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“Thank you so much for hosting the Young Writers event…”
by Rachel on May 13, 2013
Thank you Dr. Pat Cosentino, Superintendent of Region 12 Schools, for sending us this letter after the 8th Annual Celebration of Young Writers:
Thank you so much for hosting the Young Writers event and Silent Auction this past Saturday night. What an incredible evening. The Auction was fantastic, so many great donations and generous bids. The readings of the student’s work were outstanding. The guest readers were perfect! I was so proud of our students, our teachers and our community. Thank you all at ASAP, Board members, volunteers and participants. Your dedication to the arts and commitment to our students is unmatched. Three cheers for a job well done!
Congratulations to the 2013 Young Writers!
by Rachel on May 9, 2013
This year, 402 pieces were submitted by students and teachers to the Celebration of Young Writers. This year’s selected writers were:
- Hezekiah D. Benson, “Hezzy” Benson of Rumsey Hall School
- Olivia Burns of Westover School
- Ralph Caprilozzi of Shepaug Valley Middle School
- Michael Venitia Fiederowicz of Rumsey Hall School
- Madeline Gorra of Shepaug Valley Middle School
- Nadia Gribkova of Westover School
- Kelsey Hall of Shepaug Valley High School
- Hannah Hudson of Westover School
- Pat LaMarco of Rochambeau Middle School
- Kori Meissner of Rumsey Hall School
- Afua Nsiah of Westover School
- Emily Prezioso of Shepaug Valley Middle School
- Daniel Saed of Cornwall Consolidated School
- Ailsa Slater of Westover School
- Colin Stewart of Washington Montessori School
- Lars Vikstrom of Shepaug Valley Middle School
“… the best evening of the year in Litchfield County!”
by Rachel on April 30, 2013
The 8th Annual Celebration of Young Writers and ASAP Benefit Auction, on May 11th at the Washington Congregational Church on the Green (6 Kirby Road, Washington), will be hosted for the first time by noted author Frank Delaney. As a past reader for the event, Mr. Delaney has called the Celebration of Young Writers “the best evening of the year in Litchfield County!”
Learn more about our wonderful host here: www.frankdelaney.com.
Frank Delaney at last year’s Celebration of Young Writers
Honoree John Millington LCT Monthly article
by Rachel on April 24, 2013
There is a wonderful article by Jack Coraggio in this month’s LCT Monthly about John Millington, who we are honoring at the 8th Annual Celebration of Young Writers.
The first paragraph perfectly describes John (as does the rest of the well-written feature):
“To hear JoAnne Torti tell it, at a time when its future was uncertain, John Millington proved to be a divine blessing for the local enrichment group known as the After School Arts Program (ASAP.) To hear Mr. Millington tell it … well, a person would never hear the humble Mr. Millington tell it.”
Read the full article here:
http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2013/04/24/l_c_t_monthly/doc5176b2ecd0056359438041.txt?viewmode=fullstory
Join us on May 11 as we honor John, ASAP’s first president of the Board of Directors.
Inter-district Metamorphosis Project Begins
by Rachel on April 23, 2013
At the end of March, ASAP began its Inter-district Metamorphosis Project (IDMP). The project is in collaboration with Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust (WHLT), Region 12′s primary schools and the Forbes School in Torrington.
One hundred fifteen 4th graders are working together to build an in depth understanding of their science curriculum in nature studies and preservation. Although IDMP is designed to comply with state science guidelines, it goes far beyond standard textbook learning.
Students are visiting each others schools and taking a field trip to the Cobble Brook Land Preserve where they collaborate on ideas through writing, research, and discussion. They will experience nature first-hand stocking the brook with fish, exploring beaver dams, examining the watershed, identifying animal tracks, and studying the hidden life of a stream.
During this creative process students are working alongside ecologists, a playwright and author, visual artists, and a choreographer. Students are learning to relate to the scientific material in a personal way through writing stories and poetry, developing characters, and exploring movement and props that represent nature, animals, and the elements.
For the project finale, students inspired by their experiences are developing an original production, which they will perform, giving them the unique opportunity to share the results of their experiences with their peers, families, and the public. Approximately 800 school children will attend the shows.
This project is funded in part by grants from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development (CEDC) and CT Office of the Arts, the Jean and Julien Levy Foundation for the Arts, the Diebold Foundation, the Gould Family Foundation and Region 12 Schools.
Plan your visit to Scotland for an exclusive tour of the Macallan Distillery and Estate!
by Rachel on April 11, 2013
One of the many auction gems offered at the Celebration of Young Writers on May 11 is a trip for 2 with overnight accommodation, meals and VIP distillery tour of The Macallan Distillery!
In your free time, after being treated as a special guest by members of the Distillery and Estate in Craigellachie, there are many other things you can do the surrounding area!
What to do:
- Golf.
Did you know Scotland is the home of golf and that there are 550 golf courses across the country? Visit the Moray Golf Club and take in all the history! - Go fly-fishing.
Did you know The River Spey is one of the classic salmon rivers of Scotland and that fly-fishing originated there? Visit this website to learn tips about fishing in Scotland (specifically in the Speyside area, where the Macallan Distillery and Estate is, of course). - Go for a bike ride.
- Eat traditional Scottish food
We hope you have a fun time planning for your Macallan Distillery and Estate tour visit!
Hoedown Party for 40 (auction gem) Playlist
by Rachel on April 3, 2013
Looking forward to the Hoedown Party for 40 auction gem at the Young Writers celebration, I thought I would create a playlist to get you in the Hoedown spirit!
This playlist will bring you from the entrance of the hoedown party (drinking lemonade out of mason jars and eating corn on the cob) to the dance floor (get your cowboy boots ready!) and leads you to a bonfire as the sun goes down and the music plays on.
1. The Crow by Steve Martin, Bela Fleck and Tony Trischka (You have to start with The Crow!)
2. Pretty Little Gal by Carolina Chocolate Drops
3. Big Tilda by The Clinch Mountain Boys
4. Ol’ Winchester by The Defibulators
5. Levi by Old Crow Medicine Show
6. Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks & Dunn
7. Intentional Heartache by Dwight Yoakam
8. Done by The Band Perry
9. Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
10. Blue Jeans by Keith Urban
11. Saturday Night at the Twist and Shout by Mary Chapin Carpenter
12. Honey Bee by Blake Shelton
13. I’m in a Hurry by Alabama
14. Looking At The World Through A Windshield by Son Volt
15. Born Again by Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons
16. Victory by Trampled By Turtles
17. Green Eyes And A Heart Of Gold by The Lone Bellow
18. Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars
19. Fireplace by Lost In The Trees
20. Child Of The Valley by Wooden Sky
What songs would you want played at the Hoedown Party for 40 if you attended (or you won the item!)?
Preview of Auction Gems
by Rachel on April 1, 2013
This week and next we will talk all about The 8th Annual Celebration of Young Writers Auction Gems. We are so fortunate and delighted to have these major auction items to offer:
- Macallan Distillery Scotland Trip
- Hoedown Party for 40
- Deer Valley Vacation
- Yankees Tickets
- Red Sox Tickets
Stay tuned and be sure to “Like” our event Facebook page here to learn even more details about these exciting auction gems, information about our celebrity readers, and Behind-the-Scenes information!
Submit your writing to the Celebration of Young Writers
by Rachel on March 22, 2013
At last year’s 7th Celebration of Young Writers, pieces on everything from math, to “My Uncle Willy”, to being yourself, were read by guest readers Susan Saint James, Fran Brill Kelly, Jerry Adler, Frank Delaney, Paul Doherty and others. Perhaps performed is a better word – each piece was read with tangible depth and feeling by the readers, as the children sat nearby. One of the highlights of the evening – Paul Doherty doing a rap performance as the young author had requested! Imagine the experience of these children – on stage, interviewed and introduced by none other than Susan Saint James — and the sound of applause – just for them! Every child who submits a piece of writing has the chance to be chosen. Check out the video of last year’s performance.
Each year, event chairs read each and every piece of submitted writing (anonymously) and select the work to be presented. The chairs choose the pieces and pair them with the reader who is the best fit; pieces are chosen based on creative content and how the pieces will fit with our guest readers’ special talents and what will work best for the evening’s program.
And what a program it will be! This year we are so fortunate to have the following readers:
• Frank Delaney
• Paul Doherty
• Mia Farrow
• Anne Garrels
• Jack Gilpin
• Fran Brill Kelly
• Audrey Meyer
• Ellen McCourt
There is still time for your child to submit a piece of writing. A poem, a portion of a play, a monologue, a short story, anything! This is a perfect way to encourage creative writing in your child, engage them in the process of writing a piece to be performed, and most of all, to celebrate this ongoing tradition in our community. It is an opportunity not to be missed! Get writing!
Evelyn Rinaldi, 2012 Summer Grant Program recipient, hosting an evening of Spoken Word Art
by Rachel on February 26, 2013
Evelyn Rinaldi, a 2012 Summer Grant Program recipient and participant of The Center for Creative Youth at Wesleyan University, will be hosting an Evening of Spoken Word Art on Saturday, April 6 at the Connecticut Dance Theater in downtown Waterbury. The Center for Creative Youth encourages students to conduct a leadership project as a follow up to their summer program.
Evelyn is currently seeking student interest and sign ups for sharing a spoken word piece.
Do you wish to share a spoken word piece based on the theme of Identity? Please contact us and we’ll be sure to get you in touch with Evelyn!
Save the Date!
by Rachel on January 28, 2013
Come join us as we celebrate the joyous sound of collaboration! Performing for 75 years, the Waterbury Symphony Chamber Orchestra is a powerhouse of Connecticut’s best and brightest classical musicians. Playing beside them will be students from ASAP’s Inter-district Strings Project, a workshop taught by WSO musicians. From classical to contemporary, this is a concert you will not want to miss!
Over the past couple of months students in the ASAP’s Inter-district Strings Project have been studying with musicians from the WSO to enhance their skills and learn pieces that they will then play with the symphony. Students from the following towns will be participating: Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury, Washington, Waterbury, and Woodbury.
We will see you there!
Update on Past SGP Recipient
by Rachel on January 9, 2013
Mikayla Sapack, three-time recipient and participant of the Summer Grant Program, had the opportunity to perform over 20 shows in the Boston Ballet Nutcracker this past holiday season. She also got to perform the Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de deux at the Boston Children’s Museum and did a couple of promotional appearances as Sugar Plum Fairy around Boston!
Congratulations Mikayla!
