taking advanced courses and credit their teachers’ close attention to identifying and cultivating their capabilities.

For example, Jarien is now in an advanced math course because his teacher in sixth grade noticed he was breezing through his work and needed a greater challenge.

“It touched me inside knowing that I was doing something I was able to do well,” he says of the reinforcement of his teacher’s recognition of his math skills.

Arts Integrated into Core Curriculum

The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts is committed to weaving arts education throughout its core curriculum.

Joanna Caves is the school’s arts integration specialist.

“What we really try to do Is offer the most comprehensive arts education in Wake County,” says Caves of the intense focus around integrating arts into English, math, social studies and science work.

There is a three-component approach to accomplishing this: 

• Robust arts electives – According to Caves, East Millbrook now boasts a more extensive arts offering than any school in Wake County. For example, you can take a class in “electric strings.” You could also opt for daily piano lessons.
• Arts Integration – The arts are weaved into core classes on a consistent basis. One example might be teaching the concept of multiple layers of the earth through dance movement in a science class. Another recent example was a social studies class where students were asked to write lyrics to the classic Queen song, “We Are the Champions” to describe landforms in India and China.
• The Guild – As mentioned above, a double period of arts instruction, or 90 minutes of block instruction for students in seventh and eighth grades who have proven through auditions and other means that they will take full advantage of intense instruction in their areas of strength, whether it be music, art or dance.

“These are classes that parents would pay for in a studio after hours. Our students are able to get that every single day in a double period,” says East Millbrook Principal Eric Fitts. 

“The staff has really embraced the arts here. They don’t fight it,” says Caves, who added that some core subject teachers will pop in and out of the arts rooms to participate with their students in various projects. “They embrace the integration piece and are eager to learn more about how they can bring the arts into the classroom.”

Students also are treated to a multitude of visiting artists throughout the year, such as a recent visit from local artist Leni Newell (pictured above, second from right) and her husband Kip Baker. They spent a number of days helping students create and design large banners that will be displayed in the school.

“There has been not one discipline problem, because you guys are doing a great job,” says Newell of the behavior among some 300 East Millbrook students with whom she has worked. She added that it’s a great opportunity for students to see their teachers struggling when working together on arts projects.

“It’s interesting for students to understand that their teachers are human and that they can learn, too,” she says.

Staff Dedication Cultivates Greater Interest Among Students

It’s this kind of dedication among staff that gives East Millbrook great potential for success, says Principal Fitts, a former Wake County Public School System Principal of the Year, who helped shepherd in the new magnet theme last year.

“Teachers are student-centered. They are focused on not just building relationships but fostering positive relationships with our students,” he says. “The teachers want to get to know them so they can support their learning needs.”

Fitts wants everyone who is considering an arts-centered education to look at what East Millbrook has to offer.

“There’s more of an awareness that students have around the arts; more of a sensitivity of the unique differences that we all have,” says Fitts. “More of an awareness of the things that they just aren’t always knowing or accustomed to paying attention to.”

“It makes it more unique, more enjoyable. Unique learning opportunities that before we just didn’t have.”